Banners in the Wind
The call of the horn has a haunting refrain of "Halloo..."
And the horn's dreadful summons cries, "Take up arms, ye loyal few!"
You answer the call by the oaths you have made,
you stand in the line with your armor and blade,
for now naught remains between fire and kinfolk but you.
{Chorus}
With banners in the breeze, hearts are ill at ease
when battle calls forth kith and kin,
You march off to war to fulfill the oaths you swore,
but when loved ones are ne'er seen again,
there's naught left but banners in the wind.
Now hearts are all high as the drums beat their stirring tattoo
But the hearts of your kinfolk are downcast as you pass from view,
The knights sing of glory and gold and renown
While the blood of your countrymen waters the ground
And your eyes are defiled by horrors that you never knew...
{Chorus}
You sigh in relief, like a thief, when your home comes in view,
Your kinsmen draw near as the wise-women hover 'round you,
They can patch all the holes in your flesh and your hide,
But they can't patch the holes in your soul or your pride
Or the guilt that you feel when your neighbors have died, and not you...
{Chorus}
So beware for the man bent with care as he walks into view,
He sold his today to purchase tomorrow for you.
With whiskey and ale his tears he might hide,
while his sword and his armor he'll polish with pride
while he waits for the haunting refrain of the horn's next "Halloo..."
With banners in the breeze, hearts are ill at ease
when battle calls forth kith and kin,
I shall march off to war to fulfill the oaths I swore,
But should you and I ne'er meet again,
I bid thee fly my banner in the wind.
(c) 2018 by JSR
(NOTE: This is an original song, written/performed by me, at the state and national Bardic Competitions for the Society for Creative Anachronism)
