Centurion's Song
by Marc Carlson
Copyright 6 May 2003 by Marc Carlson
 

 

In the ancient days of valor, the Romans ruled the world,
Their eagles led the vanguard, their bleeding capes awhirl
Their legions, cohorts, centuries, made up of valiant men.
And every hundred heroes led by their Centurion

[Chorus]
And the haze of war surrounds us, as in days of long ago,
The din of hell confounds us, the fearful screaming of the foe
On a field of mud run crimson, stands a lone Centurion
A gold eagle of Ansteorra is worth a hundred men

It’s for the ebon star in golden sky that my wars are fought,
It’s for the black and gold, the minstrels cry, that my battle’s sought.
This land where my best work was done, where I made my name
This land where I have lain my dead, and glorified their name
[Chorus]

The smashing of the hammer, the impact of the shields,
Heartbeats rushing, pounding, and the foe weakens and yields,
Senses overwhelmed in fire, where no man can hide his heart
The gloried noble battle, and we all must play our part
[Chorus]

I’ve fought with kings and dukes and knights, and baser common men,
The trumpets called us equal -- and bleeding now and then,
We’re a brotherhood in armor, as in days of yore
We fight for Ansteorra, Pride, Honor and no more.
[Chorus]

This was taken by April Gillilan and Mark Williams and altered and added to (with my permission) in the following fashion: (I'm told it's quite moving to hear it)

The Centurion’s Promise
Based on original lyrics by:  Marc Carlson
Tune of:  Battle Dawn, music by:  Mercedes Lackey and D.F. Sanders

 

In the ancient days of valor, the Romans ruled the world,
Their eagles led the vanguard, their bleeding capes awhirl
Their legions, cohorts, centuries, made up of valiant men.
And every hundred heroes led by their Centurion

And the haze of war surrounds us as in days of long ago,
The din of hell confounds us, the screaming of the foe
On a field of mud run crimson stands a lone Centurion
An Ansteorran eagle, is worth a hundred men

We must control our rage, or lose ability to plan
We must direct the fight from here, not charging in the van
Gods grant this day you fall beneath the steel of me and mine
And drink full deeply of defeat, that cold and bitter wine

The smashing of the hammer -- the impact of the shields,
Heartbeats rushing, pounding, and the foe begins to yield,
Senses overwhelmed in fire, where none can hide his heart
The gloried noble battle, and we all must play our part

We've fought with kings and dukes and knights, and baser common men,
The trumpets called us equal -- and bleeding now and then,
We're a brotherhood in armor, as in the days of yore
We fight for Ansteorran Pride and Honor and no more.

It is for the black and gold, that we make our stand
Your army like an eager hound lies waiting your command
We make this promise to you, as we run into the fray
By all the stars that ever shone,
By all heroes, known and unknown,
For the Ansteorran Sable Throne
We’ll win the war this day!

(Note: the third and the last stanzas, as nice as they are, are not my work; nor was I intending on doing anything to a Mercedes Lackey tune).