Real World Songs For a Bard


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The Exchange

A while back the idea came to a friend of mine to use real world songs adapted here and for in game use. Examples would be removal of things that are dependent on technology from the song (like if a song mentions computers) and also at times cutting just a fraction of the song out to be used in game. This works best in an online environment unless you're just a good singer and depending on the game world, you might not have to change anything.

But I can't think of too many songs and I was wondering if anyone else has ever had this idea or if anyone can just think of some songs that would be of good use. Even if they're just for the bard to play in-between action.


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Just off the top of my head Iron Maiden's Dance of the Dead and the Journeyman would be good.

Shadow Lodge

I will have to go check it out, March of Cambreadth is one of the first ones we thought of.


If you get into FILK music the list is endless. Also if your in The Society for Creative Anachronism(SCA) certain groups have their own music such as The legend of the Isenfir or my personal favorite even thou I'm not associated with the group is called Vivat Trimeras(check the spelling on that one) Be ye warned however that once you hear these songs they will not leave your mind. You too will be getting strange looks from those mundains around you when your caught singing "Mistress Tanis is in the kitchen cutting mushrooms and basting chicken, Mistress Tanis is in the kitchen and a spoon is in her hand." Then again some of the songs by Michael Longcore are to good not to belt out loud. I'm a truck driving vampire comes to mind first. Hope this helps, good gameing to you.

Dark Archive

I've always been partial to 'The Minstrel Boy'

A 'stronger' and more 'masculine rendition'

Lyrics

Spoiler:

The minstrel boy to the war is gone,
In the ranks of death ye will find him;
His father's sword he hath girded on,
And his wild harp slung behind him;

"Land of Song!" said the warrior bard,
"Tho' all the world betray thee,
One sword, at least, thy rights shall guard,
One faithful harp shall praise thee!"

The Minstrel fell! But the foeman's chain
Could not bring his proud soul under;
The harp he lov'd ne'er spoke again,
For he tore its chords asunder;

And said "No chains shall sully thee,
Thou soul of love and brav'ry!
Thy songs were made for the pure and free
They shall never sound in slavery!"

I also posted this harp cover of 'Into the West' a year ago on the messageboards. Worth checking.

Liberty's Edge

This is one of my favorite things to do when playing a bard; choosing real-world songs and re-writing the lyrics for in-game situations.

Some of my hits over the years have included:

Runnin' from the Thieves' Guild to the tune of Proud Mary.

That Gnome Device is Dangerous to the tune of the M*A*S*H Theme.

Home, In a Great Big Pointy Hat to the tune of Fatbottom Girls.

The Baatezu Went Down to Cormyr to the tune of Devil Went Down to Georgia.

I've been trying to hammer out the lyrics to It's the Age of the Worms, and we Know It!, recently, but it's been a little tricky.


About ten years ago I GMed an Earthdawn campaign. One of the major NPCs was a horror-tainted troubadour. He would constantly recite his poems, which were the lyrics to various Depeche Mode songs. That was pretty scary.

Also, another NPC was a knight who always wanted to be a troubadour. He'd sing all day long, with a terrible singing voice, songs like "Knights in white satin", "No more lonely knights" or "Oh what a knight".


I suggest some of the work by Blackmore's Night. They do music suitable for Rennaissance Festivals. For taverns, you could break out 'Under a Violet Moon' for example, while I think 'The Circle' would be great while visiting gypsies. For more martial music, I've always liked 'End of All Hope' and '10th Man Down' by Nightwish, but then I have my share of issues;)

Sovereign Court

How about the Ballad of Bilbo Baggins?

Scarab Sages

I sometimes play background music to remind players of where they are currently, ie a particular song for overland travel, city or town time, etc. I used songs from Conan the movie and Braveheart soundtracks for combat sequences, Loreena McKennit and Secret Garden for town, travel, and fey location background music.


I played (and still play) in a D&D campaign set in the real world in 13th century Europe as a Scotish nationalist who had a whole group of Scots bards called The Proclaimers. And we totally did walk 500 miles and then 500 more.

There are some traditional folk songs that would work like "Roddy McCorley" "Nancy Whiskey" and "The Rising of the Moon". All of those songs are done well by Shane MacGowan and the Popes on their album "The Snake" if you're interested.

Here's some other songs I could think of that might work:

The Decemberists:
"Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect"
"A Cautionary Song" (it's a pretty dirty song, but it's perfect bard music. I could totally imagine this being played at a tavern by a gnome.)
"The Legionnaire's Lament"
"The Chimney Sweep"
"We Both Go Down Together"

The Pogues: Almost anything by them will work but here's some specific songs.
"The Wake of the Medusa"
"Hell's Ditch"
"Turkish Song of the Damned" (really really good bard song! creepy too!)
"A Pair of Brown Eyes"
Pretty much everything from their first album, Red Roses For Me.

Some other artists to look into are The Waterboys and Al Stewart.

Scarab Sages

The Bard Song
Of Skalds and Shadows
Harvest of Sorrows
Fiddler on the Green
A past and Future Secret
Mordred's Song
Scarborough fair

Scarab Sages

And of course unbeatable classics like:
No Goblin No cry
The Dragon Sleeps tonight
or In the Nightwatch now.


Barrett's Privateers is a Canadian folk classic that would require very little work to fix.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrett's_Privateers
If you know the tune:

Oh, the year was 4678, HOW I WISH I WAS IN RIDDLEPORT NOW!
A letter of marque came from the king,
To the scummiest vessel I'd ever seen,
G~& d!+n them all!

I was told we'd cruise the seas for Chelaxian gold
We'd fire no guns-shed no tears
Now I'm a broken man on a Korvasan pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers.


If you want a little humor there's always the "Bard on the Run' stuff from the old Dragon magazines. A fighter favorite in my group was the ZZ top cover Steel Dressed Man


I've been listening to pandora.com lately, and have come to the conclusion that there's good celtic-punk stuff.

Their algorithm has thrown together the Dropkick Murphys, The Young Dubliners, Flogging Molly, Alestorm (I think - pirate-punk metal) . . . lots of fun stuff. Plus there's bagpipes.

Lantern Lodge RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32

How about Epic Metal?

I know Manowar has quite a few songs you could adapt; Courage on their Louder than Hell album springing immediately to mind...
Battle Hymn, Call to Arms, Carry On, Heart of Steel are all good ones.


The bard in my game has a playlist that he uses for different things. When he plays a song, the group know they have a certain benefit.

For example.

Inspire competence - "You're the Best Around" by Joe Esposito (Theme from Karate Kid)

Inspire courage - "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor

It started out being funny, but now it's actually a pretty cool way of doing it. My players like it anyway.


Most Dragonforce songs would make great bard songs with no changes.


Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens Subscriber

Although it's a little off the "traditional" bard path, I would suggest Last Forever.

There are some haunting renditions of American folk songs that could be used for certain bard songs or mood setting. Hide & Seek, In The Pines, and Wild Goose might work well.
In that same vein, you might look at using some of the songs from O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Sticking to a more Renaissance feel, you might also consider music by the Mediaeval Baebes. There work tends to be choral in nature, so maybe not the best for a singular bard. But the stuff tends to be thematic, so you can usually find a few songs that would match up to an effect for spells, etc.


Prince That Howls wrote:
Most Dragonforce songs sound like they're being played by a bard who's had Haste cast on him and then drunk about 10 cups of very strong coffee in quick succession

Fixed that for ya ;)

Liberty's Edge

Great, now I'm reminded of the bard I wanted to play in Council of Thieves. I distinctly remember coming up with some notes as to what I wanted to do for songs, so any bards out there feel free to use these! (Note: Some of these are pretty damned fourth-wall breaking, but I don't care. That bard didn't last two sessions anyways.)

Inspire Courage: Chorus from "Copa Cabana," Barry Manilow, edited lyrics:
Time to inspire! Inspire Courage!
Plus one* to all who hear this!
When you're inspired! Inspired Cour-rage!
To hit and damage, unless you're a baad guyyy
Don't let me drop

*This lyric was planned to change as I gained bard levels.

Countersong: Random beatboxing

Distraction: (Dancing an Irish jig. Damn visual components.)

Fascinate: "You're So Vain," Carly Simon

Inspire Competence: (Pick any R. Lee Ermey quote. Tailor to skill check as necessary.)
"WHAT PART OF GOLARION ARE YOU FROM, DIRTBAG!? KYONIN!? HOLY TARRASQUE )&(^&*!"

(Mass) Suggestion: "You're So Vain," Carly Simon, chorus edited as needed:
You're soooo vain,
You probably want to hit that guy now
You're so vain (so vaiiiiiiin)
You probably want to stab that guy now,
Don't you? DON'T YOU?!

Dirge of Doom: "One," Metallica

Inspire Greatness: "You're the Best Around," Joe Esposito

Song of Soothing: "A Hard Day's Night," The Beatles, refusal to edit lyrics. Hey, *I* find Beatles tunes pretty damn soothing!

Frightening Tune: (I, uh... I had nothing here. I was probably gonna shout "Uboaaaaaah!" or something.)

Inspire Heroics: (humming the theme song from King's Quest VIII: Mask of Eternity)

Deadly Performance: "Master Exploder," Tenacious D (complete with "Sorry!" after the Will saves)


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I've had enough D&D campaigns that have spilled over into d20 Modern that I'm not quite so concerned about a total lack of modern references. Following are a number of the songs that I've got in the playlists for a few of my favorite bard characters...

Inspire Courage

  • Thunderhorse (Dethklok)
  • Sleipnir (Manowar)
  • Cold is the Blade [and the Heart that Wields It] (Jag Panzer)
  • We Will Rock You (Queen)
  • Montagues & Capulets (Epica)
  • What We Need is a Hero (Beowulf Soundtrack)
  • Locked and Loaded (Jackyl)
  • Don't Tread on Me (Metallica)

Countersong

  • Emerald Sword (Rhapsody of Fire)
  • Party Party Party (Andrew W. K.)
  • Forever (Kamelot)
  • Get Over It (The Eagles)

Fascinate

  • March of Mephisto (Kamelot)
  • Human Nature (Madonna)
  • I Kissed a Girl (Katy Perry)
  • Grindhouse [Main Title] (Grindhouse Sountrack)
  • Closer (Nine Inch Nails)

Suggestion

  • Bad Influence (P!nk)
  • Are You Gonna Go My Way (Lenny Kravitz)
  • Temptation (The Tea Party)
  • Hella Good (No Doubt)
  • Phantom of the Opera (Nightwish)

Dirge of Doom

  • Creepshow (Kerli)
  • Thriller (Michael Jackson)
  • This is Halloween (Marilyn Manson, Nightmare before Christmas Soundtrack)
  • The Rise of Sodom and Gomorrah (Therion)

Inspire Greatness

  • Melancholy [Holy Martyr] (Iced Earth)
  • Eagleheart (Stratovarius)
  • Be Good to Yourself (Journey)
  • What You Waiting For (Gwen Stefani)
  • Anything You Can Do [I Can Do Better] (Annie Get Your Gun)

Soothing Performance

  • Enjoy the Silence (Depeche Mode)
  • Ship of Luna (Therion)
  • Don't You Cry (Kamelot)
  • Walking in the Air (Nightwish)
  • The Mummer's Dance (Loreena McKennitt)

Frightening Tune

  • Awaken (Dethklok)
  • Enter Sandman (Metallica)
  • Whoever Brings the Night (Nightwish)
  • Lochness (Judas Priest)

Inspire Heroics

  • Time Stands Still [at the Iron Hill] (Blind Guardian)
  • End of All Hope (Nightwish)
  • Dragonslayer (Battle Lore)
  • The Mission [1943] (Jag Panzer)
  • O Fortuna (Therion)


Hi Ho! from the Snow White Disney movie, but only if you're a dwarf.


Laithoron wrote:
Lots of good stuff.

Nice work Laithoron!

Sovereign Court RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8

I'd suggest Bear McCreary's "Wander My Friends" from BSG Season 1.

Here's the translation of the lyrics:

Spoiler:

Wander my friends, wander with me
Like the mist on the green mountain, moving eternally
Despite our weariness, we'll follow the road
Over hills and valleys, to the end of the journey

Come on my friends and sing with me
Fill the night with joy and sport
Here's a health to the friends who have gone from us
Like the mist of the green mountain, gone forever


grufflehead wrote:
Prince That Howls wrote:
Most Dragonforce songs sound like they're being played by a bard who's had Haste cast on him and then drunk about 10 cups of very strong coffee in quick succession
Fixed that for ya ;)

Well, I meant the lyrics, but yeah.


Lathiira wrote:
Laithoron wrote:
Lots of good stuff.
Nice work Laithoron!

Thanks Lathiira! :) Since you mentioned Blackmore's Night earlier, I actually have a few of their songs in a playlist themed for a "gypsy" merchant caravan in my campaign world: Loreley, Cartouche, and Home Again.

Oh, and I was informed by a friend that "Let the Bodies Hit the Floor" by Drowning Pool would be a good candidate for Deadly Performance. ;)


Laithoron wrote:
Lathiira wrote:
Laithoron wrote:
Lots of good stuff.
Nice work Laithoron!

Thanks Lathiira! :) Since you mentioned Blackmore's Night earlier, I actually have a few of their songs in a playlist themed for a "gypsy" merchant caravan in my campaign world: Loreley, Cartouche, and Home Again.

Oh, and I was informed by a friend that "Let the Bodies Hit the Floor" by Drowning Pool would be a good candidate for Deadly Performance. ;)

For me it's Ocean Gypsy, Ghost of a Rose, Sister Gypsy. But those are good ones too!

As for "Let the Bodies Hit the Floor", well, I might want to remember that one as the verbal component for wail of the banshee when I get around to casting it, though my mass heal had similar effects against some devourers. It's not like bards are the only people who can sing, right?

Liberty's Edge

The last verse of 2112 would make an excellent Deadly Performance.

The sleep is still in my eyes
The dream is still in my head
I heave a sigh and sadly smile
And lie a while in bed

I wish that it might come to pass
Not fade like all my dreams
Just think of what my life might be
In a world like I have seen

I don't think I can carry on
Carry on this cold and empty life
My spirit's a lone in the depths of dispair
My life's blood...spills over...

Unfortunately, you'd have to cut the whole "we have assumed control" part for the sake of a fantasy setting.

Oh, well. Can't have everything.

Liberty's Edge

If you have a metal bard, Fight Fire with Fire, Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets - all good for bolstering allies that uses the corresponding magic types.

Liberty's Edge

If someone broke out Holding On For A Hero by Bonnie Tyler (think Footloose - the tractor jousting scene) as a bardic performance, that would be CLASSIC.

Liberty's Edge

Am I the only one that uses Zeppelin songs for Bards?

Liberty's Edge

SQuigley316 wrote:
Am I the only one that uses Zeppelin songs for Bards?

What's the song of death? "Stairway to Heaven" I would hope.


SQuigley316 wrote:
Am I the only one that uses Zeppelin songs for Bards?

Man... I bet we could have a whole thread just about what Zeppelin songs to use for bards! ;)

After watching "The Song Remains the Same", I'm thinking that the 26-minute version of "Dazed and Confused" is quite possible the definitive Fascination effect.

Xpltvdeleted wrote:
What's the song of death? "Stairway to Heaven" I would hope.

In the words of Robert Plant, "This is a song of hope!" I'd be inclined to think of it as more of a soothing performance myself.

"In My Time of Dying," or "Gallows Pole" might make good Deadly Performances though.


How about Turn the Page, by Bob Seger?

Spoiler:
On a long and lonesome highway
East of [insert city name]
You can listen to the horse
moanin' out its one-note song
You can think about the woman
or the girl you knew the night before
But your thoughts will soon be wandering
the way they always do
When you're ridin' sixteen hours
and there's nothin' much to do
And you don't feel much like ridin',
you just wish the trip was through

So here I am
On the road again
There I am
Up on the stage
And here I go
Playin' star again
There I go
Turn the page

Well you walk into a tavern,
strung out from the road
And you feel the eyes upon you
as you're shakin' off the cold
You pretend it doesn't bother you
but you just want to explode.

Most times you can't hear 'em talk,
other times you can
oh, the same old cliches,
"Is that an elf or a man?"
And you always seem outnumbered,
you don't dare make a stand

So here I am
On the road again
There I am
Up on the stage
And here I go
Playin' star again
There I go
Turn the page

Out there in the spotlight
you're a million miles away
Every ounce of energy
you try to give away
As the sweat pours out your body
like the music that you play
Later in the evening
as you lie awake in bed
With the echoes from the fireballs
ringin' in your head
You smoke the day's last pipeweed,
rememberin' what she said

So here I am
On the road again
There I am
Up on the stage
And here I go
Playin' star again
There I go
Turn the page

Yeah here I am
On the road again
There I am
Up on the stage
Here I go
Playin' star again
There I go
There I go

Liberty's Edge

I remember there was a variant bard in one of the Dragon Magazine's that de-buffed the opposition rather than buffing the party (Harbinger?).

There could be some good songs for that, too, such as:

Imply Imcompetence: Dare to be Stupid by Weird Al Yankovic

Inpsire Fear: Run Like Hell by Pink Floyd


This one might be good:

Where The Wild Roses Grow

And you might check the site The Santharian Dream. There are a number of good songs that fit.

Dark Archive

Cuchulainn wrote:
That Gnome Device is Dangerous to the tune of the M*A*S*H Theme.

That's hilarious!

Liberty's Edge

Set wrote:
Cuchulainn wrote:
That Gnome Device is Dangerous to the tune of the M*A*S*H Theme.

That's hilarious!

I'll post the lyrics if I can find them, I wrote it about 5 or 6 years ago.

Dark Archive

Where there's a whip, there's a way - from the animated Hobbit.

Liberty's Edge

Check out Richard Shindell and Dave Carter. They're (or in the case of Dave Carter, were) some of the best modern folk artists out there, and have a talent for writing very medieval troubadour -esque songs.

Liberty's Edge RPG Superstar 2015 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2013 Top 16

Morgen wrote:
How about the Ballad of Bilbo Baggins?

You should warn people. That is some serious high octane nightmare fuel.

Sovereign Court

Cuchulainn wrote:

The last verse of 2112 would make an excellent Deadly Performance.

The sleep is still in my eyes
The dream is still in my head
I heave a sigh and sadly smile
And lie a while in bed

I wish that it might come to pass
Not fade like all my dreams
Just think of what my life might be
In a world like I have seen

I don't think I can carry on
Carry on this cold and empty life
My spirit's a lone in the depths of dispair
My life's blood...spills over...

Unfortunately, you'd have to cut the whole "we have assumed control" part for the sake of a fantasy setting.

Oh, well. Can't have everything.

My friends like to listen to "theme songs for their characters to get them in the right mind set for the coming adventure. Let the bodies hit the floor was the group anthem for a while :)

Dark Archive

A lot of Dire Straits numbers would fit in for bard songs...

E.g. Brothers in Arms

These mist covered mountains
Are a home now for me
But my home is the lowlands
And always will be
Some day you'll return to
Your valleys and your farms
And you'll no longer burn
To be brothers in arm

Through these fields of destruction
Baptism of fire
I've watched all your suffering
As the battles raged higher
And though they did hurt me so bad
In the fear and alarm
You did not desert me
My brothers in arms

There's so many different worlds
So many different suns
And we have just one world
But we live in different ones

Now the sun's gone to hell
And the moon's riding high
Let me bid you farewell
Every man has to die
But it's written in the starlight
And every line on your palm
We're fools to make war
On our brothers in arms


There was this exact thing in a novel that I read a long time ago.

I think it was Piers Anthony

the main character was a bard

and he had a song battle with another bard and the death song was

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.

Anyone remember this?

RPG Superstar 2009 Top 16

Inspire Greatness

Ok maybe for an orc bard


OK I have a slight thread jack-esqe question. Does anyone have the OLD dragon issues that feature Bards on the run.

I know it's in the 2nd ed era and the main song I can remember is a beach boys knock off called Fun,Fun,Fun(till her daddy takes her longsword away)
Another was a beatles knock off called (bards) on the run.

I know they did at least 2 issues of this but thye were spaced pretty far apart.

Can anybody direct me to them or post them here?

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