(no subject)

[catsittingstill]

In the course of me getting trounced at Scrabble the other night, thymidinekinase and I talked a little about the Temeraire series (_His Majesty's Dragon_, _Throne of Jade_, _Black Powder War_ by Naomi Novik). I got these books for my birthday (thanks to all those who sent birthday wishes, by the way--I had a *lovely* birthday) and devoured them in three days, then turned around and re-read them because of something in the back of _Black Powder War_.

I got so fired up thinking about them that I wrote a new song on the way home.

This would be a good thing. This *is* a good thing. Except that the last verse is kind of a spoiler if you haven't read all the way through to the back of _Black Powder War_. And I don't want to inflict spoilers on anyone. So here's the deal. The song also works without the last verse, and has only pretty mild spoilers up to that point (it's about two minor characters that appear halfway through the first book and have maybe four pages onstage). So I'll post the song without the last verse behind a cut. If people express a desire to have the last verse, I'll put that up behind a cut in a different post, so people can comment on this one if they like without having to see the last verse.


Captain James' Song
lyrics and melody by Catherine Faber

Volly's my dragon, my favorite thing
No one can touch him for speed on the wing
Volly's my treasure, the truth must be told;
I'd rather have Volly than jewels and gold!
Truth must be told; a treasure I hold;
I'd rather have Volly than jewels and gold!

Volly's my dearest, so simple and mild
The heart of a lion, the mind of a child
Emerging unmarked from a courier's strife
I'd rather have Volly than children and wife
A courier's strife adds spice to his life,
I'd rather have Volly than children and wife.

Some dragons are clever; some dragons are smart;
They speak foreign tongues and learn poems by heart.
I'd rather have Volly, my Prince of the skies,
Than all other dragons more learned and wise.
Prince of the skies, it's you that I prize
Over those dragons more learned and wise.

I was fourteen when your shell broke and then
You chose me your captain, the gladdest of men.
We've always been partners as nature intends,
The finest of flyers, the fastest of friends!
Nature intends, what rises descends:
The finest of flyers the fastest of friends!


(I was thinking on the way home about how the normally cool and restrained and formal 19th century people might talk to their dragons when no one else is around to see them being silly. Volatilus seemed a particularly good candidate, because he's, well, simple. The dragon breeders were trying for speed with his cross, and they got it, but the sharp wits part seems to have got left behind.)



If people want sheet music, let me know; I'm pretty sure I can put up a PDF.

Comments

[thymidinekinase.livejournal.com]

Awwww. I have a soft spot for Volatilus, and I'd like to see the last verse, please.

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

Can do; I will put it up in a separate post with appropriate spoiler warnings.