Random Acts

Here I am, re-reading John Ringo's and Travis Taylor's 'Looking Glass' series (a sci-fi milfic with lots of science, provided specifically by Dr. Travis Taylor (who, apparently is a ferret in a human body)) and again came across a song.

I know, big whoop, songs in books.  Well, so far in the series, various songs and groups have been mentioned, from "March of Cambraith" to "Men of Harlech" to "Winterborn" and "The Battle Hymn of the Republic."  All good or great songs, and we'll get to them soon, but first, the one that just stops me.

It happens when an acquaintance of a secondary character who is enamored of one of the primary characters is trying to be supportive and understanding to the secondary character when the secondary character is sad and mopey (for good reasons) because the primary character the secondary character is in love with is now in mortal danger because said primary character is doing his highly dangerous and short-life-expectancy job of going out and poking the bear (in this case, in space, far away from Earth, on a somewhat botched together space ship made out of an Ohio-class boomer - sci fi, dontcha know.)

And the understanding and supportive part is giving the secondary character a link to a video of a song.  That is just... a heartrending song that just tears your heart apart (well, tears my heart apart.)

"Homeward Bound" by Martha Keen, not the other "Homeward Bound" done by Simon and Garfinkle.

BYU Vocal Point featuring The All-American Boys Chorus

In the quiet misty morning
When the moon has gone to bed,
When the sparrows stop their singing And the sky is clear and red,
When the summer's ceased its gleaming When the corn is past its prime,
When adventure's lost its meaning
I'll be homeward bound in time
Bind me not to the pasture
Chain me not to the plow
Set me free to find my calling
And I'll return to you somehow
If you find it's me you're missing
If you're hoping I'll return,
To your thoughts I'll soon be listening, And in the road I'll stop and turn
Then the wind will set me racing
As my journey nears its end
And the path I'll be retracing
When I'm homeward bound again
Bind me not to the pasture
Chain me not to the plow
Set me free to find my calling
And I'll return to you somehow
Bind me not to the pasture
Chain me not to the plow
Set me free to find my calling
And I'll return to you somehow

Songwriters: Althouse Jay, Thompson Marta K

Really good song.  Makes me tear up every time I hear it, and once I hear it, I usually listen to it several times.

Then there's "Winterborn" by Crüxshadows, which is a Jacksonville (FL) Dark Wave and Dark Synth Pop group, whatever the heck those are.  Don't know, don't care, song's good.

Dry your eyes and quietly bear this pain with pride
For heaven shall remember the silent and the brave
And promise me they will never see, the fear within our eyes
(my eyes are closed)
We will give strength to those who still remain

So bury fear, for fate draws near
And hide the signs of pain
With noble acts, the bravest souls
Endure the heart's remains
Discard regret, that in this debt
A better world is made

That children of a newer day might remember

And avoid our fate

(I've waited all day in the pouring rain, but nobody came, no, nobody came)

And in the fury of this darkest hour
We will be your light
You've asked me for my sacrifice
And I am Winter born
Without denying, a faith is come
That I have never known
I hear the angels call my name
And I am Winter born

Hold your head up high-for there is no greater love
Think of the faces of the people you defend
(you defend)
And promise me, they will never see the tears within our eyes

(my eyes are closed)

Although we are men, with mortal sins, angels never cry

So bury fear, for fate draws near
And hide the signs of pain
With noble acts, the bravest souls
Endure the heart's remains
Discard regret, that in this debt
A better world is made
That children of a newer day might remember
And avoid our fate

And in the fury of this darkest hour
We will be your light
You've asked me for my sacrifice
And I am Winter born
Without denying, a faith in God
That I have never known

I hear the angels call my name

And I am Winter born

And in the fury of this darkest hour
I will be your light
A lifetime for this destiny
For I am Winter born
And in this moment..I will not run
It is my place to stand
We few shall carry hope
Within our bloodied hands
(bloodied hands)
And in our Dying, we're more alive-than we have ever been
I've lived for these few seconds
For I am Winter born

And in the fury of this darkest hour
We will be the light

You've asked me for my sacrifice

And I am Winter born
Without denying, a faith in man
That I have never known
I hear the angels call my name
And I am Winter born

Within this moment now
I am for you, though better men have failed
I will give my life for love
For I am Winter born
And in my dying
I'm more alive, than I have ever been
I will make this sacrifice
For I am Winter born

"March of Cambraith" is a silly song, well, to me, reminding me of bad SCA and Ren Faire filk songs. Not my cup of tea, but a lot seem to like it.  I don't.  Bleh.  Heather Alexander just doesn't do it for me.  If you want, you can look it up, but it's just a big bag of 'meh' to me.

"Men of Harloch" has been done several times here.  Love it.  Love it in the movie "Zulu."  But since it's been done so much, again, I'll let you all go find it if you wish.

Instead, how about a little "Nom Nobis" to which I was introduced to from the excellent movie adaptation of Shakespeare's play, "Henry V."

Yes, I have sung this after a nasty grungy battle full of mud and dirt and some blood, while bone weary tired and facing at least a 1.5 mile hike back, uphill, in a cold drizzling rain carrying all my kit.
And then have others join in.
To the point there were about a hundred of us singing.
And some male high tenor took the high part, and it transcended this mortal plain.
We all hugged and laughed and trudged together back to our various camps and cars.

One of those special moments.

Non nobis Domine, non nobis, sed nomine, Tuo da gloriam.

Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory.

Pretty simple, no?  Sung properly it will make your hairs lift your gambeson right off your filthy body and soul.

And to end it all off, well, how about a little pipe organ action, from the master of the pipe organ, Johann Sebastian Bach himself.  The Little Fugue in G.  My personal favorite of all of my favorite Bach pieces.

Who doesn't love a little organ action?

Told you all in the title that this was gonna be some random acts.  Random music acts.  I just don't listen to ELO, yaknow.

Next time I music all y'all up, I'll hit it with the emotion music...