I've Been Writing Elder Scrolls Song Lyrics

SoulofChrysamere · 2025-01-15T05:27:49Z

Pretty much what it says in the title. It's been a long time since I've browsed this forum, let alone posted in it. But over the past few years, I've been writing a slowly growing list of song lyrics based in the lore of The Elder Scrolls, and now I share them here.

Content warnings for violence, death, and alcohol.

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ADVENTURERS, HARK!

Take up your courage, your spells and your steel.
Leave your homes' comforts and luxuries.
Your fame and your fortunes beg to be made real
Through plundering crumbling old treasuries.

How far will you fare till your valor wanes
Before nameless dangers and heresies?
Your wits and your strength may break under their strain
While greed twists best friends into nemeses.

*Hark now, adventurers, delve into those depths!
Carve out great legends to survive your own deaths!
Seek out the cold graves of troves real and fake!
It's well worth the risk for the glory at stake!*

Scour the humblest of deserted homes
From dark and dank cellars to musty lofts
And through ruined priories' libraries of tomes
Plus sundries in their haunted undercrofts.

Or search along Tamriel's loneliest coasts
For shipwrecks which still might hide merchandise
And all other crannies of which this land boasts,
From Elsweyr's warm sands up through Skyrim's ice.

*Hark now, adventurers, delve into those depths!
Carve out great legends to survive your own deaths!
Seek out the cold graves of troves real and fake!
It's well worth the risk for the glory at stake!*

Might you prefer nature's homespun spools
Of caves no less tangled than forest roots,
Drowned in dark waters and magma pools,
With secrets concealed deep in their chutes?

Or maybe the tombs of those long laid to rest,
Those heroes and kings of antiquity,
Whose men keep their posts at their leaders' behest
To punish graverobbers' iniquity?

*Hark now, adventurers, delve into those depths!
Carve out great legends to survive your own deaths!
Seek out the cold graves of troves real and fake!
It's well worth the risk for the glory at stake!*

Cut into Cyrodiil's tumbledown forts,
Still ripe with dread threats and old mysteries,
Ending fell denizens to loot the courts
Of fighting folks' red and gray histories.

Or stalk the white halls of the Heartland High Elves,
Where magical treasures still fill their vaults.
Stay vigilant lest you should perish yourselves
In devilish traps or undead assaults.

*Hark now, adventurers, delve into those depths!
Carve out great legends to survive your own deaths!
Seek out the cold graves of troves real and fake!
It's well worth the risk for the glory at stake!*

Jaunt dauntlessly through the bronze gauntlets of
The Dwarves' underground cities and citadels,
Extorting their scores so adored up above
From steam-powered beasts and ash-infidels.

Or seek ancient strongholds built by Dunmer hands
Whose masters and hosts, though now long deceased,
Wrought altars and corridors in which black bands
Of evil's ill children hold bloody feasts.

*Hark now, adventurers, delve into those depths!
Carve out great legends to survive your own deaths!
Seek out the cold graves of troves real and fake!
It's well worth the risk for the glory at stake!*

Go brave the fanged halls and soul-shriveling palls
Of Morrowind's crimson and crooked shrines,
Purloining cursed spoils from Daedra and thralls
Whose worship enkindles their dark designs.

If magic you've mastered, pierce through the realms' veils
To slay fiendish monsters and mythic lords,
Then pray your strength outlasts such grueling travails
And bears you back home with their treasure hoards!

*Hark now, adventurers, delve into those depths!
Carve out great legends to survive your own deaths!
Seek out the cold graves of troves real and fake!
It's well worth the risk for the glory at stake!*

Then, once you've ate well of the fruits of your toils,
Your legacies forged and your coffers lined,
You'll drink and dance till you shed your mortal coils
And those who tell tales tell yours in kind!

*Hark now, adventurers, delve into those depths!
Carve out great legends to survive your own deaths!
Seek out the cold graves of troves real and fake!
It's well worth the risk for the glory at stake!*

*It's well worth the risk for the glory at stake!*

============================================

FAIRWEATHER

My old body grows weary 'n I've drunk so much beer,
I've a mind to just sleep here upon this wood floor,
But grave blunders I've made and my sleep they've forbade,
For now everyone's begging for one more encore.
'Cause see, I'm a teller of tales,
Though a sailor no more and no slave to no gales,
But if stories you want, I've got stories to flaunt
From my past, and I'll spare you one more.

"Hail, bard! Pray, lend me your lute. I've a tune to go along with this one."

-

What's the worst sailin' this Nord's ever weathered?
That honor's fast tethered to a trip as a lad.
We'd a hold full of products in bountiful measure,
As dear as gold treasure in oaken chests clad.
I'd never helped man a grand vessel so fine,
A well-captained galleon of fine Skyrim pine,
White-sailed and sinewed with strong ivory twine,
With a keel deep 'n sharp keen to cut the sea's brine.

We set out from Windhelm for Leyawiin's ports,
A crew of crude sorts worth our salt and our vice.
We labored long hours and spent free time boozing
And losing at games of chess, checkers, and dice.
North Morrowind's ports met us like fickle friends,
Their wine and their women sweeter much than their men,
But their manners and atmosphere I'll well defend
In contention with all the sea's fell denizens.

*Oh, once more adrift on these lethal east seas,
Steeled to face even the queerest ill breeze.
And come what fate may, we'll reject its decrees
For the gallant Fairweather fears naught on these seas!*

Soon enough on the sea, there arrived the first sight
That drew our lips tight and raised up all our brows:
A vessel at rest, manned by ghosts to our eyes.
A strange case to surmise, so we paralleled bows
And checked below decks but found naught but some cargo,
High-septim contraband banned by embargo,
We talked and made theories on where the crew'd gone,
And discussed at length taking all the ship's items on.

But then, from the shadows, those pirates all leapt,
Steel bared at our necks, yet our tempers stayed tamed.
We tried compromise, but such talk they ignored,
So our own steel we bore; lives and loot we both claimed!
All their beer we chugged down as we bid adieu,
Forgetting the butcher's work we'd had to do,
A task helped along by east Morrowind's ports,
Where comfort lay quartered in imperial forts.

*Oh, once more adrift on these lethal east seas,
Where spiders spin webs laced with sweet fantasies.
But prey we'll not be and we'll take what we please
For the gallant Fairweather fears naught on these seas!*

Sometime after, we spied an old, slow-drifting brig,
Ill manned and ill rigged by some necromanced mates.
We tried sailing by without causing them fuss,
But they challenged us for to share their harrowed fates.
They raced after us with unnatural quickness,
Enshrouding us with their pall's smothering thickness.
Resistance we gave despite our boiling fear
And we proved our resilience to those cursed buccaneers.

At last we repelled 'em, though cost us it did.
Two men died to be rid of those profane creations.
We drew up some oil and lit up some torches
To task scorching flames with those fetchers' cremations.
Then away we all sailed while watching the blaze,
Each man feeling blessed to keep living his days.
Though Black Marsh's ports numbered few, they proved true
To taking our minds off that blasphemous crew.

*Oh, once more adrift on these lethal east seas,
Escaped from that tub of undeath and disease!
We'll honor our dead and spurn the memories
Of those cursed sojourners on these churning seas!*

Not too awful far from our main destination,
A manifestation of nature's rage roared.
Dark clouds ate the sun and chill winds bit our faces.
We sought the gods' graces lest we fly overboard.
But though we all scrambled and prayed as we worked,
Swore vengeance on what god by whom we'd been shirked,
The rain fell down in sheets, the ship rocked and we'd retch.
That storm was a hunter, our souls its to catch.

Then, out of the murk, amid lightning and thunder,
Arisen from slumber, a lovely voice sang.
"Ignore it, boys!" Cap'n said, and though we all tried,
One'd already spied from whom the song rang.
She floated up to the railing, aglow with young grace,
Dark tresses ensconcing a beautiful face.
The lad fell in her arms then began shouting, "No!"
As she turned to a ghoul and pulled him down below!

*Oh, once more adrift on these lethal east seas,
Besieged by fierce storms and these seaborn harpies!
Though once full of pride, we've been knocked to our knees
As we fight to survive on these merciless seas!*

If you'd thought that lad's death would've somehow abated
The storm's rage and sated those sirens' desires,
You'd have thought wrong as us, for our plight carried on,
And before such sheer brawn, the best luck still retires.
The gales kept whipping and with one great blast,
They tore 'cross the deck and ripped down our masts.
Then waves of great strength flipped the ship upside down,
Its cargo a loss and all the men left to drown.

I don't know the fate of the others at all;
I just know that damn squall nearly cut short my years.
I've no clue how I lived, and I've pondered it through,
But I blacked out then came to at Leyawiin's piers.
Two men fished me ashore, a Redguard and Orc,
Who then asked me my story o'er ale and roast pork.
I relayed it in full and they clapped their rough hands,
But I was just glad to be safe on dry land.

*Oh, no more adrift on those lethal east seas,
But marred with deep scars and bewitched reveries
Whose sorrows I'll drown in intense revelries
Till my want of gold lures me back out on those seas!*
—

Now, that's all! I'm done, off to bed for tonight.
Maybe come morning's light, I'll afford some more legends.
I've got tons of 'em, full of times soft and hard.
Here's your lute back, fair bard, see how the crowd beckons!
Hail, barkeep! I'll take one more drink for the road
Up these harrowing stairs to my cozy abode.
And remember, if ever the town guard comes calling,
Warn me discreetly and I'll flee while you're stalling!

*For though I no longer drift on any seas,
I still be a rascal with some enemies
Whose beefs might be ones with which the guard agrees,
And I'd rather dispense with such frivolities!*

===================================================

OLD DREUGHER DRELS

*Onward press, ol' Dreugher Drels!
That wretched dreugh you'll catch as well
As soothe your bruised and battered pride
While us mer sing and toast your life!*

Oh, there once was a master dreugher mer
With a sturdy ship and a grip so sure
Not one dreugh e're he dredged escaped
Any hook he raked or net he draped!

None save one, a great beast of a dreugh,
Some thrice big as the standard dregs!
When his heft met ol' Drels' net, it tore
It from his hands and left him floored!

*Onward press, ol' Dreugher Drels!
That wretched dreugh you'll catch as well
As soothe your bruised and battered pride
While us mer sing and toast your life!*

From that day on, dark clouds hung low
O'er ol' Drels' head wherever he'd go.
No drink or catch worth a noble's purse
E're eased the aging dreugher's curse.

Then one day, sea and sky so clear,
What but that dreugh should just appear!
Sheer luck it must've seemed to Drels,
Who felt his need for vengeance swell.

He shirked all concerned people's words
And put to sea quite undeterred,
No graying hair or aging limbs
Dissuading chasing redemption!

*Onward press, ol' Dreugher Drels!
That wretched dreugh you'll catch as well
As soothe your bruised and battered pride
While us mer sing and toast your life!*

It's been years now since Drels left here
And still no sign, so we all fear
The sea or dreugh one claimed his soul
If age hadn't first took its full toll.

Still, we hold hope that on that sea
He at last caught that dreugh and he
Retired somewhere like a king
With gold to spend and a tale to sing!

*Onward press, ol' Dreugher Drels!
That wretched dreugh you'll catch as well
As soothe your bruised and battered pride
While us mer sing and toast your life!*

======================================

ELDER SCROLLS DRUNKEN SAILOR

*Oh, what will we do with a drunken sailor?
What will we do with a drunken sailor?
What will we do with a drunken sailor?
Early in the morning!*

*Way hey, and up she rises!
Way hey, and up she rises!
Way hey, and up she rises!
Early in the morning!*

We set off from Firewatch's docks
One summer morning clear and still
To go diversify the stocks
Of shops in southern Cyrodiil!

Though early sailing went all well,
There soon arrived a wicked storm
Whose great rage raised a sort of hell
To make whole Sanguine cults reform!

*Oh, what will we do with a drunken sailor?
What will we do with a drunken sailor?
What will we do with a drunken sailor?
Early in the morning!*

*Way hey, and up she rises!
Way hey, and up she rises!
Way hey, and up she rises!
Early in the morning!*

"She's sinking, lads! She's going down!
The masts are smashed to pieces-parts!
Have at the booze, for if we drown,
At least we'll drown with merry hearts!"

And so the crew soon all devolved
Into a bunch of drunken curs
Whose unconcern stayed unresolved
Despite the captain's profane spurs!

*Oh, what will we do with a drunken sailor?
What will we do with a drunken sailor?
What will we do with a drunken sailor?
Early in the morning!*

*Way hey, and up she rises!
Way hey, and up she rises!
Way hey, and up she rises!
Early in the morning!*

Drank they well deep of greef and shein,
Sujamma, mazte, even flin,
Plus some more western wine and gin
With beer and mead for finishin'!

And at length even Captain twigged
The folly in persisting when
The only sober soul and swigged
Along with the rest of the men!

*Oh, what will we do with a drunken sailor?
What will we do with a drunken sailor?
What will we do with a drunken sailor?
Early in the morning!*

*Way hey, and up she rises!
Way hey, and up she rises!
Way hey, and up she rises!
Early in the morning!*

So sloshed were they, all failed to see
When they survived that rabid squall
In spite of their mass drinking spree
And now were near home ports of call.

Yet, their late cheers were soon replaced
By lamentations' sadder notes
As all of their wares went to waste,
Poured straight down their own salty throats!

*Oh, what will we do with a drunken sailor?
What will we do with a drunken sailor?
What will we do with a drunken sailor?
Early in the morning!*

*Way hey, and up she rises!
Way hey, and up she rises!
Way hey, and up she rises!
Early in the morning!*

*Trim his beard with a rusty saber,
Trap him in a soul gem till he's sober,
Sneak him into bed with a wizard's daughter!
Early in the morning!*

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A SAILOR'S TAVERN CRAWL

From dawn till Magnus' last light fades, we're sailing or we're sleeping,
Come calm seas or white lightning strikes that set the heavens weeping,
But once we're at our destination and the day's work ends,
We're off to local watering holes to spend our dividends!

So drink up, lads! The liquid relaxation's flowing heavy!
It's time to muster up each bit of room your guts can levy!
No spills allowed, 'cause wasted drops earn no true salt's endorsement!
Hey, I don't make the rules, lads, I'm just the law enforcement!

*Oh, drink her up, drink her up, drain every mug and bowl!
'Cause whether the haze recalibrates or just sedates your soul,
You'd best enjoy what scarce free time our job sees fit to dole,
'Cause 'fore too long, we're back on the sea to rip and raise and roll!*

If Skyrim be your mooring, you've a bevy of fine choices
With which to soothe sea-salted nerves and mellow gravelly voices!
But though there's many nectars nesting in her tavern's shelves,
There's only one drink true Nords view as part of they themselves!

A sweetly honeyed draught enchanting all true sons and daughters,
Of course it's mead, round here as commonplace as mountain waters!
Drink it straight, with fruits or herbs, or fortified with dairy,
Or spiced like many of Solitude's wines, or mixed with juniper berries!

*Oh, drink her up, drink her up, drain every mug and bowl!
'Cause whether the haze recalibrates or just sedates your soul,
You'd best enjoy what scarce free time our job sees fit to dole,
'Cause 'fore too long, we're back on the sea to rip and raise and roll!*

Now Morrowind's quite a queer beast when we're talking drink selections,
With lots of booze uniquely brewed to Dark Elves' predilections,
But worry not, for elven fermentation's naught to fear.
Sujamma's quite a kicking mix and mazte's decent beer.

And since it got imperialized, flin and brandy's lurking,
But staying local with fine taste don't take a lot of searching.
Come try some shein if light on coin, or if you're sitting richer,
Then greef's what you and your best mates too can chug down by the pitcher!

*Oh, drink her up, drink her up, drain every mug and bowl!
'Cause whether the haze recalibrates or just sedates your soul,
You'd best enjoy what scarce free time our job sees fit to dole,
'Cause 'fore too long, we're back on the sea to rip and raise and roll!*

Variety be the name of the game in Cyrodiil's thriving ports,
So come with throats wrung dry and weller off than nobles' courts!
You've got fine beers and whiskies local breweries have mastered
And ales and mead with strength enough that one pint leaves you plastered!

Plus rarer spirits like fine wines from far as Summerset,
Or meat-based ale from Valenwood for how strange things can get,
But truly no imported gem outshines the homegrown greats,
Skingrad's choicest vintages made from West Weald vineyards' grapes!

*Oh, drink her up, drink her up, drain every mug and bowl!
'Cause whether the haze recalibrates or just sedates your soul,
You'd best enjoy what scarce free time our job sees fit to dole,
'Cause 'fore too long, we're back on the sea to rip and raise and roll!*

Oh, Hammerfell's adventurous for drink aficionados,
With wines from pomegranates fit to kill lightweights' bravado,
And stoutest qishr in all shades from low to mid to high,
But no one's rounded out their journey minus Stros M'Kai!

You fancy rum? If not you will once you've spent time ashore
In Stros M'Kai's establishments, which all seamen adore!
You'll never taste a bad draft, but the sweetest versions' hooker's
Some Khajiiti inspiration with a dash of their moon sugar!

*Oh, drink her up, drink her up, drain every mug and bowl!
'Cause whether the haze recalibrates or just sedates your soul,
You'd best enjoy what scarce free time our job sees fit to dole,
'Cause 'fore too long, we're back on the sea to rip and raise and roll!*

High Rock, she sits high on the coast and higher still on the list
Of oceanside oases no dry sailor man should miss!
Apart from staples local and from Hammerfell beside her,
You'll kick yourself for leaving 'fore you try her apple cider!

Be they cultivated or just foraged from the wild,
Their apples pack a punch more often strong than weak and mild!
From Daggerfall to Wayrest, every species' subterfuge
Will hit your wits and warm your blood and dye your cheeks deep rouge!

*Oh, drink her up, drink her up, drain every mug and bowl!
'Cause whether the haze recalibrates or just sedates your soul,
You'd best enjoy what scarce free time our job sees fit to dole,
'Cause 'fore too long, we're back on the sea to rip and raise and roll!*

How 'bout it, lads? Was not that lap around old Tamriel
A lovely trip through regional drinks just as out on the swell?
What might your favorites be from every seaside town we made?
Or which perchance the best to rob your purse of all you're paid?

Whichever be the queen of all your liquid loves, I'd stake
That just one go around no real sailor's thirst could slake!
No time for sitting still on land, it's back on the deck with you!
We're off to light a few new flames and spark old ones anew!

*Oh, drink her up, drink her up, drain every mug and bowl!
'Cause whether the haze recalibrates or just sedates your soul,
You'd best enjoy what scarce free time our job sees fit to dole,
'Cause 'fore too long, we're back on the sea to rip and raise and roll!*

===========================================================

SCORNED AND SWORN REDUX
(Based off of "Downed and Drowned")

Prelude sank with all her host
Alone on the banks of Azura's Coast.
Curséd treasures were theirs to haul.
The Hlaalu never retrieved them all.