We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

On The Battlements

by Zanda Myrande

/
1.
2.
BONES OF THE LAND Some things are lost,  but some things remain. We come down from the mountains,  and we wander the plain. You can see in our eyes if you venture to look There's a knowledge that lies far deeper than topsoil and sand. It was old long ago, never bound in a book, But pay us our fee and we'll show you the bones of the land. Some things are soft,  but some things are strong. Build your house on the sand,  it will stand not for long. Pay a call on the caves where your forefathers lie From the dust of their graves they can speak so that some understand. Those who listen and learn of the how and the why Know that wise folk will always return to the bones of the land. Stone forged in fire, or shaped by the flood, Fallen from heaven, or grown from the wood, Each has its secrets, to keep and to hold, Some stones yield copper, or iron, or gold... Some things are smooth,  and some things are rough. Knowledge is power,  but never enough. With a long enough lever the world can be moved So pay us our fee and we'll build you a firm place to stand. A thousand times tested, a thousand times proved, Our knowledge the treasure we wrest from the bones of the land. Stone has its virtues, stone has its flaws, Governed by ancient, immutable laws, You may call us heartless, unyielding and cold, As long as you pay us in silver or gold... Some things are forever,  some just for a day, Time and its power  wear all things away. We'll strengthen your castle by craft and design Its protection will last out your time through the work of our hand. Our reward is your coin and the fame that will shine Even when we are gone and we join with the bones of the land.
3.
SWORDS AND GOLD (C) Here they come now in a great noisy crowd Tramping too heavily, talking too loud Women and men and their beasts, in uproarious hordes. Blind to the rhythm, deaf to the rhyme We knew it was only a matter of time Before they invaded our land with their gold and their swords. How can you talk to a foe who can't hear you? How can you drive back a foe who won't fear you? How can you make them consider or care When they don't even know that you're there? Gone is the quietude we used to know They'll rip up the landscape wherever they go Looking for stone or for metal or what can be sold. They'll burn down the forests and dam all the streams Driven by whatever lives in their dreams Such is the way when their gods are their swords and their gold. How can you talk to a foe who can't hear you? How can you drive back a foe who won't fear you? How can you make them consider or care When they don't even know that you're there? They'll break up the currents of power that run Through the land and  they won't even know what they've done For their souls are all sundered from life and their hearts are all cold. They only believe what they touch and they see They cut themselves off and proclaim that they're free And they think they can solve all their problems with swords and with gold. How can you talk to a foe who can't hear you? How can you drive back a foe who won't fear you? How can you make them consider or care When they don't even know that you're there?  They seal themselves up in their boxes of stone Abuse what they know and ignore the unknown And when it's too late they complain that they never were told. And when they have laid all this bounty to waste They'll move to some other place more to their taste And destroy it likewise with their pride and their swords and their gold. So we will not speak to a foe who can't hear us We'll fly far away from this foe who won't fear us And find a new home where we won't have to care For these children who don't know we're there. Who never could know we were there.
4.
AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE I shall build a castle atop this hill With my workers' sweat and my master's will And the stone that forms the bones of this our land. I shall build it strong, I shall build it high And the topmost tower will affront the sky There is no assault my work shall not withstand. And from that tower my lord shall gaze From the glow of dawn to the sunset blaze And as far as runs the light shall run his mastery-- As far as the eye can see, I can see. Where the soldiers march and the soldiers sing The blessings of the gods they bring And the priests are marching boldly at their side. And in every town that they make secure We build a shrine that shall endure While the lord's line and its godliness abide. And from his tower as he looks down Over field and stream, over farm and town His dominion shall be strengthened by our sanctity-- As far as the eye can see, He will see. Where the army goes and the priests remain We follow with our baggage train And we set our stalls in every village square. For the needs of the people must be met And we merchants take what we can get With our consciences to keep our dealings fair. And the lord may scan his vast domains As we count the costs and record the gains And on every hand the signs of our prosperity-- As far as the eye can see, We will see. (instrumental) Now the ancient castle on the hill Has been there for years and is standing still But there ain't no lord lives up there any more. For priests' corruption and merchants' greed Awoke in us a pressing need And we rose to drive them out in civil war. Now the priests and the army are gone for good And the children play where the old lord stood And they look out on a land of peace and liberty-- As far as the eye can see, They can see. As far as the eye can see, We all can see.
5.
THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT My lady is kind I could not wish a better For mistress or Queen She keeps me in mind As here in this her letter May clearly be seen: "My dearest Joanne I bid thee take a message To Guerau de Spes. Regard well the man; His manner may well presage Far more than he says." Don Guerau is fair And looks on me with favour Which I do return. He treats me with care; O would that I were braver! So strongly I yearn. My lady she hears My tale, yet her expression Gives nothing away. And ruled by my fears I use all my discretion And guard what I say. My lady has sent Another of her ladies To treat with the Don. I see her intent And wish the chit in Hades For I am outshone. Don Guerau, beguiled, And thoroughly distracted Wooed her in my stead. When she was defiled, My lady swiftly acted And cut off his head. My lady is cruel No doubt she thought it clever, This plan she had drawn. But I was the fool To think that she would ever Take thought for a pawn.
6.
AN ORDINARY MAN When you thinks about the way a castle's run I bet you that you never think of me You may think of mighty deeds and battles won But the part I know's the part you never see... I'm the bloke who minds the midden And I lives my life apart In a pokey little shack beneath the wall And when the nobles use the privies I gets out my little cart And I shovels up whatever they lets fall It may not have much glamour But I like to think it counts It's a necessary task to which I'm bidden So I watch for what emerges In  small or large amounts Then I pounces and I drags it to the midden. I'm the bloke who minds the midden And the gardeners they know That without me they'll not keep the nobles fed. For without a healthy compost Not a vegetable would grow And the orchards and the vineyards would be dead. So I goes round to the stables For to check on all the steeds What the ladies and the gentlemen have ridden And I gathers up the ordure For the turmuts and the swedes And I proceeds to take the lot back to the midden. When you thinks about the way a castle looks With its towers and its battlements ashine And you marvels at the pictures in your books The one part that you'll never see is mine... I'm the bloke who minds the midden And a midden-minder's lot Is quite humble and reclusive as you see But there was that time last August When for reasons I wot not The master's eldest son was forced to flee He came shinning down the drainpipe Nearly landed on my hand And for a purse of gold I kept him safely hidden And I know that he remembers Now he's lord of all this land 'Cause if you stand too close you still can smell the midden. I may be just a peasant And you may despise my kind But the world like a colossus we've bestridden. For however grand your dwelling And however pure your mind You will find you are beholden to a midden.
7.
KEEP AND HOLD Child, listen well, to what I tell, You are the heir to all I bear, When I am dead, my body cold, All shall be yours to keep and hold. All of this land, from hill to strand, Forest and field, and all they yield, Crops in the granary, kine in the fold, All shall be yours to keep and hold. Metal men mine, it shall be thine, Men quarry stone, this too you own, Copper and silver, gems and gold, All shall be yours to keep and hold. And those who toil, upon your soil, Women and men, and their chil-dren, Hale and the halting, young and old, All shall be yours to keep and hold. Compassion and care must mark my heir, No worthy lord need fear the sword, But those who betray their sacred vow They are gone hence; who names them now?    Know this you must, you rule in trust, Steward you stand, to all this land, Never complain you were not told, Else shall you neither keep nor hold.
8.
NO GREATER QUEST (E) You stand there proud in your armour And your eyes are bright as the sun And I know you're waiting for me to tell you Of noble deeds to be done You'd gladly slay me a dragon Or storm a castle or two So listen well, love, and I will tell you What I really want you to do... CHORUS Make me tea in the morning Wake me up with a kiss And when you have to go questing Tell me it's me you'll miss And when I'm cold in the winter Knit me a warm woolly vest Care for me as I care for you For me, there is no greater quest. I can see your sharp disappointment For these things seem trivial and small They won't bring you glory or fame Or add to your honour at all You'd rather win me a battle Or capture a wizard or three But listen well, love, for these are the things That really matter to me.... CHORUS Be there just when I need you But never get in my way When I'm down or frustrated Know just the right thing to say Help me deal with the housework And when I'm tired, let me rest. Share with me a lifetime of love There truly is no greater quest. Maybe you're thinking it's just not right A lady should ask far more of her knight A gorgon's head or a godling's hand Or an acre of land 'twixt the sea and the sand Such quests would flatter your ego But if that matters to you Then I just don't think you're man enough To do what I ask you to do... (instrumental verse) CHORUS Love me now and forever Not as woman but friend Side by side let us wander Till our quest shall come to its end And when we hang up our armour Lay our swords in the old oak chest Sit with me by the fireside With your old grey head on my breast And tell me the tale of our wanderings When we were the bravest and best The long long tale of our lifetime of love The noblest And the greatest quest.
9.
THE WEIGHT OF A SWORD The weight of a sword is much more than the weight of the steel It must be made real That cold lump of metal must first taste the kiss of the fire Awakened desire The steel must be tamed with the hammer and tongs Must be given the shaping that rightly belongs To a weapon of war that is fit to be borne by a lord. When the steel has been folded and moulded and flattened again And it flows with the grain Then the sword that will be must be touched by the kiss of the stone To grind and to hone. Choose your bevel and fuller with forethought and care For the work of your hands a brave warrior will bear And your edge must be sharp as the strength of your steel will afford. Once the honing is done to the fire your sword must return Its temper to earn And the well-heated blade must be granted the kiss of the oil So you waste not your toil Now clean off the scale and return to the heat Let the kiss of the air make the tempering complete That the elements four on your weapon may work in accord. Hone the blade once again, and ensure that your work be not marred By its pommel or guard Craft the handle in wood, wrap with leather and fix to the tang And then check the hang If your will is steadfast and your crafting is sure Then your blade will be faithful and long will endure And you'll know how much more than the steel is the weight of a sword.
10.
CASTLE IN THE MIND I fight back tears And turn to look at you But all I see is stone A wall I can't break through Your eyes are open but you might as well be blind. You've retreated to your castle in the mind. Those lowering walls Mortared with certainty Those narrow arrow slits That peer suspiciously No wonder you no longer know how to be kind When you're skulking in your castle in the mind. You stalk the battlements, you prowl the silent halls The guards salute you as they let you through. No need for conversation with these armoured thralls If they lifted up their visors they would all look just like you... The spiral stair Carven in black basalt You make your way with care Down to the utmost vault And to the strongroom where you keep it all enshrined The treasures of your castle in the mind. For enemies might come with trebuchets of thought And towers of argument you cannot fight You must defend your treasure, once so dearly bought And make sure that some cunning thief can't steal it in the night... Some bad ideas A lying tale or two Outdated prejudice A child could see right through These are your treasures, and you won't have them maligned So you keep them in your castle in the mind. I take a breath Again I turn away We're at the crossroads now There's nothing left to say I loved you once, but now I'm leaving you behind To haunt your empty castle in the mind. Enjoy your solitude, it's all you'll ever find In your dark and lonely castle in the mind.
11.
NIGHT OF NO MOON Gather round, lads and lasses, for this be the tale Of the terrible Night of No Moon. It was ten years ago in the Palthanok Vale And I was a heavy dragoon. The Amersi had taken the Keep of Kallai Which commanded the view far and near And the generals commanded it be taken back Not a word of dissent would they hear. CHORUS Ta-runda, ta-runda, ta-runda, ta-roo, Not a word of dissent would they hear. (last line of verse as applicable) Now a heavy dragoon is a cumbersome beast Not especially suited to stealth. What with armour and horse, you weigh one ton at least And it's seldom much good for your health. But there wasn't much choice, for it turned out that I Was essentially all that we'd got And so after discussion and one or two threats I volunteered there on the spot. CHORUS Having reached that decision, they turned with some care To getting me down off my horse. It had taken three hours to get me up there And a certain amount of brute force But with ropes and a pulley they set out to try And at last they succeeded, they did But I think I had been in my armour too long For I screamed when they took off my lid. CHORUS They dressed me in leather, which didn't feel nice I prefer being covered in plate And they hung on my belt an infernal device For the purpose of breaching the gate It was black as your hat, not a star in the sky As I crept o'er the ground like a flea I wasn't to know that my horse had escaped And was faithfully following me. CHORUS I set out to climb o'er the gate of the keep For to set off the bomb from inside. But meanwhile my horse had my belt in his grip For he wanted me once more to ride. The going was hard, but I couldn't tell why, Now I ask you how was I to know? And just as I'd mounted the top of the gate The stupid great gelding let go. CHORUS I flew through the air like an ungainly bird And into the keep's tower room. The Amersi commander had time for one word When the bomb on my belt it went boom. The enemy fled without saying goodbye And the keep of Kallai we reclaimed And the king dubbed me knight as I lay on my face With a wound not polite to be named. So drink up, lads and lasses, and raise up the cry And beat out the time with a spoon But I pray you excuse me for not sitting down-- For I am the Knight of No Moon.
12.
LET THAT BE AN END The sun is setting through the haze Not one of our better days Lie still, my friend No point in moving for a while I'll prop you up against this pile And let that be an end. They had the edge on us somehow But it doesn't matter now No way to mend I can hear a horse somewhere in pain I guess I'll go out there again And let that be an end. We did all right, you know, we two, We stopped the bastards getting through We saved the day Bought our lads time to make a plan Though we perished almost to a man The princess got away... Maybe the message that she brings Will reach the captains and the kings Where they contend And maybe now the tide will turn The fires of war will cease to burn And let that be an end. I'd like to think that that was true That the war would end soon, wouldn't you? I know you would Maybe then all this would be worthwhile Nice to think that what has been so vile Might come to good... Is it getting dark, or is it me? Not that there's a lot out there to see So let the night descend I'll just lie down here at your side Here where my comrades all have died And let that be an end.
13.
TAKE THIS PLACE The lady of the castle keep Entertaining generals three Drew nigh to listen to their talk From a point they could not see The war was over and peace declared And caught in a storm as they homeward fared They had stopped at the keep for food and sleep And hospitality... A: With a hundred doughty archers from the western border marches I could take this place B: With a single light division used with surgical precision I could take this place C: When we fought against the Zauni I'd a regiment of sappers They were physically scrawny but went at it like the clappers And I'd have them dance a ceilidh on the ruins of the bailey when I take this place. The lady of the castle keep Could not believe her ears Her home had held back the tide of war For several hundred years She hoped these fools with their drunken boasts Might invoke the ire of the castle ghosts As they planned and schemed and the lady dreamed Of ending their careers... B: With a big enough ballista and my little baby sister I could take this place C: With a spy among the scullions I'd poison the slumgullion and take this place A: At Ghusami Captain Rawlins had a fleet of covered wagons And he whipped off the tarpaulins and unleashed a horde of dragons With that kind of firepower I could burn down every tower and I'd take this place. The lady of the castle keep Was decidedly displeased It was not good form for them to plot How her castle might be seized Yet she stood stock still and without a sound And as the talk and the wine went round She remained on the spot and her wrath waxed hot And would not be appeased... C: Give me half a troop of yeomen and a favourable omen and I'd take this place A: Give me seven highland pipers and a crate of hungry vipers and I'd take this place B: In Comarrakai the natives fought all dressed in paint and feathers And my men all ran like caitiffs when they stabbed them in the nethers It might not be very sporting but they'd take a lot of thwarting and I'd take this place. The lady of the castle keep Had heard more than enough She crept up to these warriors bold And seized them by the scruff Dragging one in the left hand and two in the right She threw them out in the stormy night And they cringed and fled as she loudly said In accents grim and gruff: "I am really quite irate to find you reprobates debating how to take this place And I think it's simply hateful that you could be so ungrateful as to take this place I will write to your commander who, it chances, is my brother, When he hears about your candour you'll be crying for your mother And should you think to try it you should know I'll not sit quiet while you take this place. You will find I have battalions who look on me as royal And though some may be rapscallions they're really very loyal And they'll pound you into rubble if you ever give me trouble trying to take this place!"
14.
Moving On 06:13
MOVING ON The castle bathes in the sunset glow As we pack up, we prepare to go We stayed a while, we wrote some songs But no-one belongs here any more The dust motes dance in the empty rooms Long-weathered names on forgotten tombs Some people lived here long ago But nobody knows them any more It's only natural, we know the cycle well This is what happens, when life outgrows the shell Once we were weak, and we needed walls of stone Now we are grown And we can stand alone Moving on The castle's stood here for many years A silent witness to hates and fears This was the home of those who ruled But nobody's fooled here any more The days were cruel, the days were cold When we gave power to swords and gold They were the gods to whom we prayed But no-one's afraid here any more There's nothing new here, we learned it long ago Life needs protection, but just till it can grow What kept us safe, now only keeps us small Break down the wall And answer freedom's call Moving on Moving on The castle dwindles into the dusk A thing of beauty, but still a husk A testament to mighty deeds But nobody needs it any more The dead we reverence, in memory But we are living and we are free We make the future we deserve When nobody's servile any more Look back with love, on the heritage we share For there is honour and grace and beauty there Then turn again from that shell of crumbling stone For we are grown And we take on the unknown Moving on Moving on Moving on.

about

Gestalt are a fictional band from six thousand years in the future, when good music sounds very much like it does today. Since they can't sell their stuff here due to retrotemporal copyright problems, I recreate (i.e. write) their songs and perform them myself, sometimes with help from my friends. This is one such album of songs.

credits

released March 15, 2019

All songs composed, arranged and performed by Zanda Myrande, using Band In A Box, Cubase and Audacity.

Gestalt, if they were real, would be:
Tollain Kintarsh - drums and percussion, vocals, guitars, keyboards, extra hands
Suncat - vocals and percussion
Verneen Halannim - flutes, saxophones, other wind instruments
Kaichang Belgardis - axes, guitars
Orville Torres - bass, guitars
Korynn Mitwoch - synths, piano

Special fictional guest performers: Allegra Marques and members of the Conservatoire Offworld Symphony Orchestra, directed by Andrei Ostrovsky.

Once again, Zanda would like to offer heartfelt and grateful thanks to the wonderful people who have supported her on Patreon over the last two years:
Alan Thiesen
Allan Anderson
Allan Doodes
Andrew and Kate Soley-Barton
Barbara A Edwards (moved on)
Bianca Schöne
C.J.Ueberall
Caroline Mullan
Chantelle Smith
Chris O'Shea
Colin Fine
Courtney Faye
Dave Clement
Diana Bass
Eleri Hamilton
Elizabeth Anderson
Elizabeth Weber
Faeryn Cranney
Steve Melnikoff
Gwen Knighton Raftery
Harold Stein (moved on)
Howard Morris
J. Spencer Love
Jacqueline Duckworth
Jacqueline Mitchell
Jane Eggers
Jela Schmidt
Jerrie Adkins
Jessica Rydill
Joseph Abbott
Judith Bemis
Judith Mortimore
Julia H. West
Juliana McCorison
Kate Fractal
Kate Worthington
Kathryn Smith
Katie Howe
Katy Dröge-Macdonald
Kelira
Kevin Anderson
Krypton Radio
Lola
Louise Slamp
Maja Ilisch
Mike Whitaker
Morva Bowman
Nancy Lebowitx
Nigel Titley
Paul Bristow
Paul Point
Pooks
quarridors
Richard Wheatley
Robert Maughan
Robin
Sadie Fuentes
Sam Armitage
Sarah
Silke
Sky Taubert
Steffi
Sven Bothe
thnidu
Tom
Valerie Housden

license

tags

about

Zanda Myrande Westbury, UK

Zanda Myrande is still recovering from the trauma of being Zander Nyrond for several decades. She has only come out online at this point, for reasons which may be apparent from the picture above, but she proudly embraces her trans identity while still giving house room to Zander and the rest of the deadbeats who populate her head.

Lives in Wiltshire and has better friends than she deserves.
... more

contact / help

Contact Zanda Myrande

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Zanda Myrande, you may also like: