Friday, February 29, 2008

A Proposed Anthem

The Kingdom of Stagonia is in a tizzy. Peter Simplissimus has proposed a "national anthem" for Stagonia . . . but Koenig Maurice has been (and remains) too upset by the result of battle to even hear the song.

Some members of his court like the song and some hate it. They've decided to publish the song and ask the public for their reactions to it. Here it is -- please let us know what you think of it:


Awake. ye children of Stagonia,
The day of Victory is here
See massed the ranks of the foes of Stagonia
See how their villainous leaders all jeer -
They want our riches, our women, our BEER!
From near and far their allies are cheering
Look, there, see their bayonets a-gleam!
Fear not, my brave Stagonian boys,
Fear not their musketry or shot!

Advance, Stagonia fair!
Their cries shall fill the air!
March on, march on!
See how they run!
Stagonia wins the day!

Remember well our hoary grandsires
Who fought and died for Stagonia fair.
Think of our maidens, beauteous and loyal,
Think of our matrons, proud and fair.
Would you submit them to rapine or care?
Yet these foul brutes now ranked before us,
Lust for rape, destruction and loot!
From your firesides you would get the boot-
While these beasts play footsie with your women!

To arms, Stagonians all!
Let honour be our call!
Fight on, fight on!
Fear not their guns!
Stagonia wins the day!

5 comments:

abdul666 said...

It COULD be an 'authentic' / real / historical (A. would add 'hysterical') anthem.

That summarizes all, in good and bad...

Jean-Louis
P.S.: could you (or Murdock, accustomed to post videos) post a link to the melody? I suspect it may sound like La Marseillaise

Fitz-Badger said...

hmm, not sure it quite captures the spirit of "vile"...
just kidding, it really does read well and sounds like something the Stagonians might've coerced a musician to compose. I mean "hired" a musician....

Martin said...

Hummmmmmmmm....I suppose it all depends on what kind of instrumental accompliment is available. Oompah type band - good. Kazoos and washboards - not so good. The main thing is can the tune be easily whistled by the civilians, and can the troops keep up a steady marching pace while the regimental band is puffing away?

Yours,

Martin

MurdocK said...

here's to hoping that Konig Maurice never 'hears' it at all...lest we end up with him wanting to 'achieve' all those victories that the song boasts!

Peter Simplissimus said...

It is a matter of common knowledge that the music to "La Marseillaise" was composed by Rouget de Lisle as "Chant De Guerre de l'armee du Rhin"in 1792. His music was adapted from "Variazioni sulla Marsigliese per violino e orchestra" by Giovanni Battista Viotti, written in 1784.
However, recent research has revealed that the original composer was none other than Hans Bumsen, the tune developed from a theme in "Don Corleone" {1750], namely, the catchy
"Al Matresses por Corleone, i miei ragazzi coraggio'
Per le Cinque Famiglie ci attaccano
Soprattutto quel Moe Verde di diavolo..."

This would fit in with Bumsen's expulsion from Tippelbruder in 1756and his cash floww shortage of that period.

For Bumsen's biography, see my blog. This would fit entirely with his general nasty character.