Chivalry Recommendation for Micah of Brighton Manor from the Laurel

http://mbouchard.com/misc/MicahsSong.mp3

photo by Mylène Bergeron Francoeur

From a brash and brazen man
To a calm and guiding hand
The stones beneath this path
Are worn from pacing

Once inward looking in
Now finding joy in others win
Seeing their success sets his heart racing
Ever loyal and true
Ever loyal and true
Ever loyal and true
This heart embracing

He used to love the fight
Providing mastery and ight
Nothings changed yet different every way/
He has become more
Like the lighthouse on the shore/
This new lens will lengthen every ray

I recommend to you
I recommend to you
I recommend to you
This brilliant knight today


I had been asked to speak as the Laurel for Micah’s elevation to chivalry. I was deeply moved, as I’ve known Micah since early college, and he’s one of the few people I see regularly (though still not enough.) I was quite surprised however to learn that there was a caveat — he wanted the recommendation to be sung.

I struggled, coming up dry again and again. Finally I threw my hands up and trusted that the muses would do what they do best, which is to bring their gifts to me at the last possible moment, like bread brought fresh to a feast. (Only at least one can smell the bread cooking, which is a comfort!)

Fortunately, my trust was not in vain, and this piece came together literally hours before I was to deliver it. Bonus – he cried. Extra bonus — so did everyone else…including me.

Neuer Ne Yeve Away – The Lay of Richard Rollings of Astley

This performance was recorded at the East Kingdom Bardic Championship in February 2023 as my final round offering, as His Majesty had requested that I include an instrument in my performance, and that maybe a love song would be good if I had one.

The story our poet tells is one of great and enduring love. He speaks of faithfulness, loyalty, and perseverance–among the best of the chivalric virtues.

I’d long wanted to perform this piece, which I translated to Middle English many years ago. It was only very recently, however, that I discovered how I would finally set it to harp. This recording is its debut performance. Probably it’s worth mentioning that I realized the setting roughly 36 hours prior to the performance and didn’t plan on performing it it, really, but the request from His Majesty made it clear that this piece was the only possible choice.

I don’t know how I managed to keep a straight face. There were only a couple of people who knew of this song’s existence, and when I started the introduction, my boon companion, who was standing in the back of the hall, suddenly made an elated football touchdown motion that threatened to undo my composure. (My expression at 00:22 is when I made eye contact with said companion for the first and only time during the performance, for self-preservation.)

Those who were in the know started quietly snickering early at the first chorus. Those who understood Middle English started to get it as it went along. That began the giggling and a little whispering. When the ever-composed Mistress Ana deGuzman, a poetess and performer who I greatly admire, suddenly put her head down on the table and transformed to a pile of shaking veil, it was all I could do to not leap up and make a touchdown gesture in delight. That alone was worth the whole adventure.

Ultimately, this closed out a great day. I dusted off my prowess, had well-received performances, and Rickrolled the East Kingdom during the finals.


The Lay of Richard Rollings of Astley

(as told in Middle English by Aneleda Falconbridge)

Forswear thy pledge, myn weneth
nat everich oon yeven thilke
I but mine thoughts unbinden
ant thou understandan mak.

Neuer ic the ne yeve away
Neuer ic the nolde na doun
Neuer ic sette forth and forsake thee
Neuer ic yelde wepen mak
Neuer ic farewell spake
Neuer ic thee disceyve and peyne

We ken our leman mony a day
achen thou hart, thou fain would ne hit spake
we ken wot is now befalle
we wyste the sport and we wolde it play
Ant shoud thou ask mine heart,
are thee ne blind to ken?

Neuer ic the ne yeve away
Neuer ic the nolde na doun
Neuer ic sette forth and forsake thee
Neuer ic yelde wepen mak
Neuer ic farewell spake
Neuer ic thee disceyve and peyne

Neuer ic the ne yeve thou.

Lyric and arrangements © 2013 & 2023 Monique Bouchard (known in the #SCA as Aneleda Falconbridge) inspired by the immortal poet Richard of Astley. 😉


This post was called “A work in progress” back in Sept. 2013, when I first thought it would be funny to do. I was trying to set it to a number of historic works, none of which were a good fit. This is the first draft.

Forswear thy pledge, myn weneth
nat everich oon yeven thilke
I but mine thoughts unbinden
ant thou understandan mak.

Neuer ne thou yeveth forth
Neuer thou nolde na doun drede
Neuer ne sette forth awa y thou forsake
Neuer ne thou yeven soregh mak
Neuer ne spake adeiu
Neuer ne thou disceyve y pyne thee

We ken our leman mony a day
achen thou hart, thou fain would ne hit spake
we ken wot is now befalle
we wyste the sport and we wolde it play
Ant shoud thou ask mine heart,
are thee ne blind to ken?

Neuer ne thou yeveth forth
Neuer thou nolde na doun drede
Neuer ne sette forth awa y thou forsake
Neuer ne thou yeven soregh mak
Neuer ne spake adeiu
Neuer ne thou disceyve y pyne thee

Neuer ne yeveth forth
Ne yeveth forth.

Extra bonus points from Aneleda if you can figure out the inspiration for this piece. 😉

My Mother’s Savage Daughter

My mother's savage daughter

This is a cover of a legendary work in the Society for Creative Anachronism, written in the 1990s by Wyndrith Berginsdottir, modernly known as Karen LU Kahan.

Read more: My Mother’s Savage Daughter

I recorded it because a young girl told her dad that I am a singer who knows “all the event songs” and therefore I must have a recording of this one, which is a favorite. I indeed did not, but how could I not oblige?

If you love this song as much as I do, please consider buying a copy in support of the original artist at her Bandcamp site!

https://wyndrethsavagedaughtershieldmaid.bandcamp.com/track/my-mothers-savage-daughter-studio-2

The Duelist

The Duelist

About this piece

This song was written for swordfighters, particularly the duelist who challenge each other to single tournament combat with schlagers and fencing foils. It was inspired by a conversation in which the evocative words, “It’s for the love of the blade,” were uttered. I’ve been carrying that thought for weeks now, and am glad to finally give it its due.  Dedicated to Duelist Devillin MacPherson. 

Continue reading “The Duelist”

Thor Some Sugar on Me, a filk in poor, if sweet, taste

In which I discover a terrible place and manner in which to tell the Tale of Thor Retrieving Moljnir By Dressing As Freya and Marrying Thrym, Dammit Loki.

I present you “Thor Some Sugar On Me”

#sorrynotsorry #Iblameamanda #highononions

# # #

Asgard is tha bomb, baby, c’mon get it on
Livin’ like a lover with a keep of stone
Ægir likes it damp, Loki is a scamp
Golden-haired woman, can I be your man?

Razzle ‘n’ a dazzle ‘n’ a flash a little light
Rev’in up Bragi an’ he’ll go all night
Sometime, anytime, sugar me sweet
Innocent as Baldur you can sugar me, yeah, yeah

So c’mon, take a mead cask, shake it up
Break the bubble, break it up

Thor some sugar on me
Ooh, in the name of love
Thor some sugar on me
C’mon, fire me up
Thor your sugar on me
I can’t get enough!

I’m hot, sticky sweet
From my head to my feet

heyra!
Red light, yellow light, runnin’ through the snow
Dressing as a woman in a one-man show
Thrym queen, prim and preen, rhythm of love
goat team, Jotunheim, loosen up

You gotta squeeze a little, tease a little, please a little more
Easy looking Freya come a-knockin’ on the door
Sometime, anytime, sugar me sweet
Oxen, salmon, sugar me!

So give me Mjölnir

Take a mead cask, shake it up
Break the bubble, break it up

Thor some sugar on me
Ooh, in the name of love
Thor some sugar on me

C’mon fire me up
Thor your sugar on me
I can’t get enough

I’m hot, sticky sweet
From my head to my feet

You got the hammer, it’s all a gleam
Let me hold craft supreme
‘Cause I’m hot, hot, say what, sticky sweet
From my head, my head to my feet

Do you take sugar?
ONE LUMP OR TWOOOOOOOO???

Take a mead cask, shake it up
Break the giant, break him up!

Thor some sugar on me
Ooh, in the name of love
Thor some sugar on me
C’mon fire me up
Thor your sugar on me
I can’t get enough

Thor some sugar on me
Oh, in the name of love
Thor some sugar on me
Get it, come get it
Thor your sugar on me
Thor some sugar on me
Sugar me!