What is a "filk" song? In its simplest description, it is a song with original lyrics written to an already established melody for an old or traditional song. Frequently, filk songs tend to be humorous or genre-related. The Society for Creative Anachronisms boasts many filk songs chorused around a bardic circle at night. Most science fiction conventions have a room of filkers (filk song singers) happily singing new lyrics to old melodies. The idea of writing new lyrics to old music is certainly not limited to this century. It is a common practice in the Celtic countries where you will find several sets of lyrics to the same tune. Often the Irish and Scottish have the same melodies and totally different words. For instance, "Loch Lomond" in Scotland has the same melody as "Red Is The Rose" in Ireland. "Rising of the Moon" and "Wearing of the Green" are the same. A more contemporary example is "Love Me Tender" which is the same music as "Aura Lee," an old Irish song. I'm putting up a few of my favorite filks from my pen. I'd like this to be an open area for fun filk. If you'd like to contribute, e-mail me and we'll talk. |
Highlander Filk
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(Cassandra was a nice enough witch until she wanted the ROG's head.
Now she is *not* safe.) Killing Cassandra Once a fan fic writer sat by her TV set, Chorus: In front of her keyboard, inspired now, this writer sat, Chorus: (Remember to change the third line) She plotted, she planned, put a sword in the hero’s hand, Chorus: Smugly she posted, put the tale out on the ‘net, Killing Cassandra, killing Cassandra, |
A nice Mac parody... The Clan MacLeod is from the Isles of Scotland and
the Isle of Skye has their share of MacLeods. Duncan, Where's Your Trewsers? (Tune: "Donald, Where's Your Trewsers?") He's just come down from the Isle of Skye, Well, he went down to Glasgow Town Now he went to a fancy ball He doesn't wear the kilt today,
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Tune: God Bless the Bastard King of England Chorus: He was charming and witty and full of kinks, Now Byron had a talent for lyrical song, T’was his misfortune to meet Duncan MacLeod, In times past Methos loved Byron, it’s true, So in memory lives dear Byron the dead, |
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Deciding the Watchers need a ditty of their own, I wrote this one just before Access Con... The
Watcher Tale (Melody: The Marvelous Toy) When I was just a shy young lass, A watcher said I, now what is that? Chorus: They go whack when they meet, So he gave me a guy who couldn’t die, Until one day he met MacLeod, They went whack when they met,
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Although my song "Killing Cassandra" has met with some contoversy for content, this little gem from my evil twin has been overlooked. We'd like to point out again, that these are done in fun and don't mean any disrespect to anyone. For cryin' out loud, it's TV show! Blue
Faced Horseman (Melody: Yellow Rose of Texas) There’s a blue-faced horseman in the desert, He’s the sexiest of the horsemen, They came with swords a-waving, Chorus: With higher status in the camp now, Chorus: *"blue-faced horseman" can be sung "blue-faced love god" |
From Tiffany comes this incredibly charming filk to the tune of
"The Brady Bunch."
By Tiffany It’s the story of a shy young Watcher It’s the story of a guy named Duncan Then Joe called and sent Duncan to this Watcher, He tossed a beer, fans gave a cheer, It’s the story of a bad Immortal. It’s the story of a famous friendship But Mac had promised to protect the Old Guy, Mac heard Methos say: "Fight another day," |
What Do You Do With A Drunken Scotsman? (Make a guess on the melody.) What do you do with a drunken Scotsman, Wey-hey and up he rises, Make Amanda cook him breakfast, CHORUS "Amanda, please don’t make me eat that, Wey-hey and up it rises, See him running to the bathroom, 2nd CHORUS Chasing Amanda with a sharp katana, Wey-hey she’s off and running,
So that’s what you do with a drunken Scotsman,
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