Iron Bard, anyone?

[kniteracy]

Edit: this round is now CLOSED.

Well, OK. It may be jumping on a bandwagon, since cadhla started this and vixyish (and I'm really sorry I got this name wrong originally) has done it with her special talent as well, and just recently peteralway did it too-- but you know what? I haven't written a song in over a year now, and I'm starting to feel a little bit uncreative.

So, in the spirit of those three luminaries named above, and with help from khaosworks who helped me choose a name for this silliness-with-a-purpose, and folkmew who vetted the rules and gave me moral support-- I invite you to challenge me to...

Iron Bard

What's the Objective?

For each person who comments before the round is closed, I will write a complete song, which may or may not be award- or record- worthy, but which will be a song with a melody and words and which I will have the ability to sing at least once. I reserve the right to choose which songs I sing more than once. ;)

Rules:

1. You must leave a comment to participate.
   
2. In your comment, you may give me any or all of the following things:
   
   1. Subject matter, as little as an idea and as much as a complete story-- the single word 'love' probably won't give me much to go on;
      
   2. Should it be a story song (like Song of Fey Cross or Barbara Allen) or a more abstract song (like Love Song For a Friend or Imagine)?
      
   3. Metre-- 2/4, 4/4, 3/4, 6/8 (only these regular metres, please; I think songs work best in simple metres, and you aren't going to change my mind by submitting a more complex one);
      
   4. A format to follow, like verse, chorus, verse, bridge, chorus, verse-- if you're interested in that sort of thing. You can also tell me if it's important to you that the song have a singable refrain or chorus here. Note that I really think songs end up as long as they need to be, but if you have a strong opinion about length, you can note it here. I'm not planning on writing any 26-verse ballads here, but you never know....
      
   5. Would you like the song to have a major feel, a minor feel, or a modal feel, and if modal, which one? (dorian and mixolydian are the two modes most frequently employed in folk music, although you'll see others-- I'm discounting ionian and aeolian modes here because most people think of those as 'major' and 'minor'. lydian and phyrigian are quite rare, and I'd rather not work in lochrian, because it's difficult to handle melodies that don't resolve the way my ears want to resolve them.)
      
   6. Specific words, settings, names, places, or other things that you would like me to include in 'your' song.
      
   7. When and if this song is completed to performance standard, would you like it to be performed: a) a capella; b) with the harp; or c) with the lap dulcimer?
   
   
3. I appreciate the process of collaboration, but this experiment is intended to force me to write songs and d individual songwriting work. While some of the entries may inspire you, please don't helpfully answer challenges. I get to be the bard in my journal.
   
4. No anonymous (unsigned) submissions will be taken, although people not on my friends list (whose replies will at first be screened) will be considered. If you do not have a LJ account, it is fine for you to post an anonymous reply (which will be screened) with your request, but you must sign your submission with a name that can be verified and tell me where you heard about Iron Bard from. An email address (so I can get your song back to you) would also be helpful. :)
   
5. I will decide when the round closes, or if indeed there will be another round.
   
6. And a late amendment, which will be added in to the rules more gracefully at a later time: despite being part of the filk community, I almost never write about books, tv shows, or films, although I do write about myths, fairytales, and ballads. I'm not sure why that is, but remember that I'm not much for TV and unless the characters are real live archetypes, I tend to make them up as I go along. ;)
   
7. Late amendment the second-- for those of you who don't know, I tend not to set other people's words to music (though the one poem that's been suggested already is one I really like, so I'm considering it anyway).

I do not promise results, but I sure hope I get some. I'll do my best, and that is a promise. I'll tear another leaf from cadhla's book and post responses as comments here, then post reminders to people on the journal as to where completed songs can be found. I do not promise that mp3s will be posted, but I will do my best to get that capability eventually, and if I see you in person, I'll do my best to play 'your' song for you. I do not promise that 'your' song will be about you, but it will of course be inspired by the suggestions you gave me in this happy game of Iron Bard. Obviously, in the end this'll be my work and my song and blah-ti-blah author blah-ti-blah copyright, blah-ti-blah carniverous millipedes, etc.

Let the games begin.

Comments

[redaxe.livejournal.com]

Reserving a spot -- I am about to leave work and don't want to find 120 comments before I get a chance to think and speak from home. Okay?

[telynor.livejournal.com]

*laugh*
You're optimistic, but sure.

[folkmew.livejournal.com]

1. Subject matter, as little as an idea and as much as a complete story-- the single word 'love' probably won't give me much to go on;

See 6 for more on this but I'm thinking something about someone on a journey/quest seeking... and metaphors for the struggles they (we all) go through to find our place in the world, that conveys the hidden strengths we can call upon but have to find within ourselves, hope in these troubled difficult times when so many of us are barely getting through financially but many of us feel so rich in other parts of our lives, globally and politically things can feel so bleak at times... you know? But feel free to couch all that in a story! For sure! :-)


2. Should it be a story song (like Song of Fey Cross or Barbara Allen) or a more abstract song (like Love Song For a Friend or Imagine)?

Either is fine. I sort of think a story song works better for what I've sketched though.


3. Metre-- 2/4, 4/4, 3/4, 6/8 (only these regular metres, please; I think songs work best in simple metres, and you aren't going to change my mind by submitting a more complex one);

Don't care. Whatever works for the song!


4. A format to follow, like verse, chorus, verse, bridge, chorus, verse-- if you're interested in that sort of thing. You can also tell me if it's important to you that the song have a singable refrain or chorus here. Note that I really think songs end up as long as they need to be, but if you have a strong opinion about length, you can note it here. I'm not planning on writing any 26-verse ballads here, but you never know....

Hmmm... no, it doesn't have to have a singable refrain. My instinct is to always get people to sing along but this could work well as a ballad so I leave it up to your judgement.



5. Would you like the song to have a major feel, a minor feel, or a modal feel, and if modal, which one? (dorian and mixolydian are the two modes most frequently employed in folk music, although you'll see others-- I'm discounting ionian and aeolian modes here because most people think of those as 'major' and 'minor'. lydian and phyrigian are quite rare, and I'd rather not work in lochrian, because it's difficult to handle melodies that don't resolve the way my ears want to resolve them.)


Hmm... minor. Or mixolydian maybe. I trust your ear.

6. Specific words, settings, names, places, or other things that you would like me to include in 'your' song.

(I don't feel strongly that it need include all of these):
A hawk, a wind swept hill with a long pine,
rocks, loneliness and redemption, hidden reserves of strength, blue, cold (cavern?) /warmth (sunny meadow?),
a journey/quest/seeking, water

7. When and if this song is completed to performance standard, would you like it to be performed: a) a capella; b) with the harp; or c) with the lap dulcimer?

Hmmm... well piano obviously since Ed will be accompanying me. (grin) go for dulcimer maybe it will inspire both of us to work on dulcimer (cause god knows I could use a butt-kick there)

[telynor.livejournal.com]

So-- because this response looks long and I would like to make sure people know they don't have to work *too* hard to enter, you are challenge me to write a song:

1. about someone on a journey/quest seeking... and metaphors for the struggles they (we all) go through to find our place in the world, that conveys the hidden strengths we can call upon but have to find within ourselves, hope in these troubled difficult times when so many of us are barely getting through financially but many of us feel so rich in other parts of our lives, globally and politically things can feel so bleak at times... you know? But feel free to couch all that in a story! For sure! :-)
2. written either abstractly or as a story song, though story might work best here;
3. in whatever meter works for the song;
4. with or without a singable refrain (and some ballads do have them, you know);
5. in a minor feel or the mixolydian mode;
6. with the following imagery, though not necessarly all of it: A hawk, a wind swept hill with a long pine,
rocks, loneliness and redemption, hidden reserves of strength, blue, cold (cavern?) /warmth (sunny meadow?),
a journey/quest/seeking, water
7. to be thought of for accompaniment on lap dulcimer.

Clearer than mud? :)

ooh!

[gingicat]

1) I'd love to hear you write a Firefly song, but that's because I've recently fallen in love with the show and the fandom. :) If you don't love Firefly, let me know and I'll give you a different subject.
2) A story ballad.
3) I'm fond of 6/8.
4) Whatever works, but I suspect it'll need a bridge.
5) Whatever is commonly used in Appalachian music.
6) I think I'd like it to be about Mal and his confusion, as he explains it to Inara when she asks "which Mal am I speaking to?" and as expressed by the look on his face whem Book tells him he has to believe in something and how he tells River that the first law of flying is love. (Yeah, spoileriffic, I know.)
7) Dulcimer, definitely.

Re: ooh!

[gingicat]

On reflection, I realize that the sort of story song I'm thinking of is along the lines of your song "Last Run"; as much feelings as story.

[filkerdave.livejournal.com]

Oh, I like this idea!

Story song in simple 4/4 time, major key, which can be sing either a capella or with instrumental accompaniment (obviously, I'd be much more interested in something that can be accompanied on any insturment people happen to have like, say, a guitar). Format of each verse should be:

Line 1
Repeated tagline a
Line 2
Repeated tagline b

So that people can join in on taglines a and b

Setting is your choice, but I'd like the song to be about a quest of some sort (it need not be a completed one or even a happy one, but a quest of some sort).

[filkerdave.livejournal.com]

And my posting a sort of song in this format does not release you ;)

oh oh ohh! How cool!

[sibylle]

Wow, this is one cool challenge. i hope it works for you the way you want it to and everything *hugs*.

1. I'd like a song about Laocoon.
2. whichever works best - or a mix?
3. Metre - any
4. doesn't need to be a singalong.
5. minor
6. I like the version of the story where Apollo sent the serpents because he'd made out with his wife in the temple, rather than for warning about the horse, and people just misinterpreting it. Gives the story a sadder twist, somehow. But other than that, nothing.
7. since I loooove it when you play the harp & sing (that spot from the FilkCon still gives me shivers when remembering): the harp?

[fionnabhar.livejournal.com]

1. Checkity.
2. This poem has always seemed to be begging for a tune:

The Song of the Wandering Angus
by William Butler Yeats

I went out to the hazel wood,
Because a fire was in my head,
And cut and peeled a hazel wand,
And hooked a berry to a thread;
And when white moths were on the wing,
And moth-like stars were flickering out,
I dropped the berry in a stream
And caught a little silver trout.

When I had laid it on the floor
I turned to blow the fire aflame,
But something rustled on the floor,
And some one called me by my name:
It had become a glimmering girl
With apple blossom in her hair
Who called me by my name and ran
And faded through the brightening air.

Though I am old with wandering
Through hollow lands and hilly lands,
I will find out where she has gone,
And kiss her lips and take her hands;
And walk among long dappled grass,
And pluck till time and times are done
The silver apples of the moon,
The golden apples of the sun.

3. It's iambic tetrameter throughout, so 4/4.
4. It comes pre-formatted, but if a refrain or just a repeat for each stanza leaps out at you musically, so be it. Yeats isn't up for much complaining these days, the old fart.
5. Minor.
6. Checkity.
7. I'm thinking a capella. Seems more Angus-y to me, but the harp gets plucked, so that'd be nice and ironic. You'll figure this one out as you go, I imagine.

[telynor.livejournal.com]

Several people have already set this poem to music, and I like one of the settings very much, so it might be difficult for me to do this one. Let's see what I can come up with-- or maybe I can just sing you one of the versions I already know? :)

[hobbitblue.livejournal.com]

How about a short bouncy silly song in guitar-friendly key about snakes, knitting and music, with a couple of verses and chorus, bridge optional. Fluffy and fun with a hook or clever couplet to raise a smile (and yes I would plan to want to play it myself but only in private :) ). The other suggestions sound like they're going to be stuff to get your teeth into, so consider this one musical mind candy instead :)

[telynor.livejournal.com]

My goodness, you people do dance with your fingers, don't you? Here I was wondering if I'd get any responses at all.... eek! But yes, thanks for the inclusion of some mind candy, too. :)

[bardling.livejournal.com]

1) protagonist/subject/object: someone who's nothing special, just lends a helping hand where (s)he can, ordinary, has many skills to reasonable/ordinary level, but nothing exceptional/standing-out
2) Not sure - whichever works better with whatever you make of this.
3) 6/8, unless something else really fits better.
4) I'd like an unexpected change in the format somewhere, in some form, so it's not just the very predictable verse-chorus repetition or verses with repeating lines. Possibly with a different metre for the contrasting bit? But again, if something suggests itself to you, it'll probably work for me. :)
5) I don't know about modes - I'd like something that's not all happy-clappy-silly-fun, but not all-dire-tears-and-doom either. Something slightly unusual... to contrast the "ordinary" subject a little.
6) some metaphor from nature like a tree, sea/water, wind... whatever you find fits.
7) Since you've just started to play with it and enjoy it, go for the dulcimer - although if I can convert it to guitar, that'd be nice too... (which doesn't mean I'd object to a capella, either)

[sdorn.livejournal.com]

A tragic love-and-ghost ballad, rhythm unimportant, folk modal (don't care which type), in which harp would definitely be appropriate. Optional elements: bullets, hard drives, or gazpacho.

Have fun!

[smoooom.livejournal.com]

Wolves, loons and the Northern Lights. The stark beauty of really far north in Canada. (I realise that could be tricky so I'll try and describe what I mean) Far north is rocks, trees and lakes. At night the sky is SO clear the stars are as cler as any one could wish. The silence is so comlete you can hear the flaping of a birds wings, at night the northern lights can be way cool, I've never heard it but my Dad says one night they could hear them. Add a Wolf howl and a loons call and the north is awesome.

Meter and all that - up to you. Acapella please, I play the guitar and have no idea how well dulcimer or harp would trnslate. Acapella I can do

[nirol.livejournal.com]

How about a love song about two people in a long-term relationship who love to cook together? (no, it's not about me and muppet, lol) I'd like it to be a happy song, verse-verse-chorus-verse-chorus, and I'd like you to use the words "chicken vindaloo" at least once.

*hugs*

[autographedcat.livejournal.com]

I want a song about love and loss and stupidity and fixing terrible mistakes of the past. with a happy ending.

All the actual details, I leave up to you.

[mdlbear]

A modal dulcimer song (almost goes without saying) involving wolves (for my wolfling daughter chaoswolf). A singable refrain or repeating lines in the verses. The rest I leave up to you.

[cadhla.livejournal.com]

According to very, very old Greek myth, Hades and Persephone had a daughter, named Allomai (which means 'Spring'), who was the goddess of sailors and death by water. Her symbols were the silver birch, the moon-faced owl, and a ferryman's staff, sometimes made of pomegranate wood. Her followers vanished pretty much overnight, and she's been excised from almost all Greek myth.

According to what little survives, she was a dutiful daughter, if very sad, and loved her parents and the people she brought to the Underworld. (There are some indicators that she was the source myth for the world's supply of phantom hitchhikers.)

I'd like a song that in some way touches on the Allomai myth, if you could do, as I think it would suit you.

And also, it's brilliant that you're doing this.

[dormouse-in-tea.livejournal.com]

Subject matter, as little as an idea and as much as a complete story

The abduction of Persephone, please (note that I personally prefer the pronunciation 'Persehfon', but ymmv), with the specific caveat that, for whatever reasons you choose to assign to her, when she takes those pomegranate seeds it is done willingly and with awareness.

Should it be a story song or a more abstract song

Story, please! I adore story songs.

Metre-- 2/4, 4/4, 3/4, 6/8

I tend to find 4/4 much more singable than the others; however, if you agree to in some way illustrate HOW it is to be sung for someone who pretty much can sing along and that's as technical as she gets, that would be peachy.

A format to follow, like verse, chorus, verse, bridge, chorus, verse-- if you're interested in that sort of thing. You can also tell me if it's important to you that the song have a singable refrain or chorus here.

Oh, I think it would be divine if you could put in an Utterly Brilliant refrain, one that manages to be despairing at the beginning and slyly mocking at the end, without changing any of the words.

If, however, you're tapped out on Utter Brilliance, whatever suits. I do feel more engaged with songs that at least have a recurring motif that feels 'familiar' by the end of it.

Would you like the song to have a major feel, a minor feel, or a modal feel, and if modal, which one?

Bwaa? I have to cluck like a chicken to get my song? Okay! *cluck cluck cluck*

Specific words, settings, names, places, or other things that you would like me to include in 'your' song.

'Persephone' would be good. So would 'pomegranate'. *stops being a pain*

When and if this song is completed to performance standard, would you like it to be performed: a) a capella; b) with the harp; or c) with the lap dulcimer?

Preference would be the lap dulcimer, but if you wish to write something that goes better with the harp, I like the harp too! I would like a song that sounds all right a capella, because I have neither a harp nor a lap dulcimer, but I love to hear you play.

[almeda.livejournal.com]

Utterly Brilliant refrain, one that manages to be despairing at the beginning and slyly mocking at the end, without changing any of the words.

In that vein, one of my fave examples is Leslie Fish's 'Grandma Went Out With A Bang,' to wit:

Grandma went out with a bang.
My Grandma went out with a bang.
She died as she lived, may the heavens forgive
My Grandma went out with a bang.

It keeps getting funnier throughout the song.

[niquildrvr.livejournal.com]

1. I'd like a song that plays on that opening line I wrote on my blog--Knitting makes me invisible...I think a song of love and loss with this as a theme could be interesting...or dreadful, depending on your mood.
2. A story with abstract leanings--a young girl's (or old woman's) tale that has larger implications for how we live our lives...
3. Oh, let's go for 3/4.
4. I think a verse/refrain, where the refrain goes through incremental changes, would be deligtful!
5. major/minor/modal? I'll leave that you you!
6. If you could find a way to artfully encompass my all-consuming hatred for cheap and nasty acrylic yarns (I'm knitting models for classes I'll be teaching at JoAnn's), I'd be amused and greatful
7. Utilitarian knitting--a capella; elegant, decorative knitting--the harp; folk knitting--the dulcimer.

Yep. I think that does it.

[almeda.livejournal.com]

Knitting definitely made Miss Marple invisible in Agatha Christie's mysteries involving her. She used to sit out in public and knit and eavesdrop and find out the most AMAZING things, because people didn't even see the dotty-looking elderly knitter sitting there.

[artbeco.livejournal.com]

Have I done Iron whatevers? err...
Brave woman, you are. ;)
I crave a song accompanied on dulcimer about mothers and sons, having to learn hard lessons, the repetitive nature of how we all re-learn it all again with each generation. Sort of the rocking nature of a waltz with some repetitive elements to reinforce the 'all things old are new again' idea...

You are going to have waaaay more requests than is humanly possible to do, so no pressure...
*hugs*

[telynor.livejournal.com]

I am very sorry; that was vixyish. I feel really dumb now. Changing text to reflect the error....

Hi, this is actually Ayesha

[rubynye.livejournal.com]

Writing from her other account, because it has the icon I want to use on this.

I listen to you sing every day, you know. It never fails to improve my day.

Anyway. I would love a Minoan song about bull-leapers. Which needs to have absolutely no resemblance to Ancient or current Greek music. I'd just love a song about the way bull=leapers live, their flash and dazzle, their unarmed courage, their choice of glory over length of days. It can be a particular bull-leaper's story from joining the temple to their death, or a general song about Poseidon's little birds. (Common words/phrases of the bull=leapers' lives would be Bull-court, leaping, tumbling, dancing, spiral, song, Goddess, priestess, Mother, death, shine, gold, bulls, tossing, horns. These are just suggestions/ideas, not a list of requirements.)

I'd like for the song to have a refrain, or if not, a repeating phrase at the end of each verse. Aside of that, I leave musical structure up to you, as you know aproxximately a million times more about it than I do. And I'd love to hear you perform this with the harp.

And I think you are incredible.

So, I hope this song proposal strikes your fancy.

*hugs you tight*

Love, Browngirl.

[otherdeb.livejournal.com]

Wow. You are brave, Gwen.

For me, it would be a story song, about a woman who gives her heart several times to wrong men, then finds the right one, but he is not what she expects.

And metre, any key, any form suited to either a capella or dulcimer.

[fionnulaharp.livejournal.com]

# Subject matter, as little as an idea and as much as a complete story-- the single word 'love' probably won't give me much to go on;

Bagpipes on a Sunday Morning

Should it be a story song (like Song of Fey Cross or Barbara Allen) or a more abstract song (like Love Song For a Friend or Imagine)?

Story song

Metre-- 2/4, 4/4, 3/4, 6/8 (only these regular metres, please; I think songs work best in simple metres, and you aren't going to change my mind by submitting a more complex one);

6/8

A format to follow, like verse, chorus, verse, bridge, chorus, verse-- if you're interested in that sort of thing. You can also tell me if it's important to you that the song have a singable refrain or chorus here. Note that I really think songs end up as long as they need to be, but if you have a strong opinion about length, you can note it here. I'm not planning on writing any 26-verse ballads here, but you never know....

verse, verse, chorus, bridge, repeat -- singable chorusWould you like the song to have a major feel, a minor feel, or a modal feel, and if modal, which one? (dorian and mixolydian are the two modes most frequently employed in folk music, although you'll see others-- I'm discounting ionian and aeolian modes here because most people think of those as 'major' and 'minor'. lydian and phyrigian are quite rare, and I'd rather not work in lochrian, because it's difficult to handle melodies that don't resolve the way my ears want to resolve them.)

Major feel -- I'm pagan and there aren't enough major songs to suit me.

Specific words, settings, names, places, or other things that you would like me to include in 'your' song.

Bagpipes on a Sunday Morning

When and if this song is completed to performance standard, would you like it to be performed: a) a capella; b) with the harp; or c) with the lap dulcimer?

With the harp of course

[fionnulaharp.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I may have to write a song on the same subject. But since I don't write music that much, I'd love to see what you do with it.

[hobbitblue.livejournal.com]

Heh, the response cadhla usually gets to her poems should have clued you into how ravening the arty hordes out there can be :) No rush on the candy though, one has to be in the mood for same.

[ohiblather.livejournal.com]

If I'm not too late (and if you do this, of course, I'll move your LJ icon request first in the queue! :-))

Subject matter, as little as an idea and as much as a complete story-- the single word 'love' probably won't give me much to go on;

- Feel free to modify as much as you'd like: A story about a woman who finds a magical harp who plays HER instead of her playing IT. Perhaps the woman is greedy and stole the harp. Or perhaps she is merely an innocent of happens upon an enchanted harp. And while she is playing the harp, she cannot talk, but only sing. Her husband, her family beg her to stop, not understanding. She tries but can't, tears pouring down her face as family and friends eventually leave her alone. Her clothes become tatters. Not sure how you'd deal with the whole eating/drinking thing...perhaps part of the enchantment keeps her alive? The world changes around her, yet still she plays.

Not sure how this should end. It could be a depressing ending, with her finally dying, but echoes of her playing linger on. Or perhaps there is a way to break the enchantment?

--------


Should it be a story song (like Song of Fey Cross or Barbara Allen) or a more abstract song (like Love Song For a Friend or Imagine)?

- A story song.

----------------

Metre-- 2/4, 4/4, 3/4, 6/8 (only these regular metres, please; I think songs work best in simple metres, and you aren't going to change my mind by submitting a more complex one);

- Up to you.

--------------------
A format to follow, like verse, chorus, verse, bridge, chorus, verse-- if you're interested in that sort of thing. You can also tell me if it's important to you that the song have a singable refrain or chorus here. Note that I really think songs end up as long as they need to be, but if you have a strong opinion about length, you can note it here. I'm not planning on writing any 26-verse ballads here, but you never know....

- Up to you.

----------------------
Would you like the song to have a major feel, a minor feel, or a modal feel, and if modal, which one? (dorian and mixolydian are the two modes most frequently employed in folk music, although you'll see others-- I'm discounting ionian and aeolian modes here because most people think of those as 'major' and 'minor'. lydian and phyrigian are quite rare, and I'd rather not work in lochrian, because it's difficult to handle melodies that don't resolve the way my ears want to resolve them.)

- Up to you.
------------------------------
Specific words, settings, names, places, or other things that you would like me to include in 'your' song.
When and if this song is completed to performance standard, would you like it to be performed: a) a capella; b) with the harp; or c) with the lap dulcimer?

- Probably most appropriate with the harp, I think.

[ohiblather.livejournal.com]

Or perhaps she can't even sing, but must let her harp "sing" for her through the music. Thus her harp can "sing" of her love for her family, her agony, the regrets she has of how she has lived her life, etc.

[quadrivium.livejournal.com]

The Round may have already closed, but if it hasn't . . .

1) A ghost (or ghosts) in a doll or some other inanimate but frequently anthropomorphic object
2) First person can be stories or images
3) Duple in verses Triple in Chorus maybe (will leave that one up to you, but it would be cool if it changed for dramatic effect)
4) Should have verses and choruses -- not particular here except that
5) Verses should be in dorian and choruses in mixolydian
6) I would like you to play with synonyms and how they shade the meaning
7) Harp and your lovely voice :-)

[peteralway.livejournal.com]

Since I haven't seen anything declaring the round over, I'll add a challenge. I would like to hear a song based on this silly rant of mine:

Squirrel-proof birdfeeders serve only to breed more intelligent squirrels. This is a good thing, for someday mankind will disappear from the earth. When that happens, there will be an epic battle for world domination between the descendants of the squirrels and the descendants of the cockroaches. Smarter squirrels means that the squirrels will win out, and the post-apocolyptic world will be a better place.

The song could be a story spanning millenia, or one squirrels story from any part of that chain of events that refers to the rest, or a song in which one anthropomorphic squirrel descendant thanks a human space traveller who is returning from a time-dilated trip from Andromeda who had fed the squirrels 4.4 million years ago, or any other angle on the idea that you can come up with.

I think I'll leave most of the musical parameters up to your discretion, though I imagine this would be a happy song, what with the squirrels and all. I'd like a chorus that is sung at least three times so that people can sing along.

Squirrels are members of the family sciuridae, and many have the genus name sciurus. "Sciuridean" would be a nice synonym for squirrelly, squirrel-like, or pertaining to squirrels. I think it would also serve a a noun for members of the squirrel falmily. You don't need to use the word, but it might be handy.

Have fun!

[wytchchyld.livejournal.com]

East of the Sun and West of the Moon.

That was my favorite fairy tale when I was little and it's still one of my favorite ever.