On the docks of Altdorf, a visitor will hear many strange songs sung by the sailors scrubbing the decks of ships and boats. Listening to these whimsical tales takes you on a journey over the world, and hints of exotic and dangerous locales. No wonder the docks are filled with young boys and girls listening with fascination to verses painting a grim picture of a world they might hope to see themselves, if nowhere else than in their dreams.
One such song is called Xinjiapor, which might or might not be the name of a real harbour close to Cathay. There are many other things mentioned in this song that are mysterious, and I hope to delve deeper into many of the things mentioned here to decipher their meaning.
Adolphus Altdorfer
Konistag, Nachgeheim 17, 2524 IC
This song is originally called Singapore, and is sung by Tom Waits on his album Rain Dogs. Do get it, it's wonderfully atmospherical. The music of Tom Waits is very WFRP in feel to me, sometimes silly, whimsical and dark as pitch.
I regret that I didn't manage to find a WFRP equvivalent of "hell", so I left that in there. Any suggestions are welcome! It should rhyme with "bell".
/Magnus
One such song is called Xinjiapor, which might or might not be the name of a real harbour close to Cathay. There are many other things mentioned in this song that are mysterious, and I hope to delve deeper into many of the things mentioned here to decipher their meaning.
We sail tonight for Xinjiapor
We're all as mad as hatters here
I've fallen for a tawny whore
Took off to the land of blood
Drank with all the Cathay men
Walked the sewers of L'Anguille
I danced along a colored wind
Dangled from a rope of sand
You must say goodbye to me
We sail tonight for Xinjiapor
Don't fall asleep while you're ashore
Cross your heart and hope to die
When you hear the children cry.
Let marrow bone and cleaver choose
While making feet for children's shoes
Through the alley
Back from Hell
When you hear that steeple bell
You must say goodbye to me.
Wipe him down with kerosene
Till his arms are hard and mean,
From now on boy this iron boat's your home
So heave away boys.
We sail tonight for Xinjiapor
Take your blankets from the floor
Wash your mouth out by the door
The whole town is made of iron ore
Every witness turns to steam
They all become Tilean dreams
Fill your pockets up with earth
Get yourself a guilder's worth
Away boys, away, boys, heave away
The captain is a one-armed dwarf
He's throwing dice along the wharf
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is King
So take this ring
We sail tonight for Xinjiapor
We're all as mad as hatters here
I've fallen for a tawny whore
Took off to the land of blood
Drank with all the Cathay men
Walked the sewers of L'Anguille
I danced along a colored wind
Dangled from a rope of sand
You must say goodbye to me
Adolphus Altdorfer
Konistag, Nachgeheim 17, 2524 IC
This song is originally called Singapore, and is sung by Tom Waits on his album Rain Dogs. Do get it, it's wonderfully atmospherical. The music of Tom Waits is very WFRP in feel to me, sometimes silly, whimsical and dark as pitch.
I regret that I didn't manage to find a WFRP equvivalent of "hell", so I left that in there. Any suggestions are welcome! It should rhyme with "bell".
/Magnus
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