Petty Kings

This song is sung in the Shattered Lands, quietly, trying not to be heard by the local warlord’s men.

Oh, there’s soldiers in the street tonight

When the warlord comes to town

Lock the door and close the shade

When petty kings come down.

They’ll take your coin and you’ll be glad

They did not take your life

They’ll take your food and make you bow

Hand itching for a knife.

You’ll pray for them and they will laugh

And never end the strife;

The only gods the soldiers know

Are gods of drum and fife.

Oh, there’s soldiers in the street tonight

All hell has come to town

Lock the door and close the shade

When there’s soldier boys around.

They fight for blood and fight for steel

And never stop to think

Never wonder why they kill;

They drowned that thought in drink.

The fight becomes their poetry

Hot shed blood, their ink

Laughing in the face of death

Daring him to blink.

Oh, there’s soldiers in the streets tonight

When the gangs rise up in town

Lock the door and close the shade

And let them keep their crowns.

Yes, there’s soldiers in the street tonight

And the warlord runs the town

Lock the door and close the shade

‘Till petty kings fall down.