This is a song I don’t sing often, mostly because it takes about 10 minutes to sing the entire thing. However, it’s still one of my favorites that I’ve written to this date. I wrote it for my music minor project when I was attending college.
The version attached to this post is a live version I sang for the concert. Apologies for the poor sound quality.
- Long ago and far away,
- Within some distant land
- Called Syranor, a wooded place
- There was a merc’nary band
- Let by tall Lord Nikolas
- And Lady Merriwood
- And as partners, hand in hand
- They fought for right and good
- There was no Blood on the Ice
- Or Blood in the Snow
- Lord Nikolas was tall and strong
- His eyes a fearsome sight
- Crashed thunder at his enemies
- Whenever he would fight
- Yet tender to his lady, true
- And loyal to his band
- And bards would sing his praises
- As they roamed throughout the land
- They sang of Blood on the Ice
- And Blood in the Snow.
- And Merriwood, his loyal wife
- A fearsome foe was she
- As good an archer as any man
- And even more deadly
- With two swords held in her hand
- She’d swept throughout the land
- Until true love had struck her heart
- And then it stayed her hand
- There was no Blood in the Ice
- Or Blood in the Snow
- She joined the noble Nikolas
- And learned his honor’s code
- And helped him in his questing life
- And shared his heavy load
- To rid evil from the land
- To bring peace to its side
- To make it save for everyone
- To roam through countryside
- And they shed Blood on the Ice
- And Blood in the Snow.
- Upon one cold midwinter’s night,
- The camp it lay asleep
- While subtle spells against the guards
- Within their minds did creep
- To make them all fall fast asleep
- While standing at their posts
- While the Evil Ones who hated them
- Took the chance to creep in close
- There’d soon be Blood on the Ice
- And Blood in the Snow
- Upon one cold Midwinter’s morn,
- The camp it was surprised
- And surrounded by fearsome foes
- Staring with their beady eyes
- Lord Nikolas stood unafraid
- Lady Merriwood at his side
- And chose to fight instead of flee
- The enemy’s fearsome tide.
- And they’d shed Blood on the Ice
- And Blood in the Snow
- Merriwood was clad in mail
- And glinting in the sun
- Her hair was bound in many braids
- Her clothing of homespun
- Two long, thin swords lay belted there
- Upon her slender side
- She stood without fear or dread
- At Nikolas’s side
- She knew of Blood on the Ice
- And Blood in the Snow
- Lord Nikolas had on a plate
- That protected his breast
- And mail that lay glistening
- Over all the rest
- He carried high a great sword
- He wielded like a test
- Of tenderness and not of strength
- For he always did his best
- To shed foes’ Blood on the Ice
- And Blood in the Snow
- They gave the orders to their men
- To grab their separate arms
- And leave the lovers standing there
- To guard their retreat
- For the little band was outnumbered
- Ten me unto one
- And Nikolas knew the odds of winning
- Were slim unto none
- They soon saw Blood on the Ice
- And Blood in the Snow
- The loyal band bid them farewell
- And knew they’d ne’er more see
- The lovers standing hand in hand
- Beneath a greening tree
- Their sorrow overcame their sense
- And all said they would stay
- But Nikolas and Merriwood
- Merely told them “Nay”
- There would be Blood on the Ice
- And Blood in the Snow
- “I wish you all to prosper
- And not stay by our side.
- We know our time is finished here,
- We’ll never see this night
- But you all can still be free
- To live out all your years
- To help the land see peace once more,
- Not waste on us your tears.
- We see our Blood on the Ice
- And Blood in the Snow.”
- Merriwood then kissed them thrice
- Upon each man’s wet cheek
- Picked up her bow and quiver
- And began to shoot it quick
- To hold the enemy’s assault
- Long enough to see
- That each of them get far away
- To save her company.
- Her foes shed Blood on the Ice
- And Blood in the Snow
- Lord Nikolas and Merriwood
- Calmly stood their ground
- And hoped upon each precious hope
- The enemy would surround
- To give their loyal men a chance
- To escape there with their lives
- And Nikolas and Merriwood kissed
- What would be their last time
- Soon there’s be Blood on the Ice
- And Blood in the Snow
- They both drew out their swords
- Then stood back to back
- And as the enemy advanced,
- They started to attack
- A fearsome fight ensued then
- And many foes were killed
- But Merriwood and Nikolas,
- Their blades would not be stilled
- They shed foes’ Blood on the Ice
- And Blood in the Snow
- Soon the snow was trampled
- In a circle ten feet wide
- A circle of cooling bodies
- Lay all along the side
- But Nikolas and Merriwood
- Were beginning to tire
- And ever more increasing
- Was the enemy’s ire
- For shedding Blood on the Ice
- And Blood in the Snow
- Oh, horrid blade that shed their blood
- How hideous its song
- A fearsome blade of blackened steel
- Fully 30 inches long
- Had pierced Merriwood’s failing guard
- Into her tender side
- A fatal blow that echoed through
- The silent countryside
- She shed her Blood on the Ice
- And Blood in the Snow
- Oh, Nikolas, he turned at once
- And struck down her foe
- But too late was the killing stroke,
- Ah, that he had to know.
- Then rage filled his calm visage
- And thunder filled his eyes
- And he killed ev’ry last one of them
- In revenge for her life
- He shed their Blood on the Ice
- And Blood in the Snow
- Ah, fearsome toll for victory
- How hideous its price
- His true love lay dying there
- Upon the frozen ice
- He felt her struggle to stay there
- With true love at her side
- But ‘ere the sun was overhead
- Poor Merriwood had died
- Her precious Blood on the Ice
- And Blood in the Snow
- Lord Nikolas breathed out a sob
- And tears filled his eyes
- His wounds were too much for him
- He knew he, too, would die
- But in triumph, not in failure
- For they knew the price
- They’d bought the freedom of their men
- Ah, with their precious lives
- They shed their Blood on the Ice
- And Blood in the Snow
- Lord Nikolas died late that day
- He did not see the night
- He died holding his lady love
- They made a mournful sight
- When their men returned next day
- With many armed allies
- Sorrow ran through every breast
- Of every mounted knight
- At seeing Blood on the Ice
- And Blood in the Snow.
- But do not mourn, be cheerful
- For they did not die in vain
- They live together in paradise
- Until they’re called again
- And bards still sing their prasise
- As they roam throughout the land
- They sing of true love’s great strength
- To defeat that evil band
- They sing of Blood on the Ice
- And Blood in the Snow!
- Remember, Blood on the Ice
- And Blood in the Snow!