“When the new day is dawning
the lark doth ascend.
If I could but speak to her
I’d make her my friend.
She would tell of her journey
to the lands of the sky,
where the soft fields of cloud
like white pillows do lie.
She would sing of the earth
far below that she’d seen,
all patched in a quiltwork
of brown, gold and green.
As she wings on the zephyrs
of smooth morning breeze
to rise from the meadows,
the hills or the trees.
With the evening come down,
little bird, cease thy flight
’til the blue peaceful morning
awakes from the night.”

“Oh the seasons turn again again,
as Redwall beasts do work work work,
through sun an’ wind an’ rain rain rain,
we never never shirk shirk shirk!
To table then each eventide,
as sun is setting down down down,
a-feasting drinking singing,
with ne’er a tear or frown frown frown!
We all! We all! Are happy at Redwall!
Our Abbey! Our Abbey!
We’re proud to serve Redwall one and all, one and all!”

“O I knew a worm who turned to his tail,
an’ this is wot he said,
I wish that you’d stop followin’ me,
as though we both were wed.
Said the tail to the head stop pullin’ me,
’cos I’ve no wish to go,
besides, I think yore really a tail,
an’ I’m the head you know!
This caused the worm some great concern,
he said, I’m sure yore wrong,
an’ they both began to bicker about,
to whom did the stomach belong?
Both tempers did boil, while disputin’ a coil,
they fell into an awful fight,
they wriggled an’ squirmed an’ waggled an’ turned,
for worms as ye know can’t bite.
Then a big blackbird, who’d heard every word,
came flutterin’ out of a tree,
I’ll oblige ye both, the blackbird quoth,
an’ he ate them both for tea.
So that was that, he settled their spat,
an’ I’ll bid ye all good day,
for it’s head to tails when reasonin’ fails,
a worm should crawl away!”

“Like the sun, High Rhulain will rise anew,
to set the downtrodden free.
A warriormaid with Wildlough blood
must cross the Western Sea.
She who looks ever through windows
at the signs which feathers make,
seek the Green Isle through her knowledge,
for all thy kinbeasts’ sake.”

“On the night that the great storm was ragin’ apace,
sweepin’ in o’er the high seas to batter this isle,
I heard that a wildcat had lost half his face,
Ah, isn’t that grand now, I said with a smile!”

“ ’Twas then by me fire I fell into a dream,
with the wild winds a-keenin’ an’ wailin’ outside,
sure a wisdom came floatin’ o’er some magic stream,
that the days of our vengeance were soon to arrive.
’Twas a mouse in bright armour, he spake loud an’
clear,
an’ he carried a sword that was wondrous to see.
‘Ould Zillo the Bard,’ he said, ‘Never you fear,
for ’tis writ in the stars that the clans will run free.
From the seas an’ the oceans, from river an’ stream,
rise up all ye warriors, arm every paw.
A leader is comin’ to fulfill yore dreams,
one who’ll stand at your head as ye march off to war.
Ye’ll rise like the red dawn, all in a great band,
like a brave surgin’ tide such as never was seen,
as ye thunder her title all over this land:
All hail to the Rhulain! The High Otterqueen!’ ”

“Like the sun, High Rhulain will rise anew,
to set the downtrodden free.
A warriormaid with Wildlough blood
must cross the Western Sea.
She who looks ever through windows
at the signs that feathers make,
seek the Green Isle through her knowledge,
for all thy kinbeasts’ sake.”

“Hey now, hark belay there an’ listen ole mate,
Hear the high seas a-callin’, c’mon let’s not wait,
out there on the briny with no land in sight,
just the gold sun above ye an’ bright stars at night.
Ho barnacles binnacles bungtops an’ blood!

In the kingdom of fishes they sport an’ they play,
the herrin’ the mackerel the fluke an’ the ray,
in bluey green deeps where the long seaweed grows,
there swims an’ ould dolphin they call Bottlenose.
Ho barnacles binnacles bungtops an’ blood!

Set course by yore rudder an’ trim up those sails,
we’ll plough on forever through doldrums an’ gales,
bound for the red sunset far over the main,
an’ leave the landlubbers to roam hill an’ plain.
Ho barnacles binnacles bungtops an’ blood!”

“Heyla huppla Mister Bee, make some honey just for
me!
Fly o’er lawn and buzz o’er lea,
fetch that honey for my tea,
visit all your special flowers
blooming through the summer hours.
Heyla huppla Mister Bee, make some honey just for me!
Woodruff clover poppy thyme,
spurrey sorrel columbine,
dogrose heather harebell blue,
violet pansy speedwell too.
Heyla huppla Mister Bee, make some honey just for me!
From the blossom’s nectar sweet,
comes a hearty honey treat,
I can’t wait ’til you arrive,
at my table from your hive.
Heyla huppla Mister Bee, make some honey just for me!
Golden rich and gooey thick,
sticky likkle paws I lick,
scrumptious munchious gorgeous stuff,
Dibbuns just can’t get enough.
Heyla huppla Mister Bee, make some honey just for
me!”

“Harroo for the Shellhound, ain’t he the bold beast,
he’s the hero we’ve all come to toast at this feast,
for he singed the cat’s tail, and put flame to his fort,
the whiskery tyrant, his threats came to nought!
O pity those slaves who were bound ’neath the pier,
an’ for the three babies we all shed a tear,
all sentenced to death in the dreaded Deeplough,
’twas enough to put any pore otter in shock!
’Til the Shellhound arrived in the dark o’ the night,
an’ to the cats’ fortress his warriors set light,
with freedom their watchword, they championed the
cause,
as they battled with catguards along the lakeshores!
With slingstone an’ spear they attacked the cruel foe,
an’ as for the outcome, well I’m sure that ye know,
they freed the brave captives an’ got clear away,
an’ were back here safe home by the dawn of the day!
Ye wicked ould wildcat this lesson ye’ll learn,
or yore guards will be slain an’ yore fortress’ll burn,
sure ye’ll wail in the ashes an’ stamp the bare ground,
an’ ye’ll rue the sad day that ye met the Shellhound!
Shellhound. . . . Shellhound . . . Shellhooooouuuuund!”

“Linger sure for the lee,
I set my trick carefully,
my home lies o’er the sea,
you’ll find the title names me . . . Is.”

“Three aitches, two ee’s, two I’s, two N’s,
Wherever there’s Q , there’s a U , or two.
One G, one L , one A, one R,
So I leave the answer to you.”

“Bide ye not on Mossflower shore, hasten to Green Isle.
Thy presence there is needed sore, in coming time of
trial.
Leave thy Redwall friends to read that tale of ancient
life,
when Corriam the castaway took Mossguard maid as
wife.
Their secrets follow in thy wake, lost symbols will be
found
to aid both Queen and Clanbeast regain their rightful
ground.
Trust in the fool of the sea, to the Lord of the rock
pay heed,
but remember a hawkstar must fly,
on the day thy domain is freed.”

“All the long-ago seasons we loved high up there,
in those warm afternoons an’ the sweet evenin’ air,
alas though they’re past I remember it well,
that dear little spot we called Holt Summerdell.
When ye’d rise in the mornin’ the air was like wine,
through the curtain came stealin’ the golden sunshine,
with the twayblade the clubrush the burr an’ the sedge,
round the clear crystal waters that flow o’er the edge.
Ye could ride on the slide there or sport in the pool,
where trout roamed the deep reeds so green an’ so
cool,
on some flat mossy rock ye could lie there an’ bask, as
the ould ones would say, now wot more could ye ask?
But the times are all fled like a mayfly’s short day,
though sometimes within me a small voice will say
go follow yore dream to the place ye loved well,
that dear little spot we call Holt Summerdell.” ’

“Pass to me my good ole paddle, steady as ye go,
bend y’backs ye sons o’ Guosim, row mates row!
First a spring comes from the mountains,
fed by rainfall from the sky,
’til it joins up with another,
bubblin’ from the rocks on high,
spring to rill an’ rill to brook,
growin’ stronger constantly,
blendin’ flowin’ always goin’,
on its journey to the sea.
Pass to me good ole paddle, steady as ye go,
bend y’backs ye sons o’ Guosim, row mates row!
As the day runs into night,
brooks do meet t’form a stream,
travellin’ through dark an’ light,
where the silver fishes gleam,
here’s a river deep an’ han’some,
windin’ o’er the grassy plain,
speedin’ with the current onward,
soon we’ll taste the salty main.
Pass to me my good ole paddle, steady as ye go,
bend y’backs ye sons o’ Guosim, row mates row!”

“O shiver me timbers an’ swab me decks,
ye bullies to me hark,
Or I’ll gut yore tripes an’ dock yore necks,
an’ feed ye to the shark!
’Twas in the winter we set sail,
ye bullies to me hark,
in the eye of a storm an’ the teeth of a gale,
I fed ’em to the shark!
Their cap’n was a greasy oaf,
ye bullies to me hark,
I tied him to an ole stale loaf,
an’ fed him to the shark!
I stewed his crew in seaweed punch,
ye bullies to me hark,
an’ seein’ as ’twas time for lunch,
I fed ’em to the shark!
So if ye think yore big’n’tough,
ye bullies to me hark,
I’ll stuff ye all with skilly’n’duff,
an’ feed ye to the shark. Haharrhaaaaaarrr!”

“Oh you sun now run away, run away,
little stars come out to play, out to play,
baby mine come close your eyes,
sleep until the new dawnrise,
I will sing thee lullabies, through this peaceful night.

All the earth is standing still, standing still,
darkness blankets field and hill, field and hill,
birds do slumber in the nest,
busy bees have gone to rest,
all good mothers know what’s best, for the babes they
love.

When tomorrow comes anew, comes anew,
there’ll be lots of things to do, things to do,
’neath a summer sky of blue,
roses blooming just for you,
birds will sing so sweetly, too, for my own dear one.”

“Mother Nature bountiful, we thank thee one and all, for good food the summer yields, to creatures at Redwall.

May our Abbey prosper, through seasons yet to be, helped by those who tended the earth, in harmony with thee.”

“Twixt supper and breakfast find me,
In a place I was weary to be,
Up in that top tactic (one see)
Lies what was the limb of a tree.
It holds up what blocks out the night,
And can open to let in the light.
For a third of a lifetime one says,
Looking up I could see it sideways.
Tell me what we call coward (in at)
Then when you have worked out that,
You’ll find your heart’s desire,
By adding a backward liar.
Ever together the two have been set,
Since Corriam’s lance ate the coronet.”

“Don’t steal your grandpa’s wooden leg an’ run away
to sea,
an’ leave yore family sheddin’ salty tears.
That cap’n only needs ye ’cos his ship ain’t got a sail,
an’ you was born with two big floppy ears.
Yore innocent an’ stupid, so stay home with me, o
child,
’cos if ye takes a voyage with sailors rough,
ye’d soon be usin’ language that’d rot yore grandma’s
frock,
an’ roarin’ out for skilly an’ plum duff!
For a life at sea is hard an’ rather lonely,
especially if you’ve got no hankychief.
With no mother hov’rin’ near to scrub out yore
scruffy ear,
you’ll catch the lurgy an’ you’ll come to grief!
Stay home, stay home, don’t buzz off o’er the foam,
stay home, don’t break yore aged mother’s heart.
You can use yore grandpa’s wooden leg to stir the por-
ridge with,
an’ Grandma’s teeth to crimp the apple tart!”

“Ho wreck me rudder, stove me planks,
an’ rust me anchor chain,
salute me twice as you walk by,
or ye’ll never walk again, hahaarr!

I’m Tillie the wild’n’terrible, the fiercest cook afloat,
I was born in a storm one icy morn on a leaky pirate
boat,
I can lick me weight in vermin, so don’t dare mess
with me,
I’m a high-falutin’ plunderin’ lootin’ terror o’ the sea!

Ho rip me riggin, batter me bows,
an’ splinter my mainmast,
when I says move out of me way,
ye’d better move right fast, hahaarr!

I’m Cap’n Cuthbert Bloodpaw, an’ me father was a
whale,
so stay clear of me vittles, or I’ll bite off yore tail,
I cut me teeth on a cutlass, oh I was a savage child,
I’m a hairy scarey go anywherey buckoe bold’n’wild!

So tear me tiller, scrape me stern,
an’ gut me galley twice,
I’ll send ye to the ole seabed,
with y’tail tied in a splice, hahaarr!”

“I keeps my ole cellars cool an’ still,
stacked up with great oaken casks.
I’ll serve ye up with right goodwill,
with any fine drink ye asks!

October Ale or cider pale,
or dannelion wine,
ole nettlebeer, I got som ’ere,
by ’okey it tastes fine.
Cordial brewed from plum’n’pear,
or raspb’rry crimson ripe,
try my whortleberry sherry,
’tis wot the ladies like.

I keeps my cellars fresh’n’clean,
each barrel keg or firkin,
an’ day an’ night I tends ’em right,
I’m a Cellarbeast hard workin’!

Strawberry fizz, that’s nice that is,
the young ’uns like its flavour,
dark damson wine matured by time,
that’s wot the old ’uns savour.”

“Oh I dearly do love vermin,
I’ve oft times heard it said,
that the finest type of vermin,
are those vermin who are dead!

Show me a rat that’s been laid flat,
or a ferret that’s food for fishes,
or a wily fox laid out in a box,
an’ you’ve got my fond good wishes.
’Cos a vermin that’s slain gives nobeast pain,
he’ll never harm honest creatures,
nor steal no scoff, with his bonce chopped off
an’ a scowl on his wicked features.

Oh I dearly do love vermin,
I think I always will,
while I can afford to draw me sword,
there’s always time to kill!

’Tis true that a stoat will never float,
with a javelin through his liver,
an’ a rat’ll never get thirsty,
after sinkin’ in the river.
Ole Blood’n’guts they call me,
’cos I sends ’em to Hellgates,
a fox, a weasel or anybeast evil,
along with their foul messmates!”

“Twixt supper and breakfast find me,
In a place I was weary to be,
Up in that top tactic (one see)
Lies what was the limb of a tree.
It holds up what blocks out the night,
And can open to let in the light.
For a third of a lifetime one says,
Looking up I could see it sideways.
Tell me what we call coward (in at)
Then when you have worked out that,
You’ll find your heart’s desire,
By adding a backward liar.
Ever together the two have been set,
Since Corriam’s lance ate the coronet.”

“Ever together the two have been set,
since Corriam’s lance ate the coronet!”

“Here is our mountain an’ this is its Lord,
now sit we down at festive board,
come put aside weapons, both lance an’ sword,
let’s honour the regiment.

One two! I’ll drink to you!
an’ all my comrades good an’ true!
We’ll raise the tankard, fill the bowl,
to Salamandastron’s Long Patrol!

For warriors fallen from the ranks,
defending western shores,
let’s toast ’em all, each gallant hare,
who died for freedom’s cause!

Let blood’n’vinegar be our cry,
forward the buffs an’ do or die,
we don’t know fear or failure,
Eulalia! Eulaliiiiiaaaaaaaa!”

“May fair winds attend thee always,
may thy days be bright and long,
may good weapons ever serve thee,
may thy limbs wax fleet and strong.
I will dream of thee by moonlight,
I will watch for thee by day,
until on thy returning,
I will come to thee and say,
‘Drink ye the wine of victory,
now lay aside thy sword,
for home and hearth and friendship
are the warrior’s reward!’ ”

“There ain’t nothin’ like a life at sea,
when yore on pleasure bent,
so hearken crew, I’ll sing to you,
The Landlubber’s Lament

I dearly loves a storm each morn,
when the ship heaves up an’ down,
an’ up an’ down an’ up an’ down,
an’ oftimes round an’ round

Wild gales rip through the riggin’,
all the decks aflood with sea,
wid waves as high as mountains,
Ho, that’s the life fer me

So I boils up some ole skilly,
an’ I stirs the duff in too,
in me greasy liddle galley,
’tis the stuff t’feed the crew

Pots o’ cold’n’watery cabbage,
lots o’ slimy turnip ends,
an’ some fish heads with the eyes in,
to see that we’re all friends

Then I’ll feed ye second helpin’s,
just t’keep ye well content,
an’ at night I’ll serenade ye,
with the Landlubber’s Lament

“There are many places a spirit may rest
when life’s long march has ended.
Every creature returns to its home,
exactly as nature intended.
The cowards and traitors, the liars and cheats,
each in their turn is awarded,
someplace that they deserved to go,
as their actions in life accorded.
Those who proved untrue to their friends
lie thick in the dust of the earth,
trodden on forever by all
to show what treachery’s worth.
In the mud of swamps, in rotting weeds,
they lie imprisoned by evil misdeeds.
But the warriors true, the brave of heart,
who valiantly upheld the right,
they are raised on high, to the velvet sky,
bringing light to the darkness of night.
They’ll stand there as long as the sky will,
their honour in brightness will glow,
a lesson to see, for eternity,
of where the real warriors go!
So ere my eyelids close in sleep,
these are the words I will say,
may I have the courage and faithfulness,
that my spirit should join them one day.”

“Left right, left right,
put those paws down lively now.
One two, one two,
come on chaps let’s show ’em how.
’Tis on to death or glory,
for every willin’ beast,
an’ what’ll we have to show for it,
a song a fight an’ a feast!

Left right, left right,
every mother’s son of ye.
One two, one two,
o’er shore’n’hill’n’vale’n’lea.
The Long Patrol are on the march,
from dawn ’til evenin’ light,
as long as we can end it with
a song a feast an’ a fight!

Left right, left right,
eatin’ dust an’ poundin’ earth.
One two, one two,
’tis all a warrior’s worth,
a dash o’ blood’n’vinegar,
for that we’ll string along,
while we’re alive we’ll all survive
on a fight a feast an’ a song!”

“Wildloughs, Wavedogs, Streambattles, too,
Riverdogs, Streamdivers, Galedeeps true.
Death rides the wind, tell the enemy,
the clans have risen, ee aye eeeeeeeeeh!

Show no quarter, stand up an’ fight,
blood and steel be our birthright.
Oh Rhulain, set your children free,
the clans have risen, ee aye eeeeeeeeh!

Foebeast, weep for all you’re worth,
curse the one that gave you birth.
Red the streams run to the sea,
the clans have risen, ee aye eeeeeeeeeh!

In the times to come I’ll say,
I was one who fought that day.
Gave my family liberty,
Ee aye, ee aye, ee aye eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!”

“Thy memory stays midst friends,
’neath water thy body lies,
thy spirit lives, a warrior star,
set high in darkened skies.
I’ll look for thee when day is done,
thou jewel in night’s crown,
a fearless legend, burning brave,
forever shining down.”

“There’s goin’ to be a mutinee,
mate, I’m a-tellin’ you,
if there ain’t skilly’n’duff for tea,
to feed this big fat crew.
Don’t dish ’em up no salad leaves,
or no burrgooly stew,
if there ain’t skilly’n’duff for tea,
they might eat me’n’you!
Whoa! Skilly’n’duff, that’s the stuff,
for my ole crew t’chew,
it’s hot’n’thick so take your pick,
it’ll do the trick if you feel sick.
So fill yore tum, by gum ole chum,
don’t pant’n’wheeze’n’puff,
you’ll run like a hare an’ fight like a bear,
on good ole skilly’n’duff.
So don’t stand lookin’ silly, feed me lots o’ skilly
. . . an’ duff!”

“Where are we going to? Holt Summerdell!
What’ll we do there? We’ll all live well!
When we get there we’ll have tales to tell,
of the day that old fortress burnt an’ fell!
Left right, I’ll never complain,
if I never see a cat again!
Left right left right!
We had a war an’ won the fight,
Left right left right!
Our queen is comin’ home tonight!
Left right left right!
The clans are marchin’ free!”

“Pick ’em up laddie buck! an’ put ’em down laddie
buck!
You’ve made it home an’ now you’re out of luck, out
of luck!

Oh ’tis nice to march back home,
when there’s nowhere else to go,
for home is every warrior’s desire.
To see the ones you love, beat each other black’n’blue,
while your dear old granny’s roastin’ by the fire!

Pick ’em up laddie buck! an’ put ’em down laddie buck!
You’ve made it home an’ now you’re out of luck, out
of luck!

To taste your mother’s cookin’,
an’ have bellyache all day,
o what a sad an’ sorry tale is this.
If I could just escape, to some regimental camp,
I’d give some ugly sergeant one big kiss!

Pick ’em up laddie buck! an’ put ’em down laddie buck!
You’ve made it home an’ now you’re out of luck, out
of luck!

But I cannot run away,
’cos my sister pinched me boots,
she bit me nose an’ stole me uniform.
An’ Dad’s nailed up the door, wot a lovely welcome
home,
from a family so kind an’ sweet an’ warm!

Pick ’em up laddie buck! Put ’em down laddie buck!
You’ve made it home an’ now you’re out of luck, out of
luck!”