The following is a war ballad for the army of Caid. Set to a tune dating at least to the 17th century that was used for such ballads as “The Digger’s Song,” “Sam Hall,” and “Captain Kidd,” “Come Hoist Your Banner High” is my first attempt at writing a ballad. This is being published on February 1, Anno Societatis 50 (2016).

Update, May 1, Anno Societatis 59 (2024): While originally written for Caid, it turns out “An Tir” fits the scansion of the song just as well, so I modified the lyrics. If your group likewise has a name that scans as iambic monometer (e.g., “the West,” “the Mists,” “Tir Righ,” “Bhakail,” etc.) please feel free to co-opt the text for your army.

---

Come Hoist Your Banner High

Come hoist your banner high, for An Tir, for An Tir,
Come hoist your banner high, for An Tir.
Come stand against the foe
Advancing row on row,
With halberd, blade and bow,
We shall send them down below for An Tir, for An Tir!

You swordsmen clash your steel for An Tir, for An Tir,
You swordsmen clash your steel for An Tir.
The en’my are all round,
So make a mighty sound,
No quarter shall be found
And we’ll yield to them no ground of An Tir, of An Tir!

Now archers, draw your bows, for An Tir, for An Tir,
Now archers draw your bows for An Tir.
Release your arrows high
To blacken out the sky,
The enemy will die
Or back to their homes will fly from An Tir, from An Tir!

Come pikemen and come spears for An Tir, for An Tir,
Come pikemen and come spears for An Tir.
Invaders are ahead,
By tyrants they are led.
Come fill their souls with dread;
Crows and ravens are well-fed in An Tir, in An Tir!

With lances and with shields for An Tir, for An Tir,
With lances and with shields for An Tir,
Now set your spurs and lay,
Into the bloody fray,
The foes will run away,
And we all shall win the day for An Tir, for An Tir!

(Repeat first verse)

---

The melody can be heard here: