One of the goals for the ElfQuest-inspired A Wolfrider’s Reflections album was to feature a song for each of the individual characters from the saga. As anyone who has read the series knows, that’s a tall order. There are dozens of characters, of various races and motivations, and we the readers still didn’t know where they were all headed or how things would work out. This left lots of wonderful room to imagine around the edges of the tale.
I loved the image of the powerful, terrifying Troll King from the north. So different from the bumbling trolls of the forests, yet, like them, ultimately undone by his own machinations.
lyrics
In my youth, I dreamed of power;
With my youth, I paid.
I spent my youth, each filthy hour,
Sharpening wit and sharpening sword,
Slaughtering coward and slaughtering lord,
Wallowing deep in my blood-spattered hoard.
And thus grew the empire I’ve made.
In later years, I dreamed of treason,
Dreamed they’d steal my throne.
I cared not for their pleas or reasons.
They all sought to kill me, so justice be damned.
I ended their scheming with one harsh command,
And wreaked out sweet justice with my own bare hands,
And mortared my halls with their bones.
Dreams of living,
Dreams of death.
Dreams as real as dead stone’s breath.
Dreams show me more truth than mortals could guess.
Whatever might be, my dreams show to me.
In waking dreams, I see a wolfen,
Poised and pale and cold.
He brings grey wolves and reindeer with him.
The wolves hunt and kill at their young leader’s word;
The deer are insane and attack as a herd
In armor-clad fury I find quite absurd.
I am the Troll King!
This mountain I own!
I am mad metal’s master and bright metal’s hone!
And I won’t let mere animals sunder my throne!
So capture each wolf born since I took my reign,
And hunt every reindeer and let them know pain.
I’ll find every one, ‘til no threat can remain,
And thus prove wrong what this dream has told.
Like the king that I am, I’ll die old!
credits
from Horsetamer,
released April 6, 2013
Clarinet: Mary Beth Malek
Bassoon: Linda Morton Fisher
Acoustic Guitar: Dale Cinski
Cello: Joseph Bishkoff
supported by 12 fans who also own “The Troll King's Dream”
Most of Leslie's songs are pretty cool. Purchasing the album on bandcamp gave me the chance of sending her a few bucks for listening to all her stuff on Youtube ;-) alrunia
supported by 11 fans who also own “The Troll King's Dream”
During the pandemic, I've been filking online with my parrot, Basil, chirping along from my shoulder. Kanef. suggested that I add Strange Messenger to our repertoire. I hadn't heard it, but when I found you on Bandcamp, I loved it, (and the entire album). And every time I cover Strange Messenger, people are delighted to hear it. Debora VanHeyningen
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