After doing a whole sequence of filks to non-period music (The SCA Bunch, Fighter Jock, Blue Passant Tiger, Summer of A.S. IX), I'm trying to get back to period contrafacts. I compromised: this filk is to Ash Grove, which dates back to the early 1700s.
For a while, I've wanted to do a song about kids growing up in the SCA. This is partially based on two stories that might be urban legends, except I heard them first-hand from the people involved. A lot of the other things are autobiographical. I've footnoted them, so you can read about them afterwards. I finished this on January 26, 2008.
When I was a young lad I joined recreators Who cherished the past and loved learning its ways I met my dear wife there and soon we had children A boy and a girl who've now reached their school days In open house season we went to their classroom But all of the parents and staff tried to hide. I asked “What's the problem?” and that's when their teacher Took hold of my hand and then led me aside. She said, “I'm accustomed to watching their antics At recess their cries of 'Lay on' are quite cute. And if they use words such as defenestration And call the sky azure, that's really a hoot. Your children are joys and I'm happy to teach them They're quite well behaved and so eager to learn. Believe me I know this is really quite awkward, But there are a few things that cause us concern. “They say that their mother's a mistress to someone And you've helped the king to kill many a man. They say that their spelling is good for old English And their uncle's master of some southern clan. At craft time they made up some working contraption I called it a catapult, which made them laugh. Good sir, will you tell me, what cult are you part of. Should I call the cops and the counseling staff?” I smiled and I said there's a good explanation I sat down and told her of the SCA. We're regular people who've got some odd int'rests Like brewing and dancing the whole night away. And now there's no problem, for she's joined our canton She's working away on a High Tudor gown. Her class now does chain mail and she's started fencing And she's got the principal fighting in crown!