The Rains of Castamere

This is my version of a song that appears in book 3 of George R. R. Martin's fantasy series a Song of Ice and Fire. It concerns an event in the backstory when Lord Tywin Lannister quashed the rebellion of one of his subserviant lords, while he was a yet a teenager. I was given permission to record and upload it by GRRM in person at a book-signing in London, England, November 2009.

One warning to fans of the books: this was not an attempt to produce an authentically "medieval-sounding" piece. It's folkrock with electric guitars and synthesisers coming in for a crescendo at the end. I hope this doesn't jar your expectations too much.

I am in no way associated with the HBO series based on the books. If the show makes it to a third series (yes please), there'll likely be another version of the song written for it by someone hired by HBO. I'm a big fan of both the novels and the series, so that's fine by me. Whatever happens, it's been a positive learning experience in what it takes to write and record a fully-developed piece of music. This included coming up additional lyrics; GRRM's orginal verse and chorus can be read in full at:

http://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/...

Comments and discussion are welcome. For the benefit of people whose first experience of the story is the show, please keep it SPOILER FREE. If you want to have a spoiler-centric dicussion the most popular ASoIaF board for fans of the novels is at Westeros.org, here:

http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/...

Lastly, people who enjoy it feel free to like the vid and subscribe to my channel! Booya! XD

• Category

  Music

[drumlip]

S3E9

S3E9

S3E9

It's coming.

[1415Razor]

It's a very nice song, full of glorious memories - if you're a Lannister.

[mikek5440]

I have had Castamere lyrics playing in my head which I wrote down, and I found others in the comments below which can all be woven together as bards were wont to do. My additions are for GRRM or Douglas or others to pick apart or play with as they please.

I see the original verse from the book as the first, last, and the intermediate refrain/chorus.

The 500 character limit is tight, and my formatting does not appear to carry through, alas.

[mikek5440]

(My New 2d) Red Lion proud, twin- tailed, two-faced, feared not to be forsworn - broke all vassal faith and declared false claims of great ambition born. “My name and house are as fine as your own You are no more my liege, I’ll meet you boldly in the field or well withstand your siege.” And so he spoke, and so he spoke, That Lord of Castamere. By haughty words and villain’s deeds, his treason he made clear and thus assured forevermore no heirs to Castamere.

[mikek5440]

( 3) Unto the herald’s call to yield, that mercy might be shown, that Lord of Castamere defied “I will defend my own.” Lord Tywin without wroth declared “That House shall there remain, its Crimson coat upon the stones, ‘Till washed away by rain. No vassal house will here replace That Lord of Castamere: In future none shall have the chance To make rebellion here.” REFRAIN

[mikek5440]

(Douglas Harrison’s 2d verse, including suggested changes) (4)“Harken, my Lord”, the lookout cried, His eyes upon the vale: “I see glint of steel, gold and crimson flags, a host comes up the trail.” Then that faithless lord of Castamere Bespoke his elegy “No stripling boy untried by arms Will play lord over me.” And so he spoke, And so he spoke That Lord of Castamere With walls of stone and towers high, he saw no cause for fear that Lions at the gate would come to raise his heirs on spears.

[mikek5440]

Helot onWheels lyrics (a year back) follows, adjusted slightly to fit meter and rhyme, and in only 14 lines rather than 16:

[mikek5440]

(5) That proud lord called his bannermen, upon the morn to fight. But the Lannisters came on through the dark, to fall on him at night. With his hall aflame and his vassals slain, the last lord of the Reynes Was brought before Lord Lannister, defeated and in chains. “And who are you,” Lord Tywin said, With lion’s dreams besot? Your mane is shorn, your cubs devoured, your pride has come to nought. Behold, the bloody purchase which your vanity has bought.”

[mikek5440]

(6) Low bowed Reyne’s head to justice, asking only it be swift, Lord Tywin with grace told his prisoner “I shall grant you that gift. For to see your line extinguished thus is Enough for you to bear.” The Lion roared his order then, “To death you may repair, where your nameless House has freehold. Go, join your kinsmen there.” After the stroke, the Lion spoke: “Upon those stones lies splayed that errant lord of Castamere. My debts are always paid.”

[mikek5440]

Last note: [errant seems more generally and menacing to the target audiences than “faithless” or the much narrower “rebel”]:

(NOTE: HelotonWheels also had this, which I like but did not fit my rhyme:

And who are you,” Lord Tywin said,

“to hold your head so high?”

And test your feeble claws and teeth

On such a foe as I?

He also created 16 more lines posted in the thread a year back – near the beginning (bottom of the list). )

[Luca Napolitano]

Una canzone davvero bella. I miei complimenti a chi la canta. Un saluto dall' Italia.

[Khalee Hill]

A true shame we are so few , be here we stand Fierce and Proud , because our ennemies shall Hear us Roar before the Rains will weep o'er their Halls ...