Black Pudding (song)

Description

Black Pudding is a Low Realm marching song sung by the soldiers of the 4th Imperial Legion. It is not an official ballad, for the Thousand Correct Actions of the Upright Soldier provide several cadence chants deemed acceptable for soldiery, and it contains lyrics which threaten violations of Immaculate scripture through commemorating the dead, though it is not so bawdy as some chants known to Legionnaires (indeed the soldiers of the Red Piss Legion are said to sing nothing but such things).

The origin of the song is unknown, but its lyrics reference the wars in the Scavenger Lands before the 4th's dismissal from the Imperial Guard and the Scarlet Empress' refusal to bring them back from the Threshold. It is titled for (and referring to) the foodstuff Blood Sausage, in part as the packed tents and bedrolls of a Legionnaire's marching kit can resemble a tied sausage, and in part for the love of the dish amongst many 4th Legion soldiers.

Lyrics

Here you are, some blood sausage, blood sausage, blood sausage
For the Northers, the Southers, and the Westers,
For the Scavengers, none left,
For the Scavengers, none left,
They're lazy shirkers.
For the Scavengers, none left,
For the Scavengers, none left,
All lazy shirkers.


We are crafty.
We are rogues.
We are no ordinary folk.
Oft gripped by our black moods,
For we are Fourth Legionnaires.

Down the Grey, our Imperial Legion
Held High our banner over Marukan
Heroes of Nexus and loyal brothers,
Sleep peaceful in your tombs.


Here you are, some blood sausage, blood sausage, blood sausage
For the Northers, the Southers, and the Easters,
For the Scavengers, none left,
For the Scavengers, none left,
They're lazy shirkers.
For the Scavengers, none left,
For the Scavengers, none left,
All lazy shirkers.


Our ancestors knew to die
For the glory of the Legion.
We will know to perish
According to tradition.

Though ever far from home,
Facing fever and fire,
Let us forget, along with our hardships,
Death, which forgets us so little.
For We are the Fourth Legion.

Variations

While the above is the most common version of the song, the lyrics often vary according to the geography of the 4th Legion's deployments, to denigrate the local direction. As an example, when serving in the Western islands, the first verse might change as follows:

Here you are, some blood sausage, blood sausage, blood sausage
For the Northers, the Easters, and the Southers,
For the Westers, none left,
For the Westers, none left,
They're lazy shirkers.
For the Westers, none left,
For the Westers, none left,
All lazy shirkers.