Rossi - Land of Cold - Work in Progress by Vollsanger

Work in Progress
Song by Kim Huggens for the Rossi Group of the LARP system Green Cloaks... I heard it and thought it would make a good battle song as well as a lament...

See the original here ..
https://soundcloud.com/farske/rossi-land-of-cold

Chorus / refrain:
Ey ukhnem, ey uhknem*,
Once more boys, and yet once more!**

Verses:
Rossi, Rossi land of of cold,
Barren grandmother, dark and old.
Ay-da die-da! Ay-da die-da!
Once more boys, and yet once more!

Proud, tenacious Rossii people bold,
Arms in strength the nation to uphold.
Ay-da die-da! Ay-da die-da!
Once more boys, and yet once more!

Red, the stars of a Rossii sky,
Voices raised in united cry.
Ay-da die-da! Ay-da die-da!
Once more boys, and yet once more!

Blood and sweat and tears: our currency,
In service and labour we are truly free.
Ay-da die-da! Ay-da die-da!
Once more boys, and yet once more!

Death and pain beside us all the while,
We face the darkness with grim smiles.
Ay-da die-da! Ay-da die-da!
Once more boys, and yet once more!

Let death take me if it will,
But Rossii blood will never still.
Ay-da die-da! Ay-da die-da!
Once more boys, and yet once more!

We drink to fear that force untold,
For Rossii hearts are already cold.
Ay-da die-da! Ay-da die-da!
Once more boys, and yet once more!

* “Ey ukhnem” is old Rssii, and translates roughly as “Yo, heave ho!”
** “Once more, boys, and yet once more”. This song was often used as a working song, and this line has been kept in the song over the years to remind the singers of its (and their) origins in hard work and labour.

In traditional Rossii fashion, this may be slowed down and sped up as suits the mood. The chorus/refrain may be used as frequently as desired, sometimes being omitted completely except for the beginning and end of the song, sometimes being inserted between verses. The repeated last two lines
in every verse act as another refrain, and may be given to one group of singers while the first two lines are sung by another group. In this form, the song becomes a call-and-response song, and has been known to become a performative and competitive act of national pride during particularly celebratory moods.