To where they will go,
This is a secret nobeast may know.
                                                        Marlfox!
Plundering murdering vulpine thieves,
Who blend with stone,
Or meld with leaves.
                                                        Marlfox!
See the pale eyes and swirling cloak,
Appear like nightmare,
Vanish like smoke.
                                                        Marlfox!
What steals upon the silent air,
Gleaming fangs, mottled fur,
A deadly axblade lying there.
                                                        Marlfox!
Nobeast living can hide from thee,
O thou who treads invisibly,
Cross hill and vale, through woods and rocks.
                                                        Marlfox!
                                                            Marlfox!
                                                                Marlfox!
    -Marlfox Song

Who are we but strolling players,
Wand'ring through the long ago,

Joys and sadness, hopes and longings,

Keep ups traveling onward though

The laughter and applause of others,

Who view the passing cavalcade,

Leave echoes hovering some far summer,

Floating round a woodland glade.

'Twas but a tale for your amusement,

Like my small unworthy rhyme,

Gone, alas, into those realms,

The land of once upon a time.

-Prologue

Flow'rs of the forest

Are bright in the spring,

Wake with the dawn

Hear a lone skylark sing.

Brooks gaily babble

O'er hillsides so green,

Streams ripple secrets

Of what they have seen,

Small birds give voice

Mid the leaves of great trees,

Which rustle softly

In time with the breeze.

I'll add my music

For what it is worth,

And sing just for you, love,

The song of the earth.

-Songbreeze's Song

Oh for the open road,

No dullard's life for me,

The world is my abode,

Performing endlessly.

I'm free I'm free, companions we,

Travel the highways happily,

Performing deeds of derring-do,

And plays of heroes good and true,

Tumbling singing in merry attire,

Pray tell me, sir, what's your desire?

Come fiddle dum twiddle dum derrydownday,

A harum-scarum hoopallahey,

Come one come all this day to see

The Wandering Noonvale Companeeeeeeee!

-Wandering Noonvale Company traveling song

Whum chakka um chakka chumchakka whum!

Guosim dig yore paddle deep,

Hurly-burly river wide'n'curly,

There's no time to sleep.

Whum chakka um chakka chumchakka whum!

Rapid wide and fast do go,

Hurly-burly river wide'n'curly,

Bend yore backs an' row.

Whum chakka um chakka chumchakka whum!

Keep her bows up in the foam,

Hurly-burly river wide'n'curly,

Logboat take us home.

Whum chakka um chakka chumchakka...

-Guosim Boatsong

I once knew an ant and I knew him right well,

This ant he lived in a hazelnut shell,

He had relations to count by the score,

They used to come knocking on his tiny door.

One was called distant, he lived far away,

Another was pleasant, he'd bid you good day,

A third was constant, he was never away,

Then there was hesitant, not sure he'd stay,

And poor old reluctant not sure too,

And one called valiant stout and true.

Now I'll tell you the reason they all came to call,

'Cos this ant was the most important of all!

-Song's Ant Ballad

Deah mothah I am hungry, hungry,

An' starvin' as well to boot,

Oh to be back home in your orchard,

So full of delishowus froot.

If I perish'n'die before maaaaawnin',

My last thought will be of yewww,

An' the smile on Father's whiskers,

An' a whackin' great bowl of stewwww!

Are Grandpa's teeth still missin',

The way I'm missin' yoooooou?

You're the nicest ma a son could have

An' I've had quite a feeeeewwww.

Fare thee well my dearest parents,

For quite soon now I must die,

But if I get home before midnight,

Don't let Grandma eat all the pie!

-Florian's Song

All-powerful mighty Queen, whose beauty has ne'er been surpassed,

Far brighter than the sun, whose rays it will outlast,

We live to serve you truly, until our final breath,

Knowing you hold all secrets, the power of life and death,

Wisest of wise, greatness sublime,

Rules o'er our isle for all time.

-Praise to High Queen Silth

Our thanks to you friends, our thanks to one and all,

For kindly asking us to join you at Redwall,

We saw from afar, just as we thought we should,

Your Abbey like a gem, set in Mossflow'r's green wood.

The welcome you gave us was like we'd never known,

Like family you treat us, as if we were your own,

The bells tolled so pretty, out o'er the countryside,

A message of friendship, it echoed far and wide,

The food and drink you gave us was wonderful and yet,

'Tis you and your friendship that we'll never forget!

-Song's Farewell to Redwall

Oh come along dearies follow me,

I'll take ye down t'the sycamore tree,

Plum pudden an' turnover, apple pie.

Beneath its spreadin' boughs we'll lie,

With veggible pasty an' damson tart,

We'll wheel it along in a little cart,

The birds will sing "Give us some do."

Oh the food's for us an' the crumbs for you

So empty the cupboard out what d'you see,

A fruitcake for you an' trifle for me,

There's bread'n'cheese an' what d'you think,

A jugful o' raspberry cordial to drink.

A rowtle tee towtle an' toora lie ay,

What do you think our old mother will say,

Riddle dum diddle dum derrydown dare,

When she comes home to find her cupboard all bare?

-Wandering Noonvale Company comic song

Oh 'twas on the umpty-ninth of spring,

When a duck blew on a trumpet,

I led me army from behind,

To the battle of the final crumpet.

Some wore boots an' some wore clogs,

An' some wore big long faces,

An' two fat moles fell down with colds,

Before we'd marched ten paces.

At the battle of the final crumpet,

I very near lost me life,

When I got punched upon the nose,

By a big bad hedgehog's wife.

Then all broke out in a mutiny,

When a mouse with a mustache said,

"Lie down me lads afore they charge,

So they'll all think we're dead!"

Well there we sat while all around,

The spears an' shafts were thuddin',

A-drinkin' goosegog cordial wine,

An' eatin' cabbage puddin'.

We finally defeated them,
When the duck tripped on his trumpet,

An' I got a feather in me cap,

'Cos I ate the final crumpet!

-The Battle for the Final Crumpet

At the rear of redstone wall,

Find me o'er where breaks the day,

You cannot, shall not walk at all,

Just follow as I run away.

Discover the speechless hidden mouth,

Alas, my friends, our ways part there,

Go down green tunnel, bounden south,

Through trees with blossoms in their hair.

Then when the sky shows blue and light,

And clear down to the bed you gaze,

Be not deceived by rainbows bright,

Beware tall stones and misted haze.

Leaping boiling, stealing breath,

None can stand against this might,

Which sweeps the traveler down to death,

In caves of grim eternal night.

And should you live to seek the lake,

Watch for the fish of blue and gray,

Betwixt those two's the path you take,

Good fortune wend you on yourw ay!

-Samkin's Directions to the Great Lake

Fate and fortunes, seasons fair,

Be kind to us this day,

Let nobeast here whom we hold dear,

See comrades borne away.

May the strong defend the weak,

Protect those who take part,

Grant victory of truth and right,

To warriors brave of heart.

Banish the foebeast from our land,

And when new seasons fall,

Leave not an empty space of grief,

Amongst us at Redwall!

-Warriors' Grace

An' if on an empty tummy I'm slain,

Then I'll jolly well never get killed again,

So pass the pudden an' fetch the pies,

An' I'll give the foebeast a rotten surprise!

-Florian's Addition to the Warriors' Grace

I paint my face or wear a mask,

For I'll be anybeast you ask,

As I wander on my way.

A skillful tumbler bounding high,

A pitiful mope who'll make you cry,

My actor's part I play.

And what care you if I am sad,

Or if ill fortune I have had,

'Tis just a clown, you say.

Aye, just a droll who plays a part,

Who travels in a painted cart,

From dawn to dusk each day.

An actor can be young or old,

Figure of fun or hero bold,

From tears to laughter without pause,

I strut the stage to your applause,

Then I look in my mirror and say, "Hey,

What fool shall I play today?"

-Wandering Noonvale Companions Troupe song

Four Chieftains going forth,

To bring back Redwall's heart,

Vengeance, honor, friendship,

Each will play their part.

The flower bears my blade,

And greenstick, Warrior's daughter,

Join with the shortsword bearer,

And one who lives by water.

Before the herald lark,

Ere night's last teardrop falls,

With none to bid you fond farewell,

Go! Leave these old red walls.

-Martin the Warrior's message

Before the herald lark,

Ere night's last teardrop falls,

Like dewdrop from a rose,

The rising Minstrel calls...

-Daybreak

If you eat too much you'll sink the boat,

Burst yore boots an' split yore coat,

Just scoff enough so you stay afloat,

'Tis manners, good manners!

If you pinch the vittles from another's plate,

Wait till he's lookin' the other way, mate,

An' when fish are bitin', don't eat the bait,

'Tis manners, good manners!

If yore a shrew o' the Guosim clan,

You must be sure to think of a plan,

To share yore matey's pudden or flan,

'Tis manners, good manners!

Remember to chew everythin' in sight,

If it don't bite back, then get first bight,

An' always take a basinful to bed each night,

'Tis manners, good manners!

Dippler's Manners Song

Oh there's some fools take a bath each day,

By rollin' in the mornin' dew,

An' others who won't wash at all,

But that ain't me nor you.

Othersome take dry dust baths,

An' reckon that they're clean,

But if a watervole you be,

Well you know wot I mean.

Hoho, yiss yiss, ho hooooooo!

Don't sit'n'shiver beside the river,

Dive right in with a splosh,

Grab hold of a good ole soapwort root,

An' give yorself a wash.

Scrub hard scrub soft scrub lively, mate,

Good health you'll never lack,

An' if yore paws can't reach around,

A fish'll scrub yore back.

Hoho, yiss yiss, ho hoooooo!

-Watervole Ditty

Green rushes green rushes an' lilies so pale,

Pray sit ye down friend now an' list' to my tale,

For the rivers flow fast an' the mountains are tall,

An' across the wide moorlands the curlews do call,

Dirry wallaker williker doddle rum day!

Green rushes green rushes an' lilies so pale,

Bring me bread'n'cheese an' some dandelion ale,

An' light up a fire now to warm my cold paws,

I'll sit here all winter till that river thaws,

Skither riddle aye fiddle aye rumbletum hey!

Green rushes green rushes an' lilies so pale,

I've traveled so far over valley an' dale,
Stale bread'n'hard cheese an' the ale isn't here,

An' the fire isn't lit so 'tis goodbye, me dear.

Rowtle dowtle rye tootle I go on me way!

Green rushes pale lilies I'll bid ye good day!

For where I'm not welcome I never wold stay!

An' to all you musicians I'd just like to say,

If I've sung out too fast yore indulgence I pray!

-Green Rushes an' Lilies so Pale

Oh how could a hedgehog marry a mole,

He's prickly prickly prickly,

An' live with a squirrel all in a great hole,

Very tickly tickly tickly.

An' what if an otter could dance with a trout,

He'd stay in the river an' never come out.

Pray tell me whatever they'd all think o' me,

Invitin' a bumblebee in for its tea?

Why they'd come in and join us for goodness' sake,

For scones an' trifle an' blueberry cake,

Elderflow'r cordial an' strawberry pie,

Oh turn caterpillar to bright butterfly!

-Ellayo's Nonsense Ditty

A watervole grows like an ould bulrush stalk,

An' learns to swim afore 'e can walk,

Just give 'im a paddle an' lend 'im a boat,

There's nought as nice as a vole wot's afloat.

Go ruggle yore tookle an' rowgle yer blot,

Come floogle yore wattle an' pickle yer swot!

'E won't take a boat out onto the ice,

But 'e'll live all 'is life in a comfy ould cave,

An' when 'e dies it'll do fer 'is grave.

So twangle me gurdle an' griddle me twogg,

Right burgle me doodle an' frumple me plogg!

-Burble's Watervole Song

Soll:

Goodwife Brimm, are you at 'ome?

If'n you are 'tis only me,

Now you won't sit all alone,

'Cos I've brought some friends to tea!

Goodwife Brimm:

If'n that's who I think it be,

Wot a din yore makin',

Seems to me I only see,

Yore face when I'm bakin'!

-Greeting Between Soll and Brimm

Who taught the birds to sing?

Why Mother Nature dear.

Who told the winds an' breeze to blow,

Rain to fall an' snow to snow,

Rivers to run an' streams to flow?

Oh Mother Nature dear!

Who colored grass so green?

Why Mother Nature dear.

Who tells the moon, come out at night,

And teaches stars to shine so bright,

Then orders sun and clear daylight?

Oh Mother Nature dear!

Who makes the seasons change?

Why Mother Nature dear.

Who says the seas must ebb and flow,

An' tells each tree how tall to grow,

Then lets the days pass fast of slow?

Oh Mother Nature dear,

I see her plain an' clear,

She's all around us here!

-Mother Nature Dear

Armed to the dirty mangy teeth,

Ten of 'em came at me,

Hoho, me buckoes, here, sez I,

Only ten of ye?

So I boxed their ears an' blacked their eyes,

Then tied their tails in knots.

I kicked their bottoms o'er the walls

With javelins an' slingshots,

When suddenly behind me back,

Some foulbeast shouted "Charge!"

An' twenty-three came right at me,

Those villains were quite large.

So I got me trusty salad fork,

An' jabbed 'em here'n'there,

I left 'em weepin', full o' holes,

"Oh save us from that hare!"

Well I grabbed a fleein' Marlfox,

An' punched him on the snout,

Both his boots went flyin' off,

I gave him such a clout!

Those rats were dirty fighters,

Out came me old soup ladle,

The cowardly pack o' blighters,

Fled fast as they were able.

I chased 'em, laughin' bravely,

Haharr now off you pop,

I'm the warrior who saved Redwall,

An' me last name's Wilffachop!

-Florian's Victory Ode

Who be death? We be death!

Here's d'blade wot stop yore breath!

Kye arr rakkachakka whummwhummwhumm!

Plunder good! Slayin' good!

These d'blades wot shed yore blood!

Kye arr rakkachakka whummwhummwhumm!

-Barbarian War Chant

I'll skelp their tails I'll skelp their ears,

Then skelp some whiskers too,

Nobeast skelps like Cregga does,

An' I've skelpt quite a few!

I love to see 'em turnin' pale,

Some'll weep or some'll wail,

Some'll grow up with no tail,

When I'm done skelpin' here!

So hush my naughty dear,

Go fast asleep till morn,

That's if you wish to waken up,
With tail unskelped my dawn!

One more word, just one more peep,

Woe betide those not asleep,

They will call out, Mercy! Help!

When the badger starts to skelp!

-Cregga's Skelping Rhyme

Ho there am I, a liddle bee,

A-livin' in my ole oak tree,

When some bad varmint wid an ax,

Deals my 'ome a few good whacks.

Oh buzz, sez I, now wot's amiss,

Good gracious me, I can't 'ave this,

So buzz, buzz, buzz, I flies right out,

Wags my sting an' looks about,

Buzz buzz buzz, who can I sting?

Whoever did this wicked thing.

So right up in the air I fly,

An' there the villain I espy,

Buzz buzz buzz, the one I chose,

Had honey smeared all on his nose,

Buzz buzz buzz, aye, that's him there,

That 'orrible funny-lookin' hare.

Steal my honey, that ain't fair,

Yore goin' to pay the price, proud sir,

Buzz buzz buzz, so down I goes,

An' stings him hard upon his nose,

I made him leap an' howl an' wail,

An' that's the sting in my small tale.

Buzz buzz buzz, I tell you folk,

Stay clear o' my ole three-topped oak!

-Tragglo's Ditty

The Marlfox cannot be bested,

Either in cunning or stealth,

Whenever there is power to be seized,

Plunder, land, or wealth,

When other minds are slumb'ring,

The Marlfox is wide awake,

Figuring how and where and when,

To deceive, to slay, to take!

Invisible, by the magical guile,

Slyly, with less than a sound,

Count your paws, make sure they're yours,

When the Marlfox is around!

-Marlfox Rhyme

No more on our isle will your presence be,

Or your voice sound like some silver bell,

Like summer smoke, you have gone from me,

My grief is too mournful to tell.

Great High Queen Silth we commend you,

With loving care to the deep,

May the guardians of water attend you,

In silent depths of sleep,

Knowing that I, who rule in your place,
Draw all of my wisdom from you,

May show to all, a merciful face,

To your memory, always true!

-Silth's Eulogy, read by Lantur

Oh you take an 'odge, an' I'll take a podge,

If anybeast asks us why,

Jus' tell him that some clever ooks,

Are makin' 'odgepodge pie.

We startw ith an 'azelnut an' a leek,

'Cos they're wot we likes best,

An' tho' they don't look much to speak,

Till we toss in the rest!

'Odgepodge, 'odgepodge, good ole 'odgepodge,

That's the pie for me,

I'll scoff it 'ot at suppertime,

Or wolf it cold for tea.

Oh savage a cabbage, tear a turnip,
Rip ripe radishes too,

Chop up chestnuts, they're the bestnuts,

Chuck in quite a few.

Dannyline ransom, mushrooms 'andsom,

Beetroots nice an' red,

An' watercress, that's more or less,

With piecrust over'ead!

Oh 'odgepodge 'odgepodge, good ole 'odgepodge,

North west east or south,

You can shove it up yore nose, but I suppose,

'Tis better off in yore mouth!

Who loves an 'odgepodge...Hedge'ogs!

-Hodgepodge Pie Recipe

I sit alone and wish that I

Could be a bird up in the sky,

I'd join the breezes that do blow,

Whichever way they chanced to go,

Far o'er the waves, across the sea,

I'd drift along quite happily,

Or maybe out on field and fen,

I'd circle round some forest glen.

I envy bee and butterfly,

Maybe the birds could tell me why

I wipe a teardrop from my eye,

I sit alone, for I can't fly.

-Ellayo's Ditty

Aboard the good ship Wobblechop,

I sailed when I was young,

First in line an' feelin' fine,

When the dinner bell was rung.

Our Cap'n 'ad a fog'orn voice,

An' boots as big as me,

"Stand by, me lads, 'ere comes a ship,

'Tis a pirate craft!" cried he.

Whoa skilly'n'duff, that's the stuff,

To keep nearby when things get rough!

The pirate Cap'n was a rat,

His name was Itchee Scratch,

Upon his nose, why goodness knows,

He wore a red eyepatch.

"Haul to, ye dozy lubbers,

I'm fat'n'bad an' tough,

An' I smells plunder on the air,

Wot might be skilly'n'duff."

Whoa skilly'n'duff, that's the stuff,

Us waterbeasts can't get enough!

Well I tell you, me word 'tis true,

Our crew got quite upset,

To rob a sailor's dinner was,

The worst thing we'd 'eard yet,

So we put down our bowls'n'spoons,

Then armed ourselves with slings,

We slung at those ole pirate rats,

A dozen kinds o' things.

Whoa skilly'n'duff, that's the stuff,

To eat while fightin' searats gruff!

That pirate Cap'n he got shot,

By a barrel load of peas,

Wot blacked his eyes an' stung his thighs,

An' fractured all his knees.

We hit the crew with onion skins,

Big cabbage stalks as well,

With hardcrust pies an' 'orrible cries,

They splashed into the swell.

Whoa skilly'n'duff, that's the stuff,

When vermin crews you must rebuff!

As Wobblechop sailed away that day,

We sang a jolly song,

The bottlenosed cook with laughter shook,

As the dinner bell went bong.

I'm old an' fat with a greasy hat,

But this to you I say,

I must've scoffed a score o' bowls,

Of skilly'n'duff that day.

Whoa skilly'n'duff, that's the stuff,

When winter winds do howl'n'puff!

-Guosim Seagoing Monologue

Please gaze round our garden, remember me there,

And always be faithful and true,

Then look to the sunset and know that somewhere,

'Tis I who'll be thinking of you.

Home, home, I will come home,

Back to the ones I love best,

Home, home, no more to roam,

My weary heart will find rest.

So leave the door open and keep the fire bright,

As I recall it was always,

It may be evening or dawn's welcome light,

I'll wander back one of these days.

Home, home, I will come home,

Ere the long seasons have passed,

Home, home, no more to roam,

Peace we will find there at last.

-Songbreeze

Seven seasons gone, oh seven seasons gone,

But now I'm comin' home, me dear ole mate,

Over valley hill'n'field an' me footpaws didn't yield,

Get some vittles on the table, I can't wait!

Go t'the left right left! Go t'the left right left!

Seven seasons gone, oh seven seasons gone,

Have the little ones all growed up big'n'strong,

Is me father in the chair, do his snores ring through the air,

Now I'm goin' to wake him up with this ould song.

Go t'the left right left! Go t'the left right left!

Seven seasons gone, oh seven seasons gone,

I've been fightin' roarin' marchin' all the time,

But I'm comin' home t'you, to give you a hug or two,

The moment that I'ev supped a jug o' wine.

Go t'the left right left! Go t'the elft right left!

-Seven Seasons Gone

The paw of the shrew that slays the beast,

Who made our Chieftain fall,

Will wield the sword of Guosim,

And be Log a Log over all!

-Guosim Law

Four Chieftains from the isle return,

But one with his own tribe will stay,

Three will return, back to this place,

On summertime's last day.

The riverbeast to rule his kind,

Where once his errors were maligned,

But this to you I say,

Look to the young two went from here,

A-questing for my tapestry,

The Reguba and Swifteye's maid,

Champion and Abbess they shall be!

-Martin the Warrior's message