Not the happy-go-lucky spontaneous dance number kind. Martin's books are peppered with ballads which talk of love and legends, religion and history.
Official: Rains Of Castamere
Lyrics:
And who are you, the proud lord said,
that I must bow so low?
Only a cat of a different coat,
that's all the truth I know.
In a coat of gold or a coat of red,
a lion still has claws,
And mine are long and sharp, my lord,
as long and sharp as yours.
And so he spoke, and so he spoke,
that Lord of Castamere,
But now the rains weep o'er his hall,
with no one there to hear.
Yes now the rains weep o'er his hall,
and not a soul to hear.
Source: youtube.com
That includes oral histories conveyed in song. Without the ability to read or write, ballads were how most of the populace remembered the past and expressed their emotions. Martin created verses for almost a dozen songs but most haven't made it into the show, leaving it up to talented fans to breathe life into them. And these are just the ones with lyrics. There are dozens and dozens of mentioned songs just waiting to be polished up and sold for $.99 on iTunes.
Fan Version: The Bear And The Maiden Fair
Lyrics:
A bear there was,
A bear, A BEAR!
All black and brown,
And covered with hair!
Oh come they said,
Oh come to the fair!
The fair? said he,
But I'm a bear!
All black and brown,
And covered in hair!
And down the road,
From here to there,
From here!To there!
Three boys, a goat,
And a dancing bear!
They danced and spun,
All the way to the fair!
Oh! sweet she was,
And pure and fair,
The maid with honey,
In her hair! Her hair,
The maid with honey,
in her hair!
The bear smelled the scent,
On the summer air!
The Bear! The Bear!
All black and brown,
And covered with hair!
He smelled the scent,
On the summer air,
He sniffed and roared,
And smelled it there!
Honey on the summer air!
Oh I'm a maid,
And I'm pure and fair,
I'll never dance,
With a hairy bear,
A bear! A bear!
I'll never dance,
With a hairy bear!
The bear,the bear!
Lifted her high,
into the air!
The bear, the bear!
I called for a knight!
But you're a bear!
A bear! A bear,
All black and brown,
And cover in hair!
She kicked and wailed,
The maid so fair,
But he licked the honey,
From her hair!
Her hair! Her hair!
He licked the honey,
From her hair!
Then she sighed and squealed,
And kicked the air,
She sang: My bear so fair,
And off they went,
The bear! The bear!
And the maiden fair!
Source: youtube.com
Fan Version: Hands of Gold
Lyrics:
For hands of gold are always cold
But a woman's hands are warm
He rode through the streets of the city,
Down from his hill on high
O'er the wynds and the steps and the cobbles
He rode to a woman's sigh.
For she was his secret treasure
She was his shame and his bliss
And a chain and a keep are nothing
Compared to a woman's kiss
For hands of gold are always cold
but a woman's hands are warm
Stealing away in the darkness
Through the hour of the wolf, 'till dawn
No five kings, no war, no lost brother
With her, all his cares were gone
For she was his greatest pleasure
She was his shame and his pride
And the view from a tower is nothing
Compared to a woman's eyes
For hands of gold are always cold
But a woman's hands are warm
Source: youtube.com
