Minstrel Boy

[Danoz]

The Minstrel Boy to the war is gone
In the ranks of death you will find him
His father's sword he hath girded on
And his wild harp slung behind him
"Land of Song!" said the warrior bard
"Tho' all the world betrays thee
One sword, at least, they rights shall guard
One faithful harp shall praise thee!"

 

[Vanyel]

The Minstrel Boy to the war is gone
In the ranks of death you will find him
His father's sword he hath girded on
And his wild harp slung behind him
"Land of Song!" said the warrior bard
"Tho' all the world betrays thee
One sword, at least, they rights shall guard
One faithful harp shall praise thee!"

The minstrel fell! -- but the foeman's chain
Could not bring his proud soul under;
The harp he loved ne'er spoke again,
For he tore its chords asunder;
And said, "No chains shall sully thee,
Thou soul of love and bravery!
Thy songs were made for the pure and free,
They shall never sound in slavery!"

---Thomas Moore

 

[RapidNadion]

"The Wounded," right?

 

[erastus25]

"The Wounded," right?

Correct. O'Brien and Capt. Maxwell sing it together when Maxwell realizes that he's done for.

On a side note, does this song remind anyone else of the theme song from the Sharpe series seen on Masterpiece Theater a few years back?

 

[A beaker full of death]

On a side note, does this song remind anyone else of the theme song from the Sharpe series seen on Masterpiece Theater a few years back?

Yes, now that you mention it.

Over the hills and far away...

 

[RapidNadion]

That's a great example of a scene that could have been horribly tacky and cringe-inspiring were it not for the wonderfully subtle acting and camera work. Meaney's reserved "O'Brien sympathy" playing against Gunton's "broken Maxwell" as the camera does a slow 180 around them ... it still plays well today. And the script -- so minimalistic. Wonderful work all around.

 

[erastus25]

That's a great example of a scene that could have been horribly tacky and cringe-inspiring were it not for the wonderfully subtle acting and camera work. Meaney's reserved "O'Brien sympathy" playing against Gunton's "broken Maxwell" as the camera does a slow 180 around them ... it still plays well today. And the script -- so minimalistic. Wonderful work all around.

I completely agree. Maxwell and O'Brien (the actors, really) are just good enough singers to make it believable and sympathetic. And the directing is excellent. I really enjoyed finding it on youtube.

 

[Unicron]

Yeah, that's one of my favorite scenes as well.

 

[M'Sharak]

On a side note, does this song remind anyone else of the theme song from the Sharpe series seen on Masterpiece Theater a few years back?

Yes, now that you mention it.

Over the hills and far away...

The songs are roughly contemporary. However, "Over the Hills and Far Away" is an English tune and "The Minstrel Boy" an Irish one. (Yes, that's a big difference, in some circles. )

 

[erastus25]

On a side note, does this song remind anyone else of the theme song from the Sharpe series seen on Masterpiece Theater a few years back?

Yes, now that you mention it.

Over the hills and far away...

The songs are roughly contemporary. However, "Over the Hills and Far Away" is an English tune and "The Minstrel Boy" an Irish one. (Yes, that's a big difference, in some circles. )

Through Flanders, Portugal and Spain...

I'm sure it is a huge difference in some circles. Realistically, I don't even know if they're of the same style, but to an untrained American ear they sound similar!

 

[GeneHunt]

Whenever I here Minstrel Boy I always imagine some sort of boy composed entirely of Minstrils that can fire minstrils out of his hands. (like the rasilon warrior does in the five doctors).

 

[A beaker full of death]

Whenever I here Minstrel Boy I always imagine some sort of boy composed entirely of Minstrils that can fire minstrils out of his hands. (like the rasilon warrior does in the five doctors).

wtf?

 

[Gibraltar]

There's an absolutely fantastic version of Minstrel Boy on the Blackhawk Down soundtrack: http://youtube.com/watch?v=GtazYlHhIVU

Oh, and here's Over the Hills: http://youtube.com/watch?v=M29HbfkaM8Q

 

[serdogthehound]

I always think, of O'Brien as being metaphorically the minstrel boy, when you think of his back story and what happened to them during the massacre. In a sense that young innocent musician died there

 

[Sector 7]

Whenever I here Minstrel Boy I always imagine some sort of boy composed entirely of Minstrils that can fire minstrils out of his hands. (like the rasilon warrior does in the five doctors).

wtf?

I'll have what he's having... make mine a double!
I agree... if that wasn't an Emmy-worthy scene, then nothing is.

 

[serdogthehound]

speak of TNG itself
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJudJ9S579A

 

[T'Cal]

That's a great example of a scene that could have been horribly tacky and cringe-inspiring were it not for the wonderfully subtle acting and camera work. Meaney's reserved "O'Brien sympathy" playing against Gunton's "broken Maxwell" as the camera does a slow 180 around them ... it still plays well today. And the script -- so minimalistic. Wonderful work all around.

One of the best scenes in all of Trek. It brings a tear to me eye...

 

[erastus25]

I always think, of O'Brien as being metaphorically the minstrel boy, when you think of his back story and what happened to them during the massacre. In a sense that young innocent musician died there

Ah, excellent interpretation. It all makes a little more sense now.