Ale and Scales

[Intro - Fiddle screech, accordion blast, stomping feet, glasses clinking]

[Rowdy, shouted]
ALE AND SCALES! ALE AND SCALES!
GRAB YOUR MUG AND TELL YOUR TALES!
HERE WE GO! HEY!

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[Verse 1 - Fast, energetic]

Ale and scales, that's the life we lead!
Huntin' monsters, plantin' seed!
Drink all night and hunt all day!
That's the Wyverian way they say!
My first hunt was a Great Jagras, easy as can be
Came back to the tavern and they bought a round for me!
Now I'm chasing Rathalos with a fire in my soul
But first—another round before I lose control!

[Chorus - Full group, stomping]

ALE AND SCALES! ALE AND SCALES!
WE'LL TELL OUR TALES TILL THE LIGHT FAILS!
ALE AND SCALES! ALE AND SCALES!
AND WHEN WE'RE DONE, WE'LL DRINK SOME ALES!

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[Verse 2 - More stories]

Old man in the corner, Wyverian and grey
Says he's seen a thousand hunters drink their lives away
But he smiles and raises his glass and joins us in the song
Says "I've been drinking here so long, I've watched the Guild grow strong!"
He tells us of the elders who would hunt with bone and stone
Before there were greatswords, before there was a throne
We listen close and buy him drinks and thank him for the tale
Ale and scales, my friends—it never, ever fails!

[Chorus]

ALE AND SCALES! ALE AND SCALES!
WE'LL TELL OUR TALES TILL THE LIGHT FAILS!
ALE AND SCALES! ALE AND SCALES!
AND WHEN WE'RE DONE, WE'LL DRINK SOME ALES!

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[Bridge - Slows slightly, warm]

[Elderly Wyverian voice]
The young ones think it's just about drinking.
[Chuckles]
They'll learn. The ale remembers every toast.
Every hunter who ever raised a glass.
[Beat kicks back in]
NOW DRINK UP!

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[Verse 3 - Fast, furious]

I DRINK TO THE TIGREX THAT ALMOST TOOK MY ARM!
I DRINK TO THE NARGACUGA THAT CAUSED ME NO HARM!
I DRINK TO THE PALICO THAT SAVED ME FROM THE FALL!
I DRINK TO EVERY HUNTER WHO EVER HEARD THE CALL!
THE WYVERIANS SING WITH US, THEIR VOICES OLD AND DEEP!
THEY'VE BEEN HERE SINCE THE BEGINNING, WATCHING AS WE SLEEP!
AND WHEN THE MORNING COMES, WE'LL HUNT AND FIGHT AND KILL!
BUT TONIGHT, WE DRINK AND SING—TONIGHT, WE'VE HAD OUR FILL!

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[Fiddle Solo - Fast, furious, tavern energy]

---

[Breakdown - Stomping, chanting]

ALE! (ALE!)
SCALES! (SCALES!)
DRINK IT DOWN! (DRINK IT DOWN!)
AND TELL YOUR TALES! (TELL YOUR TALES!)
WYVERIANS! (HERE!)
HUNTERS! (THERE!)
EVERYONE WHO EVER DARED!

---

[Final Chorus - Maximum rowdy]

ALE AND SCALES! ALE AND SCALES!
WE'LL TELL OUR TALES TILL THE LIGHT FAILS!
ALE AND SCALES! ALE AND SCALES!
AND WHEN WE'RE DONE, WE'LL DRINK SOME—

---

[Outro - Staggering, laughing, fading]

...ales.
[Elderly laugh]
Same time tomorrow?
[Stumbling]
...same time tomorrow.
[Glasses clink one last time]
...ale and scales.

Tavern Shanty, Nerdcore, male