#wot countdown: history

[highladyluck]

Run, Son of Battles Playlist

Direct link: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4oUFnF2nm4C21VluLcy0vN

26 songs, 1 hr 22 min. From “battles interest me” to “you will bring devastation to our enemies”, this playlist explores Mat as a fighter, leader, and even lover (in my defense, it’s hard to separate them). The song I started building the playlist off of was “Horse Soldier”, and once you get to that song you’ll see why I chose this playlist for the “History” prompt of the Wheel of Time Countdown week.

This covers the whole series, so ‘ware spoilers.

Track List:

1.      Run Boy Run – Woodkid

2.      Battlecry – Jordan Mackampa

3.      Devil’s Right Hand – Johnny Cash

4.      Aufmunterung Zum Treiben - Signal – Bläserkorps Der Jägerschaft

5.      Lemon to a Knife Fight – The Wombats

6.      My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark – Fall Out Boy

7.      Knife Fight – Painted Shield

8.      God’s Gonna Cut You Down – Dead Posey

9.      Choked Out – The Mountain Goats

10.   Horse Soldier, Horse Soldier – Corb Lund

11.   Cavalry Captain – The Decemberists

12.   Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater Revival

13.   I’m Gonna Win – Rob Cantor

14.   Blood on My Name – The Brothers Bright

15.   Gay Bar – Electric Six

16.   Red Right Hand – Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

17.   Big Guns – Ruelle

18.   Black Fox – Heather Dale

19.   New Blood – Zayde Wølf

20.   They All Fall Down – XY Unlimited

21.   Take a Look at This – Zayde Wølf

22.   This is My World – Esterly, Austin Jenkes

23.   Spent Gladiator 2 – The Mountain Goats

24.   Main Attraction – Jeremy Renner

25.   Glitter & Gold – Barns Courtney

26.   Pray for Rain – The Devil Makes Three

Commentary and lyrics underneath the cut.

Run, Son of Battles Playlist

Run Boy Run – Woodkid

Run boy run! They're trying to catch you Run boy run! Running is a victory

Leaving the Two Rivers, but also getting chased by Trollocs. Speaking of which…

 Battlecry – Jordan Mackampa

I won't stay silent Even without air in my lungs

Mat’s first battlecry, Mat’s first noose! We got some really delicious foreshadowing outside Shadar Logoth, didn’t we?

 Devil’s Right Hand – Johnny Cash

I saw my first pistol in the general store

In the general store, when I was thirteen

I thought it was the finest thing I ever had seen

I know I’ve used this before but it’s such a good ‘Mat can’t resist a shiny deadly thing’ song.

Aufmunterung Zum Treiben - Signal – Bläserkorps Der Jägerschaft

[horn solo]

This is a traditional hunting horn call to the hunt, and I listened to an entire album of German hunting horn music to bring you the BEST POSSIBLE TRACK for the sounding of the Horn of Valere.

 Lemon to a Knife Fight – The Wombats

I kick and you like to punch I'm unhinged and you're undone I'm not getting out of here alive I brought a lemon to a knife fight I brought a lemon to a knife fight

I noticed that Mat spends all of TDR getting into knife fights (and sword fights I guess), right after he permanently loses his Sexy Evil Knife. It’s like the universe is determined to rub his nasty breakup in his face.

 My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark – Fall Out Boy

I'm in the details with the devil So now the world can never get me on my level I just got to get you out of the cage I'm a young lovers rage Gonna need a spark to ignite

And this is when our boy learned how to use incendiary devices and literally broke into the world’s most legendary fortress.

 Knife Fight – Painted Shield

Ooh, I'm a lover not a fighter

Baby, don't you forget it now

Ooh, don't want no trouble

But keep pushing it and baby, you'll get it now

Finally, Mat has knives to bring to all the knife fights. And trust me, there are so many knife fights.

 God’s Gonna Cut You Down – Dead Posey

You can run on for a long time Run on for a long time Run on for a long time Sooner or later God'll cut you down Sooner or later God'll cut you down

Mat tries to run from his fate, but it’s not really working. (Also, bonus Rhuidean joke that’s a little less obvious than the next track.)

 Choked Out – The Mountain Goats

I can see the future, it's a real dark place Choked out, choked out, choked out

This is here for obvious Eelfinn reasons, but I also liked that it kept with the fighting theme.

 Horse Soldier, Horse Soldier – Corb Lund

And I knew Saladin and rode his swift Arabians

Harassing doomed crusaders on their heavy drafts

And yet I rode the Percheron against the circling Saracen

Once again against myself was cast

This is what I imagine Mat’s memories are like.

 Cavalry Captain – The Decemberists

I am the cavalry captain I am the remedy to your heart

Absolutely stole this from the “mat cauthon take 2” playlist, because it’s perfect.

 Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater Revival

Don't go around tonight Well it's bound to take your life There's a bad moon on the rise

Never going to get tired of using this for the Seanchan invasion of Ebou Dar, sorry.

 I’m Gonna Win – Rob Cantor

Sometimes I get flustered and beaten and blistered Abandoned outside in the cold

But I'm gonna win, I'm gonna try I'll never lose, I'll never die You've seen me before, you'll see me again

Mat from the point the wall falls on him to when he finally escapes Ebou Dar, since both Path of Daggers and Winter’s Heart land on huge cliffhangers in the Mat storyline.

 Blood on My Name – The Brothers Bright

When the fires, when the fires have surrounded you With the Hounds of Hell comin' after you I've got blood, I've got blood on my name

I think the number of Sea Folk he couldn’t save, as well as having to order Renna’s death really messes Mat up, and Winter’s Heart and Crossroads of Twilight show Mat struggling with the guilt of decisions he’s made as a leader.

 Gay Bar – Electric Six

Let's start a war, start a nuclear war At the gay bar, gay bar, gay bar

Tonal whiplash, but I could not resist putting this in. And hey, it’s got war in it!

Red Right Hand – Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

Through the ghettos and the barrio And the Bowery and the slum A shadow is cast wherever he stands

Stacks of green paper in his Red right hand

Love to commemorate the moment Tuon sees Mat with the Band and is like “I may have made some incorrect assumptions”.

 Big Guns – Ruelle

The blood on your hands is thick And you're placing bets

I’ve used this song before, but again, absolutely perfect for Tuon realizing Mat is incredibly deadly.

 Black Fox – Heather Dale

"Ride on, my gallant Huntsman... when must I come again? For you should never want for a fox to chase all over the glen And when your need is greatest, just call upon my name And I will come and you shall have the best of sport and game."

How I imagine the Seanchan feel about Mat after the campaign he fought to get Tuon back to Ebou Dar. Also works a bit for Mat returning to the *Finn!

 New Blood – Zayde Wølf

It's too late to try, there's nothing you can do I'm gonna run all over you

I'm looking for new blood And nothing's gonna stop me now

When Mat gets put in charge of the Seanchan army. And yes, I do intend there to be a double meaning for ‘new Blood.’

 They All Fall Down – XY Unlimited

Many braver men before me died along this road I've found One by one, they all fall down One by one the soldiers crumble See them as they stand and tumble

The Last Battle is… not going well.

 Take a Look at This – Zayde Wølf

Let me tell you what I wanna do Let's just forget reputations

The Last Battle is not going well, and Mat can fix it.

This is My World – Esterly, Austin Jenkes

This is my world, Oh, you took a wrong turn Now you're stuck in my world, Trust me, this is gonna hurt

Mat is FINALLY in charge of the Last Battle.

Spent Gladiator 2 – The Mountain Goats

Stay in the game

Just try to play through the pain

Like a fighter who's been told it's finally time for him to quit

Show up in shining colours

And then stand there and get hit

Last Battle is not going well (again) but Mat will fix it…

 Main Attraction – Jeremy Renner

God, I like your style You're the perfect distraction You're the main attraction

…with a little help from his wife (and her army, obviously).

Glitter & Gold – Barns Courtney

I am flesh and I am bone Arise, ting ting, like glitter and gold I've got fire in my soul

I think of this as a kind of soundtrack to Mat vs Shaisam and Mat’s part in Rand’s metaphysical fight.

Pray for Rain – The Devil Makes Three

Well, everybody has their price Is that true, is that right Who is our enemy Today it's you, tomorrow me

Last Battle’s over, Mat… what will you do next?

[feast-of-lights]

Announcing The Wheel of Time TV Show Countdown!

Let's celebrate the upcoming series with a mini-countdown!

November 9 – Ten Nations – History

November 12 – Seven Ages – Destiny

November 14 – Five Emond's Fielders – Family

November 16 – Three Ta'veren – Adventure

November 18 – One Power – Wonder

As always, all types of fanworks are welcome! There are also no word count or quality requirements. Tag your works as #wheel of time countdown or #wot countdown

Don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or suggestions!