The Apprentice's Lament

The Apprentice’s Lament is a song featured in BattleTechnology 101. It has no known originator but is rather one of many campaign songs that developed among apprentices as they served until specific trainings officers. The verses shown here are some of the few recorded, with the object of the song being Major Sergei Vang or “Death’s Head”. There are references throughout to both his appearance and brutal training techniques; which some have compared to those of ancient Terra’s Ceaser’s legions.

Lyrics

Oh, it’s up in the morn before the local sun;

And it’s forty klick’s till breakfast, then a simulator run;

Then a wallow in the ‘Mech drek with the ‘Mech tech gang;

Oh, what joy to be apprenticed to old Death’s Head Vang;

Left, Right! Left! Right!

Weapons up! Close in tight!

Left! Right! Left! Right!

Rockets armed! Prepare to fight!

When you’ve traced that faulty circuit and you think you might be through;

Then it’s muster for inspection with full kits and weapons, too!

Then you wish that you were dead; you say you’d really rather hang;

Than to be a ‘Mech apprentice to old Death’s Head Vang!

[Chorus]

Oh, in Death’s Head’s unit, boy, you’d better learn to shoot;

‘Cause if you miss that target, you’ll connect with Death’s Head’s boot.

Then it’s back to simulators and ten hours going bang;

Just because you are apprenticed to old Death’s Head Vang!

[Chorus]

With a horrid grinning skull’s face that could make a grown ‘Mech cry;

A reactor for a heart and a scanner for an eye,

If he calls you up to chew you out, you’ll say you’d rather hang;

But you’ll take it, you’re apprenticed to old Death’s Head Vang!

[Chorus]

Lyrics by William H. Keith, Jr., Music by Nina Barton

Bibliography

• BattleTechnology Issue 101 (Magazine)