The Hold Steady record a rowdy drinking song for the new season of Game Of Thrones

The Hold Steady has recorded a new song to be used in the imminent third season of Game Of Thrones. “The Bear And The Maiden Fair” features lyrics (copied below) by Thrones author George R.R. Martin set to music by the show’s composer, Ramin Djawadi. It’s ostensibly meant to be a song sung in a rowdy Westeros tavern, though it’s still a secret as to where it’ll actually pop up in the show. The track will be released April 20 on a 7-inch for Record Store Day.

This isn’t the first time an indie act has been associated with Game Of Thrones. Last year, Thrones showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss recruited The National to record a track. “The Rains Of Castemere” appeared during the closing credits of the “Blackwater” episode, and is available on the soundtrack for the show’s second season.

"The Bear And The Maiden Fair
“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!”