TH1/MD/viking_reimu_meter.md

Viking Reimu Meter

Audio reference: C:/Users/daixiawu/Downloads/维京灵梦词格.mp3

Scope

• This document stores the latest manually-audited meter.
• Numbers represent target English syllable counts.
• Chinese text is only for meaning checks and does not need to match the meter.
• English lyrics should favor hard consonants, clear stress, chantable phrasing, and repeated sea-shanty hooks.

Latest Meter

5 5 5 5   5 6 8
5 5 5 5   5 6 8

6 9 6 5   6 9 6 6
6 9 6 5   6 9 6 6

5 8   3 6
3 8   3 6 6

8 8 9 4
8 8 9 3

5 8   3 6
3 8   3 6 6

Sections

A Verse

5 5 5 5   5 6 8
5 5 5 5   5 6 8

Use for the opening narrative: North Sea fog, longship departure, Reimu boarding the prow, the donation box appearing, and Danegeld entering the premise.

B Chorus

6 9 6 5   6 9 6 6
6 9 6 5   6 9 6 6

Use as the main hook. Repeat core ideas such as Danegeld, shrine box, Hakurei, Canute, tide, and pay up.

The 9-syllable lines are dense; keep them easy to pronounce and avoid too many weak filler words.

C Bridge

5 8   3 6
3 8   3 6 6

Use for history and rulership: oath-taking, silver tribute, sea law, London's extra payment, and dead ships guarding the mist wall.

The 3-syllable lines should work as short commands or calls.

D Strong Section

8 8 9 4
8 8 9 3

Use for action: paper seals, gohei, shield walls, sea ghosts, extermination, Canute's ghost, and the tide legend.

The 4- and 3-syllable lines should land like hard closers.

C' Final Return

5 8   3 6
3 8   3 6 6

Use for resolution: homeward oars, North Sea bending to Hakurei, no crown, old debts, law, and shrine bells.

Pronunciation Notes

• Danegeld = 2 syllables.
• Canute = 2 syllables.
• Reimu = 2 syllables.
• Hakurei = 3 syllables.
• The chorus may repeat the same hook; it does not need to advance new story on every line.