O Blinding Light!

By Derek Schubert

Lyrics for The Pale

The Theocracy of the Pale has adapted "O Blinding Light!" to serve as a national anthem, with only a slight change in the second stanza. As sung elsewhere in the Flanaess, the stanza refers not to The Pale, but rather to the whole body of worshippers as a beacon of inspiration to those who live in the darkness of ignorance.

[The tune is famous on Oerth, but those native to Earth can sing along using the tune of "O Canada!"]

O Blinding Light! To our devoted eyes
Show One True Path that soars to shining skies.
By faith defended, armed with Law,
The Pale undaunted stands,
A blessèd beacon, blazing bright
Above all other lands.
O Blinding Light! Let saint and heathen see,
Steadfast we march for Pholtan victory.
O Blinding Light, shine forth to victory!

Lyrics of the Resistance

The Church of Pholtus and the Theocracy of the Pale have earned many detractors. Although the faith of Pholtus opposes Iuz and other forces of evil, it opposes disorder and dissension foremost. Therefore, not all of the Church’s detractors are themselves evil. Various critics take umbrage at oppressive Law that silences the individual, at doctrinal insistence on One True Path, and at Order as an apparent end unto itself. Typical, if trite, jabs include "Church of the Untrue Path" and the "Blinded Light". Solitary people might merely grumble their disapproval but the hierarchy of the Church believes that several organized groups are actively conspiring to subvert or overthrow the Church and the Theocracy.

Following the spirit of individuality, several parodies of "O Blinding Light!" exist. Every disgruntled peasant who fancies himself a lyricist has rewritten at least a couplet. Some of the parodies follow the rhyme scheme of "O Blinding Light!" very closely, so that one may sing the alternative verses in a large group without drawing much attention. Others take more latitude to make their point.

The following version, which begins "No, Blinding Light!", has become the most widespread in recent years. It stands as a statement not only against Pholtus but also against oppressive Law in general. In the Free City of Greyhawk, one may sing it in a tavern without fear of reprisal, and one or two like-minded patrons are sure to join in. In the Theocracy, where the Church Militant and clerics with truth-spells seem to lurk around every corner, only a fool would sing this version aloud.

Who wrote these lyrics? Rumors grasp in dozens of directions, at bards, clerics of rival faiths (such as Trithereon), agents of Iuz, and even slighted members of the Pholtan clergy. Some people claim that it was not the work of a single person but rather that of a band of rebels; others say that it was the result of a game, written line by line by students in a bardic college. Still, no one — except the author or authors — knows for sure.

No, Blinding Light! Your words we know for lies.
All paths are true, for fools as for the wise.
A soul in stagnant Order starves.
To Pale its color wanes,
Deprived of dreams in ruthless day.
Your Law? Your Path? Your chains!
No blinding light, but dawning hope we see.
When every heart exults in Liberty.
No, Blinding Light! Let all on Oerth be free!

Gygax Lyrics

The Oerth Journal, Volume 2, Issue 1, includes a brief rendition of the anthem, which Gary Gygax related in an interview. Here the relevant excerpt from that interview:

Q: When I played in a D&D game you ran set in Castle Greyhawk I played a priest of Pholtus. When I introduced my character, Nodee Gristomb, you sang "O Blinding Light", the hymn/anthem of the Pholtus faithful. What are the words to "O Blinding Light"?

A: Few indeed: "O Blinding Light, O light that blinds, I cannot see, look out for me!" It is a steal from a Firesign Theater recording, "Don't Crush that Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers."

You can listen to a clip of O Blinding Light from the Firesign Theater recording.