"Game of Thrones" fans can soon get the sounds of the show on vinyl.
The Hold Steady, an indie rock band from New York, is putting out a limited-edition 7-inch vinyl record on April 20 to celebrate Record Store Day. It will feature two unreleased tracks -- "Criminal Fingers" and "The Bear and the Maiden Fair," the latter of which will be heard in an upcoming "Game of Thrones" Season 3 episode of the same title.
At the behest of the producers, the band recorded "The Bear and the Maiden Fair" from lyrics written by series author George R.R. Martin.
"As with the National, we went after one of our favorite bands and were happily surprised when they agreed to do it," said showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss.
Check out the National's rendition of "The Rains of Castamere":
"This is one of the most popular songs in Westeros, beloved by nobles and commoners alike, sung at taverns and feasts and et cetera. We wanted our rendition to be bawdy and a little sloppy -- drunken musicians getting up on the table and jamming while the rowdy party continues around them. There was no one better for the job than the Hold Steady, and the song they delivered has been stuck in our heads for the last four weeks."
"It was a great fit," said The Hold Steady's guitarist, Tad Kubler. "An episode of 'Game of Thrones' is not unlike many of the early Hold Steady tours: Almost everyone was drunk and there was always a strong possibility for bloodshed at any moment. We were ecstatic to get the call from Dan and David, and we hope we get to work with them again."
Check out the lyrics to "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 covered 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!
Watch the "Game of Thrones" Season 3 extended trailer with a cameo by a bear:
"Game of Thrones" returns March 31, 2013 on HBO.
