How It Is Applied

Lyrics and melody © 1993 by Catherine Faber
Arrangement © 2000 by Arlene "Callie" Hills and Catherine Faber

In Ryoval's darkened basement, Naismith paced and laid his plans;
Survive, escape, do damage, great; with what? Our empty hands?
But when I voiced the doubts I had, the Admiral, he cried"
It isn't how much force you use; it's how it is applied!"

We broke into the cloning labs with careful, hasty, stealth,
And found, in tissue freezers there, the bulk of Ryoval's wealth.
A touch turned up the temperature, and every sample fried.
It isn't how much force you use; it's how it is applied!

The folk who thought they owned me, every one had cost me dear
Trying to control me using hunger, pain or fear
In hours he'd won the loyalty that others were denied--
It isn't how much force you use; it's how it is applied.

I figured sure he'd ditch me, but he didn't, in the chase
And now I've joined his mercs, I have a purpose and a place.
This principle I've kept in mind in all that I have tried:
It isn't how much force you use; it's how it is applied!

Characters and situations from the Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold.
Used by permission of the author and Baen Books.