Feb 2022 folk history banjolin
I've been reading the story of William Marshall - the power behind several thrones in 12th and 13th Century England. This is the story of his childhood, I can't say as I would have liked to live in the good old days.
King Stephen was thought of as weak because he didn't go through with the conventions of the day when it came to making examples of those who reneged on their deals, like John Marshall, William's father. It was customary to exchange first-born children with enemies when making deals, because no one was going to put their heirs at risk, were they?
William had a normal childhood
Doing what he could to survive
King Stephen tried to hang him in the woods
When William, was only five
It was a normal childhood
Stephen took him to the battlefield
Where William’s dad was under siege
To use the boy as a human shield
But William had some tricks up his sleeve
It was a normal childhood
William was placed in a catapault
To vault him over daddy’s wall
To be fair, King Stephen’s only fault
Was he didn’t do it after all
It was a normal childhood
@oldlostjohn Mar 2022
They should hire you for history lessons in school, would keep the kids on their toes. And in their seats. Love the anti-climax of the last verse.
@nancycunning Feb 2022
Oh, I love historical songs. This is quite a set of stories, and a great song. Beautiful playing and singing as well as the great straightforward lyrics about WAIT WHAT????
@crutherford Feb 2022
oh man! what a delivery! love how seriously playful this is. yup. i agree that i loved this history lesson.
@cheslain Feb 2022
I wish all history lessons were this enjoyable. Maybe I would know more about history. Great folky medievalish melody and splendid plucking telling a story in a fascinating way.