Oliver Cromwell (Monty Python Sings)

By Monty Python

Thumbnail

(spoken)

The most interesting thing about King Charles the First

Is that he was 5 foot 6 inches tall at the start of his reign

But only 4 foot 8 inches tall at the end of it

Because of...

(sung)

Oliver Cromwell

Lord Protector of England (Puritan)

Born in 1599, Died in 1658 (September)

Was at first (only)

MP for Huntington (but then)

He led the Ironside Calvary at Marston Moor in 1644 and won

Then he founded the new model army

And, praise be, beat the Cavaliers at Naisby

And the King fled up North, like a bat! Toward the Scots...

(spoken)

But under the terms of John Pimm's Solemn league and covenant

The Scots handed King Charles the first over to...

(sung)

Oliver Cromwell

Lord Protector of England (and his warts)

Born in 1599, Died in 1658 (September)

But, alas! (Oy vey!)

Disagreement then broke out (between)

The Presbyterian Parliament and the military who meant

To have an independent bent and so

The second Civil War broke out

And the Roundhead Ranks faced the Cavaliers at Preston Banks!

And the King lost again, silly thing (stupid git)

(spoken)

And Cromwell sent Colonel Pride to purge the House of Commons

Of the Presbyterian Royalists, leaving behind only the rump Parliment

Which appointed a High Court at Westminster Hall

To indict Charles the First for...

(sung)

TYRANNY!!! (Ooohhh!)

(spoken)

Charles was sentenced to death

Even though he refused to accept

That the court had...

(sung)

Jurisdiction

Say goodbye to his head!

Poor King Charles, laid his head, on the block

(spoken)

January 1649

Doooooown came the ax. (gasp)

And in the silence that followed, the only sound that could be heard

Was a solitary giggle, from...

(sung)

Oliver Cromwell

Lord Protector of England (Ole!)

Born in 1599, Died in 1658 (September)

Then he smashed (Ireland)

Set up the commonwealth (and more)

He crushed the Scots at Worcester

And beat the Dutch at sea in 1653, and then

He dissolved the Rump Parliament

And with Lambeth's consent, wrote the Instrument of Government

Under which Oliver was Protector at last!

The End!