Horrible Histories - English Civil War Song

West Side Story influenced English Civil War Song!
Lyrics:-
We are the Roundheads,
We don't want Kings no more
That's why we started the English Civil War
People say we're no fun
But we disagree...
Especially when explaining Parliamentary democracy
We are particularly excited by notions of jurisprudence...
That's enough dullness, we're the Cavalier crew
Supporting King Charles and everything that'll he do
Puritans bore us, it's really a crime
When your Parliamentary business cuts our partying time
Roundheads, sound heads
Keep-the-music-down heads
Rules and regulations
They're dull but fair!
Cavaliers, three cheers,
Wackier head-gears,
We live to boogie with our peers.
Unfair? Don't care!
I am the King, I can do what I like
Start up a war, or a big tax hike
Got a French wife, she's a Catholic...
(Oh Lor'!)
But really King Charles we're not quite sure
Insolence - is that how you talk to the crown?
I am the King, I'll just close parliament down...
I think you'll find that's in breach of due process.
Here's what we say to that - now clear up this mess
Roundheads, sound heads
Witches-should-be-drowned heads
Don't believe in crowned heads...
Parliament's our thing
Cavaliers, three cheers
Your superiors...
We're all toffs who cry, "Hear, hear," and, "God save the King!"
Fight, fight, fight, fight!
Fight, fight, fight, fight!
Cavaliers, Roundheads, the English Civil War.
Why is it called Civil?
May I kill you please? Sure!
Love Civil wars to be fought on this land
If I get to power, Christmas will be banned
No chance Cromwell
Victory will be mine!
You'll never pass a ban on mince pies and mulled wine
That's what do you think - Just wait till you're caught
I'll also scrap theatre, music and sport...
You're pathetic - War will finish even before it's begun!
We've taken Charles prisoner, the Roundheads have won!
Oh.
Victory, three cheers
Cavaliers in tears
No power for years
I'm the leader of the pack!
Charles' head, Roundhead
Hurrah, now the King's dead!
Sins binned, instead a righteous track!
But we'll be back!

[@goodnight-moon564]

Imagine if this is how all wars were actually fought.

[@almightyphil4298]

I would love it

[@shedandcabbage]

a lot less deaths a lot more patients in for burns

[@bramsoethout9066]

World war 2 would be so much better

[@99brucewang]

LO

[@duderyandude9515]

I’d definitely prefer that. Sort of like a rap battle. Whoever gets to the winning verse first, wins the war.

[@LunaLiddell]

I love how Mat just says "oh" like that, it's so funny!

[@bankrobber6993]

IKR

[@izzywalker8725]

Katharina Ernst I mean why wouldn’t we #ogs

[@lilyevanspotter3832]

Oh. Oh ok then. Behead me.

[@tristanmarshall7541]

love this song got to be one of my favs

[@artyfowlrox]

I am 16. I love this show, watch it everyday, I have all of the songs! I'm proud of it too!

[@robbie10able]

At the very end 'But we'll be back' AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH! Zombie Charles I!

[@bi_cycle]

Best song from the show

[@iamtheomegachild]

I know a few of those. Thank you!

[@tallperson605]

Roundheads: Killing the partying buzz since 1642.

[@admiralvolk5118]

Hurrah for the King

[@wigster600]

The King and the Cause! Charles! King of England!

[@Thesocraticbreed]

They need the Salem Witch Trials: The Musical

[@blaise597]

hes not fully right, the parliamentarians didn't claim to support the king but many claimed not to be against him, just his powers. until the second civil war atleast

[@UsagiDreamsReturns]

@athenaloca He's playing King Charles I this time :)

[@Justice237]

maybe that's the idea lol :)

[@iwillkilu123]

how so?

[@liammccartney3225]

It's just like Conservatives vs Labour

[@colonyofrats4193]

Liam McCartney not quite lmao

[@randolph1917]

What's funny is that REAL Roundhead Cromerwellians banned singing and public dancing.

[@RPGaddictC]

Well actually the horrible histories perspective on the civil war and the 'cromwellians' is quite outdated. Almost all accounts of things being banned came from the major generals which were put in charge of various sections of the country. Things like 'singing and public dancin'g were being banned in many areas because at village festivals many women were being raped, which is kinda a legitimate reason

[@randolph1917]

Calvin Hodgson Women dancing = women going to be raped? That's odd.

[@RPGaddictC]

Well it was the 1600s. i can't remember the name of the festival for the life of me but yes there were many reports of women being raped because everyone was getting drunk and they were likely far from home

[@joellaz9836]

Rudolf Nemeth People make Oliver Cromwell out to be as some kind of 17th century Taliban. He was actually pretty laid back. For instance, he objected to people being punished for deviating from orthodoxy. For instance, he said: “Your pretended fear lest error should step in is like the man who would keep all the wine out of the country lest men should be drunk. It will be found an unjust and unwise jealousy to deny a man the liberty he hath by nature upon a supposition he may abuse it.” Things like Christmas and theatre were banned by parliament and not by Cromwell. Parliament was actually far more religious and extreme than Cromwell. For instance, they put Quacker James Nayler convicted on the charge of blasphemy for merely reenacting the arrival of Christ in Jerusalem. He was sentenced to be put in the pillory and on there to have a red hot iron bored through his tongue. Cromwell strongly protested this harsh sentence by parliament but parliament refused to back down. Cromwell also said “the State, in choosing men to serve them, takes no notice of their opinions; if they be willing faithfully to serve them, that satisfies.” Does those sound like the words of a fanatic? Cromwell is highly misrepresented and misunderstood.

[@oscarbest1934]

i don't know

[@coralroper6876]

Such a sophisticated, British interpretation of West Side Story.

[@colonyofrats4193]

EnderDinoYT west side story is not girls v boys lmao it’s Puerto Rican vs polish immigrants

[@rowanaboat4523]

I never got that this was west side story until your comment but it seems obvious now

[@ellebasii]

PAHAHAHAHA IM DYING

[@rozietheophane1169]

Is your name actually Coral? If it is, then it's a beautiful name.

[@coralroper6876]

@@rozietheophane1169 Why, yes, actually. Thank you. :)

[@dragontypeliv]

"But we'll be back ;)" .... MY NAME IS, MY NAME IS CHARLES II :D I'm the king who brought back partying!

[@goodnight-moon564]

I love the people and the people love me, so much that they restored the English Monarchy, I’m part Scottish, French, Italian, a little bit Dane but 100% party animal. Champagne?

[@goodnight-moon564]

pvrkhwa All hail, the king, of bling, let’s sing, bells ring, ding ding. I’m the king, who brought back partying!

[@maxbrooks8438]

Congrats 100 likes

[@swiss-legend7128]

Goodnight- Moon King Charles my daddy lost his throne and king were band they chopped of his head then Oliver Cromwell ruled the land hold on he wasn’t jolly he was glum and bland it would be a miserable a sin only sinings not aloud when olly died the people said Charlie me harty get rid of his dull laws come back we’d rather party this is what they called the monarchy restoration which was nationally followed by a huge celebration!

[@goodnight-moon564]

Yeeters Mcgavin All Hail, The king, of Bling let’s sing belles ring! Ding Ding! All say I’m the King who brought back partying! Great London Fire was a whopper, in my reign London city ‘came a cropper, so this king did what was right and proper for the fire proved I’m more than a bopper! I’m a fire stopper!

[@L1qu1dN1trog3n]

"You'll never pass a ban on mince pies and mulled wine, mweh" 1:58

[@harrydignum6378]

Lmao

[@francesatty7022]

mwreh

[@lilyevanspotter3832]

Mweh.

[@goodname67]

1:56 this guy was stabbed like 10 seconds ago, how did Charles lose if he had the power of resurrection on his side? This is a joke, do not take it seriously

[@AnimeboyIanpower]

Makes you wonder...

[@aresvepe]

...the English Civil War "Why's it called civil?" "Can I kill you please?" "Sure!" LOL gets me every time. XD

[@channiezxx]

I'm doing this for History and we had to watch this (as online school work obviously) lol

[@elsdiaryx]

Same😭🤚

[@juloph]

I think Lucius Malfoy helped them choreograph xD "Draco! you danced! I finally taught you something!"

[@doredam8919]

I never expected to get a AVPS reference under a Horrible Histories video

[@colonyofrats4193]

Yes starkid

[@aroaceautisticsashajames1832]

🤣🤣 YES!! 🤣🤣

[@asozangna6893]

lol so true

[@bankrobber6993]

Whahaha when ur a HH and a HP fan XD

[@leoniepaine154]

Hahahhahah I love the line that Mat says when they say " we've taken charles prinsoner the round heads have one!" and he just says " Oh" lol we love u Mat

[@megeggegg]

"We've taken King Charles prisoner, the Round Heads have won!!" "Oh." hahaha :')

[@ard4098]

''UNFAIR?Don't care!'' LOL!

[@sotnosen95]

I love to listen to Charles II's song after this, considering the ending XD

[@jellysnacc]

"you'll never pass a ban on meeh spiceehmulledwiinneah!" I love that bit XD Cavalier through and through!! although I fancy Ben xx

[@haosthedemilovatofan]

"Why is it called Civil?" "Can I kill you please?" "Sure!" Okay... ._.

[@cynthiax56]

The cavaliers seem like a lot more fun. :D I understand that Cromwell banned Christmas, but thought it was ok to smoke and kill people. I don't think puritans have changed much judging by those I come across on YT. They seem to have the same twisted logic and they r still hunting for witches too. They think I am one. :D

[@mrfrains]

# : >)

[@pascalprincess]

All puritans are stict christins in a way but they kill the king A.the king is said to be choosen by god in those times B.10 comandments i find it wired there devoteing them self to christ so much yet go agested most of gods will

[@cynthiax56]

boydoyfoy!!!!

[@mrfrains]

MsCynthiaX Hey! What is it that Cromwell like it smoke? :-)

[@cynthiax56]

***** well, I am not an expert, being a yank and all, but horrible histories says Cromwell banned Christmas, and every documentary I ever saw says the same thing......

[@cndvst]

Matt as King Charles: his best role in HH by far; always makes me laugh!

[@minim-ms]

"Am I Catholic? Or Protestant? Oh God I don't know!"

[@aroaceautisticsashajames1832]

i heard that puritans are like that. neither catholic nor protestant. maybe your a less "no fun" puritan..like me. puritans who like fun.

[@minim-ms]

@@aroaceautisticsashajames1832 I'm sorry, I was making a super cringy reference to Hetalia lol

[@aroaceautisticsashajames1832]

Oh ok

[@imogen2431]

one of the most underrated songs ever ever ever

[@pickledtoes624]

What song is this based on? I can't remember

[@cynthiax56]

I like the cavaliers!! I would have been for the King ...even tho I'm a yank :D

[@Braddington1]

MsCynthiaX Its the feathers and hats.

[@cynthiax56]

Bradley Fletcher YA They are rather dashing....

[@kaiserproductions1278]

Charles was much more likeable and charming tbh. Cromwell's religious laws were somewhat admirable, excluding fast days and not eating or giving gifts on Christmas.

[@AngelFreakSH]

I have been to Oliver Cromwell's house. It was REALLY freaky XD

[@ellebasii]

i guess we are all here from online school cause or crona, huh ??

[@TheeOriginalEpicFail]

Mat Baynton looks beautiful in everything;D

[@KelsonANDherDragon]

2:19 "I'm the leader of the pack!" Ha ha, love that bit

[@equestrianactor4071]

fan-ducking-tastic litteraly saw your comment when he said that🤣😂😂😂

[@jackgeorgia3910]

oh my gosh charles' so beautiful and charming

[@rozietheophane1169]

I have no idea why, but for some reason I love the musicality moments at 0.32 and at the end of the song. I guess that's what I get after studying music for GCSEs, only to have all the exams cancelled due to covid. Also, the backing dancers are amazing.

[@Ackbarfangirl]

never learned so much history as I have in the last two weeks! i.e. when i started watching HH!!

[@royalproductions8704]

Long Live His Majesty Charles I of England and down with that devil Crommwell! Love this song!

[@thatssofetch3481]

I’ve got some bad news for you.

[@FootyForeverr]

I thought cromwells men and him himself did not like singing and dancing

[@peterdavies2960]

Unless I’m mistaken, this must be a parody of the Jets vs Sharks song from Leonard Bernstein’s ‘West Side Story’...

[@medivalglitter1653]

God save the King! RIP Saint King Charles the Martyr.

[@cellofreak796]

Lawry looks so pleased when he says "I'm the leader of the pack! :D"

[@sarahandrewson2442]

Yes it’s adorable 😊

[@LilyCaitlin97]

The best part is when Matt just goes "Oh."

[@nervinsshaunflotilde9167]

They have a point, their headgear is whackier

[@virajparmar7411]

got this from history class lol

[@calidagonsalves4810]

Same becuz of Corona virus

[@EstEsreil]

What he said: I'm the leader of the pack! What I hear: I've believed to move the plank! So did Cromwell move the plank?

[@JumpInChaos]

Cavaliers three cheers!!!

[@SHMEowow]

I crack up every time they say that line "Your pathetic war will finish before its begun" "we've taken charles prisnor, the round heads have won" "oh" XD

[@CMGThePerson]

The Roundheads won because they took their armour somewhat seriously

[@habeebasaied]

Oliver Cromwell has a big nose

[@dog_bones_2321]

Habeeba Saied I think it's just the actor

[@gazzerh772]

Mat's oh cracks me up :')

[@NicnocChristy]

@Dangerpro09 No, it's on a kids channel but it's written for "families" and families include adults right? So we're ok. Phew!

[@tiaopiak]

The term is a calque of the Latin bellum civile, from bellum (“war”) + cīvīle, neuter singular of cīvīlis (“civil, pertaining to citizens”).

[@brunaserrano548]

Help this song is 11 years old :')

[@ToxxieLoveForeverxx]

This song makes me want The Caviliers to have won, but in my History class I wanted the roundheads to win... DAMN! IM SOOO CONFUZZLED!!

[@MsThemuh]

Even though I believe in domcracy the calvilars look very cool.

[@snipetysniper]

it seems that Mat plays almost all of Charles the 1st' relatives

[@oisinmcalinden6187]

True banger

[@rosebush252]

this is so helpful, I am studying the Civil War in school and I have listened to this a million times!!!!!! Learning it from a sheet is tough but this has stuck in my head and I'll never forget it! :D

[@Lolcrazydudette]

So what team are you then? Cavaliers Roundheads? Haha :)

[@LaskaSkywalker]

"but we'll be back!" EPIC!

[@aroaceautisticsashajames1832]

0:50 ARE THEY BALLET DANCING 😂 😂 😂

[@jaydenmitchell6828]

have to watch this for my home work

[@pbandj098]

I see where charles the II got the partying from

[@riknoels689]

It's actually a good song xD

[@swiss-legend7128]

Love this song I don’t know why

[@119fatty]

English wars in general would be, "May I kill you please?" "Oh, yes, have at it." *stab to death* "Oh, my, thank you good sir for an exquisite battle"

[@MissAnime111]

AWWW mat in this is!!!!! adorable!!!! Who else loves the voice he puts on in this?

[@ganados0]

"I think you'll find that's in breach of due process." "Here's what we think of that, now clear up this mess." Guess it got rather violent.

[@exclusiveforus]

Ok thanks. I'm going to just go through each episode and find it eventually :)

[@KetchupSplodge]

This is like a broadway musical, nice.

[@ИгорьБурнинов-м5й]

Song about Cavaliers and Roundheads? IT was so cool. I'll try to find a song about White Guards and Red Guards. Or Northerners and Southerners.

[@notxshdwzz6887]

lazarbeam be like sure kill me

[@phoebehuynh54]

We are the Roundheads, we don't want kings no more, That's why we started the English civil war. People say we're no fun, but we disagree, Especially when explaining, parliamentary democracy. We are particularly excited by the notions of jurisprudence... That's enough dullness, we're the Cavalier crew, Supporting King Charles, and everything that he'll do. Puritans bore us, it's really a crime, When your parliamentary business cuts our partying time. Roundheads, soundheads, keep the music down heads, Rules and regulations led, dull but fair. Cavaliers three cheers, wackier head gears, We live to boogie with our peers. Unfair? Don't care! I am the king, I can do what I like, Start up a war, or a big tax hike. Got a French wife, she's a catholic. O law! Really King Charles, we're not quite sure! Insolence! Is that how you talk to the Crown, I am the King, I'll just close Parliament down. I'll think you find, that's in breach of due process. Here's what we say to that (spit) Now clear up this mess! Roundheads, soundheads, witches should be drowned heads, Don't believe in crowned heads, Parliament's our thing. Cavaliers three cheers, your superiors, We're all toffs who cry 'Here, Here' and 'God Save The King'. (That's me!) Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Cavaliers! Roundheads! The English Civil War! Why is it called 'civil'? May I kill you please? Sure! Love civil wars, to be fought on this land, If I get to power, Christmas will be banned. No chance Cromwell, victory will be mine, You'll never pass a ban on mince pies and mulled wine. That's what you think, just wait 'til you're caught, I'll also scrap theatre, music and sport. Your pathetic war will finish even before it's begun, We've taken Charles prisoner, the Roundheads have won! (Oh!) Victory three cheers, Cavaliers in tears, No power for years, I'm the leader of the pack! Charles head Roundhead, hurrah now the king's dead, Sins binned, instead a righteous track. (But we'll be back!)

[@-RedSerpent-]

And then the second he died the royal family was brought back and undid everything he did in parliament

[@sayitlikeitis5026]

Not everything. From then on, parliament was pretty much the executive and the monarch's powers gradually became more and more ceremonial. The political Whig movement for instance, also evolved to some degree from the Roundheads, which allowed parliamentarians to campaign for reform. The modern notions of democracy in Britain sprung to some extent, from the English Civil War.

[@ducktamali2749]

Why is Charles the first and Charles the second the same actor.

[@royalstag3795]

Limited cast, but its just so charming

[@squishybum123456789]

"got a french wife, she's a catholic"

[@Orthodox1292]

Moment of realisation 2:14

[@NicnocChristy]

@seal201111 Eh? "Royalist propaganda"? If Mat Baynton had been cast as a Roundhead instead of Charles I, all the girls would be on the side of the parlimentarians! The song itself makes fun of both sides.

[@moonymonster]

This is so awesome XD

[@cheasepad3990]

why does that one guy have a big nose

[@NicnocChristy]

That’s Oliver “the almighty nose” Cromwell aka “old copper nose” He was known to have a big nose and warty complexion.

[@Flobbyoiboyz]

There's no particular reason for Cromwell's accent-- he didn't actually talk like that-- right? Just making sure. :)

[@thebritishww2man]

Cromwell actualy didn't ban music because he had an organ from Magdalen college in Cambridge university removed and put in his house so that he could listen to music all the time.

[@NicnocChristy]

If you're interested in the Stuarts and you have a Tumblr account you can follow my Stuarts blog. It's called The Stuarts Kings. xxxxx

[@Blazekittykat]

Watching soldiers doing ballet is just brilliant XD

[@chaiyan9656]

Ironic that Cromwell drank alcohol with his meals and employed a private organist for listening to music.....

[@fionaleavitt6989]

West Side Story!

[@ahsokatano371]

Never has an 'Oh' had so much meaning since Sheldon Cooper xD

[@thinkofarandomname]

cromwell-his nose! haha

[@rowanaboat4523]

If you look closely you can see one of the extras behind Charles I struggling with his big hat :-)

[@TheVanilla555]

Ahhh if the English Civil War actually was fought like this then it would have been soooo much cooler.

[@mckennasamuels5725]

Larrys mine

[@lilacisnice1]

Gotta love Mats new look! :D

[@matthewlaurence3121]

Actually these puritans were highly superstitious and radically intolerant creating the most totalitarian dictatorship England has ever had, even abolishing drunkenness birthdays, and colourful clothes. Royalists though believing in define kingship were comparably down to earth, with more religious toleration and sponsorship for the arts and culture. They also had ancient rituals like the royal touch and open house royal parties which we didn't have back until 1958! :)

[@matthewlaurence3121]

I think HH makes the more interesting story less exciting in many ways, like how both sides claimed to be on the king's side, and the fact that their were 2 civil after 1645, in which the roundheads fought it out against their own army which took over power making the most purified absolute government England has ever had, and how no one wanted to kill the king with several judges and executioners bailing at the last minute. Plus the fact that the puritans were more superstitious and unfare. :)