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The Chaotic Civil War Song

At the close of the English Civil War, Oliver Cromwell explains what happened next - but was it all worth it?

PARODY OF

War by Edwin Starr

MUSIC BY

Richie Webb

FROM

Series 10 Episode 9

LYRICS:

Civil War! Huh! What was it good for?

Monarchy abolished

Civil War! Huh! What was it good for?

Royalty demolished

Once we'd won and Charles lost his head

We became a commonwealth instead

My New Model Army fought for the cause

I crushed rebellion and reformed laws

Dissolved Parliament, became Lord Protector

Like a king, but without the crown and sceptre

Protectorate was now what we were called

With a jolly little motto, "Peace Through War"

Civil War! Huh! What was it good for?

Monarchy disbanded

Civil War! Huh! What was it good for?

My power expanded

Cut England and Wales into 12 little bits

It didn't work out, had to call that quits

Thought making me king would be the solution

But I stayed Lord Protector with a new constitution

Didn't last long, death was my fate

So, son and heir stepping up to the plate

It was a tough act to follow the great dictator

The Army forced me out a year later

Civil War! Huh! What was it good for?

Monarchy diminished

Civil War! Huh! What was it good for?

I thought we were finished

But all the while, I've been in exile

Banished from my home nation

Then I got the call, they'd had enough of war

And so began The Restoration

I pardoned crimes from Civil War times

I'm back, what's not to like?

Well, they dug me up, cut me up

And put my head on a spike

Civil War! Huh! Who was it good for?

Don't get me started

Civil War! Huh! Who was it good for?

Right, now where's the party?

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