The Monarchs Song
The long line of British Kings and Queens since 1066 join together in an extended song - can you learn the chorus? All together now...
IN THE STYLE OF
Chas & Dave
LYRICS BY
Dave Cohen
FROM
Series 3 Episode 2
LYRICS:
I’m William the Conqueror my enemies stood no chance
They call me the first English king although I come from France
1066, the Doomsday book I gave to history
So fat on death my body burst, but enough about me
To help remember all your kings I’ve come up with this song
A simple rhyming ditty for you all to sing along… oh!
William!
(Bit short init? We need more kings. Who came next?)
William Second, cheeks were red; killed out hunting, so it’s said
I took over, Henry One - That’s my next eldest son
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Then King Stephen, it’s true check it
Hi, Henry Two, killed Thomas Beckett
Richard Lionheart, that’s right, always spoiling for a fight
Oh King John, what a disaster - rule restrained by Magna Carta
William, William, Henry, Stephen
Henry, Richard, John - oi!
Time for my mate, King Henry Eight
To take up this song
Henry Three built the abbey, Ed One hated Scots
A red hot poker killed Ed Two, that must have hurt him lots
Edward Third was a chivalry nerd, began the Hundred Years War
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Then Richard Two was king aged ten, then Henry, yes one more
King Henry Four, plots galore, not least from Henry Five, moi!
I killed ten score at Agincourt then Henry Six arrived (waah!)
Edward Four, Edward Five, Richard the Third (he’s bad)
‘Cos he fought wars with Henry Seven, first Tudor and my dad
So Henry Eight, I was great; six wives, two were beheaded
Edward the Sixth came next but he died young and so my dreaded
Daughter Mary ruled, so scary, then along came - me!
I’m Liz the First, I had no kids so Tudors RIP
William, William, Henry, Stephen
Henry, Richard, John - oi!
Henry, Ed, Ed, Ed, Rich Two
Then three more Henry's join our song
Edward, Edward, Rich the Third
Henry, Henry, Ed again
Mary One, Good Queen Bess
That’s me, time for more men
James Six of Scotland next, as English James the First he led
Then Stuarts ruled, so Charles the First, the one who lost his head
No monarchy until came me, Charles Two, I liked to party
King Jimmy Two was scary, ooh, then Mary was a smarty
She ruled with Bill, their shoes were filled by sourpuss Queen Anne Gloria
And so from then you were ruled by men - Till along came me Victoria!
William, William, Henry, Stephen
Henry, Richard, John, oi!
Henry, Ed, Ed, Ed, Rich Two
Then three more Henry's join our song
Edward, Edward, Rich the Third
Henry, Henry, Ed again
Mary One, Good Queen Bess
Jimmy, Charles and Charles and then
Jim, Will, Mary, Anna Gloria
Still to come, it’s Queen Victoria!
And so began the Hanover gang, George One and George Two - grim
Then George the Third was quite absurd - Till I replaced old him
King George the Fourth, and known henceforth, was angry, fat and cross - Hang on!
It’s true you beat Napoleon, but were mostly a dead loss - Bang on
Old William Four was a sailor - Ahoy - It’s nearly the end of the story-a
As onto the scene comes the best loved queen; hail to Queen Victoria!
William, William, Henry, Stephen
Henry, Richard, John, oi!
Henry, Ed, Ed, Ed, Rich Two
Then three more Henry's join our song
Edward, Edward, Rich the Third
Henry, Henry, Ed again
Mary One, Good Queen Bess
Jimmy, Charles and Charles and then
Jim, Will, Mary, Anna Gloria
George, George, George, George
Will, Victoria (…Victoria…Victoria…Victoria…)
(I ruled for 64 years, you know.)
Ed Seven, George Five, Ed Eight, George six,
Liz Two then reigned - and how!
And so our famous monarch song
Is brought right up to now, oh…
William, William, Henry, Stephen
Henry, Richard, John, oi!
Henry, Ed, Ed, Ed, Rich Two
Then three more Henry's join our song
Edward, Edward, Rich the Third
Henry, Henry, Ed again
Mary One, Good Queen Bess
Jimmy, Charles and Charles and then
Jim, Will, Mary, Anna Gloria
George, George, George, George
Will, Victoria
Edward, George, Edward, George Six
And Queen Liz Two completes the mix!
Not quite! Now there's me, Charles Three*
That’s all the English Kings and Queens
Since William first that there have been!
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*Added in 2023
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