About Love in Medieval Times

A ballad inspired by a poem by Vladimir Vysotsky

 

A hundred battles have I fought to win her heart,
For my true love I’ve always played a noble part;
But then our king, a trickster wise,
Declared a tournament for knights.
Forgive me Lord, I hate the king with all my heart!
For then our king, a trickster wise,
Declared a tournament for knights.
How can I not abhor the king with all my heart?

 

Here’s my opponent, stout and strong and brave of heart,
But I shall pierce him like a cushion at the start.
He is a Round Table Knight,
The king’s affection and delight.
I hate the king, and I shall hit his ego hard!
He is a Round Table Knight,
The king’s affection and delight.
His death would surely hit the king’s self-image hard!

 

The king declared, “He shall destroy you in a wink,”
And jested, “Rest in peace beyond the graveyard’s brink.”
I shall be fodder for the worms,
And then he’ll take his hand to hers!
Forgive me, Lord, for how much I loathe the king!
When I am fodder for the worms,
He wants to take his hand to hers!
Forgive me, Lord, for this is why I loathe the king!

 

Here comes the signal; with a fire in our gaze,
We race the horses through the dirt and dust and daze.
The sword is dangling at the hips,
The lance is aimed right at his lips...
I only wish the king himself were in his place!
The sword is dangling at the hips,
The lance is aimed right at his lips,
If only king himself were in his lackey’s place!

 

It is all over; let the sullen shadow pass.
His blood is spurting from the wound unto the grass.
The king is trembling with discord,
But she is mine now, thank you, Lord!
At last, about the cunning king I could care less!
The king is trembling with discord,
But she is mine now, thank you, Lord!
I hate the king, and for his wrath I could care less!

 

Alas, fate showed we weren’t meant to live in peace.
The king dispatched me to crusade for hundred days.
I won’t be back from this new plight:
He is the king; I’m just a knight.
Perhaps it isn’t wise to show contempt for kings!
She will not wait to set things right,
He is the king; I’m just a knight.
Death is my prize for showing blunt contempt for kings!