h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

You can't have an entry about OC without reference to the definitive work: Monty Python's song 'Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England' (it may have a different title actually) Set to a vaguely recognisable tune (some famous composer's Piano Concerto, perhaps? can't remember) the lyrics go something like:

Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England (Puritan)
Born in 1599 died in 1568 (September)
Was at first (only) MP for Huntingdon

[i forget some of the lyrics and what order they come in]

something the Cavaliers at Marston Moor in 1644 (and won!)
Then he founded the New Model Army
And with Lambert's consent, by the Instrument of Government
something he became Lord Protector at last (The End!)

OK so I haven't remembered much of it, but since I failed to search on this, there's probably already a Python entry that mentions this.

Oh, perhaps there are copyright issues...

Incidentally, didn't his son Richard 'inherit' the title of Lord Protector between OC's death in 1658 and the restoration in 1660?

And then a few years later who became MP for Huntingdon but John Major.... there must be something fiery in the water there!!!

Aha...

http://bau2.uibk.ac.at/sg/python/Songs/OliverCromwell

great references to 'and his warts'... and indeed the intro which I'd forgotten - 'the most interesting thing about King Charles I was that he was five foot 6 inches tall at the start of his reign...'

Obviously I got 2 of the verses mixed together... but never mind!

rt

Re: Warts

"Mr Lely, I desire you would use all your skill to paint my picture freely like me, and not flatter me at all; but remark all those roughnesses, pimples, warts, and everything as you see me, otherwise I will never pay a farthing for it."

so according to Horace Walpole said Cromwell to artist Peter Lely who was painting his portrait.

Goosy Goosy Gander
(Refers to the goose-stepping Roundheads, Oliver's Army.)
Where shall I wander,
Upstairs and Downstairs,
In my lady's chamber.
(They used to search for Royalists).
There I met an old man who wouldn't say his prayers
(they found someone who wouldn't comply with their puritansim).
And threw him down the stairs.
(Put him in clink).

"Set to a vaguely recognisable tune (some famous composer's Piano Concerto, perhaps? can't remember)"

Chopin, if I remember correctly.
I love that recording!
Took me ages to understand what they were going on about, too!

Hmm. Didn't Elvis Costello write a song called "Oliver's Army"?
Is this the same Oliver?
Or was that the one who needed a bath? Like in the musical?

Python's 'Oliver Cromwell' is based on Chopin's Polonaise No. 6 in A-flat, with words by John Cleese (and sung by Cleese as well, making it one of a rare collection - John has described himself as "the most unmusical man in Europe"). In keeping with the current vogue for putting original tracks onto greatest hits albums, it first appeared on 'Monty Python Sings'

Costello's 'Oliver's Army' is an anti-war song, referring to the 'New Model Army' set up by Cromwell, which was the basis of the current British Army.

Fatigued and listless (as only students can be), I managed to use this song as the basis for most of my tutorial and discussion work on the subject of Oliver Cromwell and the English Civil War. That was, in hindsight, probably not a good idea!



The Apprentice

"the 'New Model Army' set up by Cromwell, which was the basis of the current British Army."

Ach! That could explain many things.
Are the tins of beef that old, too?

Wait a second. You mean it used to be worse? Before Cromwell?

If you believe the occasional news reports, most of the equipment used by the current army dates from Cromwell's era

'There was a Checkpoint Charlie
he didn't crack a smile...'

Perhaps because people seem to have forgotten this particular song about the great man.

If I remember correctly, "Checkpoint Charlie" was the crossing place between East and West Berlin.
Of course, with Costello, it could be a double pun, as the VC were known as "Victor Charlie" and the word "Charlie" has a significance in the Goon Show world.

The "murder mile", if I remember correctly, was in Belfast?

The whole point, I believe, was that Cromwell's depredations in Eire had carried down to the present day as part of official policy.

Who was PM in 1978?

James Callaghan (PM: 1976 - 1979)

That's funny. I don't think I remember hearing about him.
What was he unknown for?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/timelines/england/pwar_strikes_winter_discontent.shtml

Oh! So that's who he wasn't...

What's with this "postwar" crap?

I guess if your country is 900 years old, it can divvy up entire centuries into bite-sized pieces...

Undt what did he do fer Eire?

Ah. 1969