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The Ballad of Badass King John

from Bad King John & The Word on the Street (album) by Bardonthewire

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about

That's a rap, John.
This rap was performed live at the official unveiling of a statue to 'bad' King John in the town he gave a charter to in 1206 (Lynn) 800 Octobers after his last (and dying) visit there.
See it here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI1rLyQjBo4

Everything you ever wanted to know about John plus a lot you thought you did but didn't, here - garethcalway.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/bad-king-john.html

lyrics

The Angevins were Very Bad,
And Worst of All was John:
As foul as hell is, it’s defiled
By Eleanor’s Little One.

Usurped his Lionhearted Bro,
The One Good Angevin;
Jugged Merry Freeborn English (yay!)
Forest-flying Robin.

Villain of the Good/Bad History
School and book and song,
‘Inadequate with some Capone’
John. King John. …Bad King John.

In 1216 at all time low,
His ‘soft sword’ half advanced,
His shrunk-crown empire Richard-pawned,
Normandy lost to France, (pah!)

Despised by all those Magna barons
Carting him to heel
Flinging him to French invaders
And Abdullah’s deal:

England given to Mohammed!
A rock moored off Morocco,
Hapless John at bay and 4 years
Excommunicado.

Villain of the Good/Bad History
School and book and song,
‘Inadequate with some Capone’
John. King John. …Bad King John.

From Lynn, he armied up to Lincoln
As the Wellstream rose ,
Despised by Emperor, peasant, guild;
His Rome-rule churches closed;

3000 men, wheels coming off,
Up creek without a guide;
The royal dosh lost in the Wash -
He never lost our pride.
Three wheels on my wagon
But I’m still rolling along
I’m wicked, selfish, lecherous, cruel,
You learned about me in your school
Now I’m under the cosh
Lost my dosh in the Wash
But I’m singing a happy song.

For out in Norfolk we do different,
And his haven, it was Lynn,
Their domain he made our borough ,
Gallant little Linnet king.

Victim of the Good/Bad History
School and book and song,
His Brother’s Bad Book Good Book Keeper
John. King John. …Good King John.

credits

from Bad King John & The Word on the Street (album), released July 23, 2017
Vocals, micro cube amp, bodhran, djembe drums, tambourine - mine all mine.
The photo of me performing the rap at the statue unveiling of naughty John is by Pat Jones, bringing her usual witty and benevolent eye to proceedings.

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Bardonthewire England, UK

Performance poetry with a library card (voice & drum, folk ballads, ghazals, sonnets, beat poems, sound poems, raps) much of it happening 'on the street' or jostling to be heard in the tavern. Researched stories of folk heroes and real folk. History for you. Bardic poetry striving (as all arts do) for the condition of music (from punk though rap to to prog). Visionary lit. for your average Blake. ... more

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