This song had four separate inspirations. That may be a record for me...
An idea that had been kicking around in my notebooks for a few years was a story about a knight and squire. The setup was that they were out scouting, and came across an invading army. The knight said "You go warn everyone else; I'll stay here and hold them off." The squire, knowing that this was suicide, said he'd stay at the bridge and hold off the army while the knight warned the everyone else. The punchline is the knight said no...he wasn't brave enough to run away, because for the rest of his days, everyone would ask why he fled. I may write the song some day, because I believe it raises a good point.
Then in 2013, we went to Pensic for the first time this millennium, and had an idea for another song: this time, a knight who swore to the (dying) king that he would make his son a good king. The problem is the boy turned out to be something of a twit (yeah, I know, that never happened in period...), and so the knight faced the conflict of how to fufill his vows. So after much soul searching, he kills the king...giving the throne to the dead king's younger son, who is good and conscientious. Again, I believe it makes a good point, and I may write it some day.
In addition, I got a chorus in my head (the actual chorus in the song). But I didn't have anything to attach it to.
Finally, I heard the song "Born on the List Field" one time too many. Now, as it's an SCA favorite, I should say that I have nothing against the song per se. However, after you've heard it three times in three nights, it gets a little wearying. And as inspiration #1 suggests, there are some things that are harder to do than to die for a cause. And as inspiration #2 suggests, you may need to break your word to fulfill your vow. And I already had a chorus...
Upon a field of valor a king once made a knight
Who swore to be defender of justice and of right.
And as he bent a knee, and lifted up his head
He turned his eyes to God above and this is what he said.
Chorus
"No gold can buy my sword arm, no foe can make me fly.
My loyalty and honor, no actions will deny.
From perils far and near, from traitors and from death,
I bind myself to king and land until my dying breath.
He lent his sword to fight for the innocent and weak.
He lent his voice to speak for all those who could not speak.
So peace and plenty reigned, the land was justly led,
Each year the knight renewed his vows and this is what he said:
Chorus
Alas the lot of mankind no welfare can endure.
For soon the land was threatened by Saracen and Moor.
In bloody battle fierce, with friends who died and bled,
The knight turned to the task at hand and this is what he said:
Chorus
The king's men soon uncovered a monstrous treachery.
At brother Roland's passing, the King wept openly.
The king and knight rode forth, but Ganelon had fled
The knight asked leave to chase him down and this is what he said:
Chorus
The traitor's household gathered to hear the royal writ.
The king declared their master had all their lives forfeit.
The castellan was slain, the porter was behead,
And then the knight unsheathed his sword and to the king he said:
Chorus
"Today you face a foul foe no fortress can withstand.
Whose vict'ry will not plunder your treasures or your land.
The goodness of your heart, this traitor's daily bread.
My oath commands I take this step" and as he moved he said:
Chorus
The knight's sword cut the bindings, the prisoners took flight.
The king's men rush-ed forward, there was a mighty fight.
The squires that he had raised, the knight would not strike dead.
And soon he fell pierced through the heart and as he fell he said:
Chorus
The knight begged that his master should lend to him an ear.
"The good man I once followed keep safe from rage and fear.
A man will die today; let justice live instead."
And when the knight passed on the king to all around him said:
Final chorus
"No gold e'er bought his sword arm, no foe e'er made him fly.
His loyalty and honor no actions did deny.
From perils far and near, from traitors and from death,
He bound himself to king and land until his dying breath."
Notes
See To the Most Awful and Terrible King. The short version is that an apology explains.
The particular version that inspired this is a ballad about the virtues of London.
This was the chorus. I actually wrote it before I decided on the tune. Amazingly, it scanned, which either says I had the tune in my subconscious (entirely possible, as I'd looked at it several years before) or was my usual brilliant self. I'm inclined to say the latter...
This is from The Song of Roland, which makes "the king" Charlemagne. (In my introduction to the piece, I mention that Charlemagne had twelve peers, the Paladins..."But my diligent researches have uncovered a thirteenth, long forgotten, whose exploits have inspired this piece...")
It's important that the knight maintain the moral high ground. He could kill the king's men---he'd trained them, after all---but in some sense, they're just doing their job. I'd originally thought to include a verse that indicates he fought them, but only to defend himself and the escapees. But the song is long enough as it is.
Yes, I know, if someone is pierced through the heart, they won't be able to make a long imploring speech...after all, this is a ballad, not opera. But you can take "pierced through the heart" metaphorically...