I Will Mourn My King

Words and Music by Andrew of Wolvenwood
Source: Wolvenwords
MIDI / NWC / PDF / "Original" Old English

I will mourn my King, for William has won,
I will mourn my King, Harald Godwinson,
O-ho, O-ho.

When Hardrada came upon the North,
The King called out and we rode forth,
O-ho, O-ho.

At Stamford Bridge, Hardrada fell;
The Norse sailed home and all seemed well,
O-ho, O-ho.

Then southward we strove upon fey news;
At Pevensy Cove, William ran loose,
O-ho, O-ho.

On a Hastings hill we formed our wall
With sword and shield, axe and maul.
O-ho, O-ho.

I fought for my King, axe in hand,
I fought for my King and I fought for England,
O-ho, O-ho.

Through arrows fletched and oaken shields
I saw Harald stretched upon the field,
O-ho, O-ho.

A Norman sword had cleft his side;
In battle stormy he did die,
O-ho, O-ho.

Now all folk know that Harald fell,
And with him fell the realm as well,
O-ho, O-ho.

And now we have a bastard king,
His Norman hand wears the signet ring,
O-ho, O-ho.

My wounds still run, they will not heal;
I slew my foes yet felt their steel,
O-ho, O-ho.

So here die I, a Saxon proud;
I follow Harald's pure white shroud,
O-ho, O-ho.

I will mourn my King, for William has won;
I will mourn my King, Harald Godwinson,
O-ho, O-ho.

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