The Siege Lyrics

My Lord King Charles

A state of crisis has emerged

For you've incurred the wrath

Of the Lombard King

Desiderius

Cast his daughter aside

And took another for your wife

He has taken offence

And it's too late to make amends

Our papal lands

Have been occupied by force

And fallen to the hands

Of the barbarian horde

For too long that vile race

Has remained a threat

To papal authority

That scheming Lombard King

Is flouting his debt wilfully

We must stand up and wage war

This has gone on for too long

It's in all of our interests to subdue them

Once and for all

My Lord and Holy Father

This I pledge to thee

Like my fathers before me

I shall fight for the Holy City

My Lord and Holy Father

I pledge thee my loyalty

I shall see this Holy City

Restored to its former glory

It has been three hundred years

Since 'cross the Alps came

Those faithless lepers

To usurp the lands

Of their peace-loving neighbours

Encroaching closer upon Rome

Their leaders wanted to

Capture it for their own

And now King Desiderius

Has started to harass us

Your father was a champion of the Church

An agent of civilisation in the western world

Chosen to lead the people to the cross

The time is once more upon us

To look to our old friends

As your fathers before you

Came to our defence

And you are/I a am the chosen one

To lead the faithless to the cross

In His Empire in the west

O'er the Lord's flock you/I keep the watch

My Lord and Holy Father

I pledge thee my loyalty

I shall see this Holy City

Restored to its former glory

And with the authority vested in me

I shall claim the Iron Crown of Lombardy

The time is once more upon us

To look to our old friends

As your fathers before you

Came to our defence

And you are/I a am the chosen one

To lead the faithless to the cross

In His Empire in the west

O'er the Lord's flock you/I keep the watch

Come springtime

The last of the alpine blasts had blown

The franks are still encamped

By the banks of the river Po

The son of Desiderius to

Byzantium had flown

The banks of the river Po

Are swelled by the melting snows

by Rivendell2003 º2014º