The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table Rick Wakeman 1975 WHOSO PULLETH OUT THIS SWORD FROM THIS STONE AND ANVIL, IS THE TRUE- BORN KING OF ALL BRITAIN ARTHUR ====== Upon a New Year's day A host of knights did pray That from the anvil one could draw the sword. As each knight took his turn They found the anvil, held it firm; None worthy of a future King and Lord. Sir Kay the bravest knight Appeared to try his might He dreamed of being King, as all the rest To Arthur Sir Kay called to search And bring for him a sword In earnest Arthur set about his quest. A churchyard in the wood The sword and anvil stood And Arthur drew the sword out of the stone The anvil now defeated His quest for the sword completed A sword that was to place him on the throne A sword that was to place him on the throne. Sir Hector and Sir Kay saw the sword And knelt to pray Then gently took it from young Arthur's hand They marvelled at his quest Proclaiming to the rest Arthur is the King of all this land Arthur the King of all this land. LADY OF THE LAKE ================ An arm clothed in white Samite >From out the quiet water I am the lady of the lake Come take my sword Wear it by your side. GUINEVERE ========= Love me my Guinevere In my court, Please be near While our realm is dying And brave knights are crying Stay close by my side. Lancelot felt no fear Loved his king's Guinevere All his love he gave her Fought through quests to save her Love, showing the way. Guinevere Golden tresses shining in the air Spread against the Jasper sea. Sorrow beheld her face False love supplying grace Knowing Arthur's fights And his trusted knights Meant more than his Queen. Guinevere Golden tresses shining in the air Spread against the Jasper sea. Love me my Guinevere In my court, Please be near While our realm is dying And brave knights are crying Stay close by my side. Guinevere Golden tresses shining in the air Spread against the Jasper sea. SIR LANCELOT AND THE BLACK KNIGHT ================================= Fight fight fight fight Excalibur the sword of right Lancelot you rise a knight Many quests will soon be fought To win your place in Arthur's court. Go to waste land if you dare Lure the Black Knight from his lair Fight and kill the evil man Rid his evil from our land. Kneeling in prayer, Lancelot gave the knight Knowing to save the waste land he must fight Eager to kill all those who came his way He must stay He must fight The Black Knight, The Black Knight. Fight fight fight fight. Fight fight fight fight The dawn approaches, clearing sky Very soon a knight must die Black Knight towering on his horse Struck Lancelot with fearsome force. Lancelot held fast his ground Then struck the Black Knight to the ground Leapt from his horse and then he smote A single thrust and pierced his throat. Answer my prayers, help me to save this land Guide me by truth laid down by Arthur's hand Evil is gone, only good we shall see Victory In this land By God's hand By God's hand. MERLIN THE MAGICIAN =================== By Wart the King of Merlin Struck foot most far before us His birds and beasts supply our feast And his feats our glorious chorus. Never shall man take me hence But only he by whose side I ought to hang and he shall Be the best knight in the world. SIR GALAHAD =========== Taken from the castle feast To an abbey in the East Three knights stood in pride as one Lancelot beheld his son. Arthur's court he bade him come Galahad his bastard son Battles soon for him to fight Blessed his youthful son a knight. Arthur and the knights marvelous stone Floating upon the river alone Pointing from the rock The sword shining bright Glittering jewels, shimmering light. Pull me, pull me, pull me, pull me. Gawain first he tried to draw from the stone To wear by his side Each knight took his turn Brave to the last Faced with the sword remaining fast. Arthur called a knight young Galahad Saw in his sheath no sword he had Took him where the sword Held by the stone Offered him there to make it his own. Pull me, pull me, pull me, pull me. He fell on his knees to pull out the hilt And drew it with ease The dolorous stroke it was struck with pride The sword it was hung by Sir Gawain's side. THE LAST BATTLE =============== Gone are the days of the knights Of the Round Table and fights Gallant men softly crying Brave armies dying The last battle soon to be lost. Hearing of great civil war Saxons to Britain did pour >From the North and the East Arthur's knights' death to feast The last battle soon to be lost. Come life or death Arthur cried Mordred the traitor he spyed Smote him into the ground Where he fell without sound And in rage lunged at Arthur who fell. Gone are the days of the knights Of the Round Table and fights Of the realm of King Arthur Peace ever after Gone are the days of the knights. SIR HECTOR, SIR HORS, SIR BLAMOUR AND SIR BLEOBROBIS THE ONLY SURVIVING KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE, ENDED THEIR DAYS AFTER A PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND; SOON AFTER THE SAXONS CONQUERED ALL OF BRITAIN AND THE REALM OF LOGRES WAS OVER. MANY BELIEVED THAT ARTHUR WOULD RETURN TO RE-ESTABLISH THE HOLY REALM OF LOGRES AND SAVE BRITAIN IN THE HOUR OF ITS DEADLIEST DANGER. ABOUT THE YEAR 1200 THE MONKS OF GLASTONBURY DISCOVERED THE BONES OF ARTHUR BURIED NEAR TO THOSE OF GUINEVERE. BENEATH THE COFFIN, A STONE INLAID WITH A LEADEN CROSS BORE THE LATIN INSCRIPTION: 'HERE LIES KING ARTHUR IN HIS TOMB WITH GUINEVERE HIS WIFE IN THE ISLE OF AVALON'.