Magna Carta 800 Years Song

SUMMARY:

To celebrate 800 years since the Magna Carta was signed, in 2016 the new Series 6 cast kicked of the new Series with a special new song, starring Ben Miller as King John.

With 800 years since the document was signed, History marks the occasion with a special song, showing that the Magna Carta certainly has gone a long way since King John signed it in 1215.

Song from Series 6 Episode 1.

---

LYRICS:

Here’s the story of a very old decree,

Forced on King John as he made off with the revenue.

Of us Barons and the aristocracy.

He took our land and for a lark held our sons hostage too.

 

Magna Carta. Magna Carta? Told King John he’s got to be;

He’s got be subject to law, agree tax with us too.

Gave his seal. Gave my seal? Then withdrew his guarantee.

Left to Henry Third and Edward First to pass it through.

 

And I would say 800 years, a birthday worth 800 cheers.

Since 1215 Magna Carta’s been the foundation of our democracy.

 

By 1500, It reads as all men are free.

Even peasants just like me can tell King’s that is true.

For year’s it vanished, until Edward Cook, MP -That’s Me!-

Challenged Charles the First as his own powers grew.

 

You’d think that Crowell, Jolly Olly, would agree;

But instead he said: Magna Carta? Magna Farta, more like not for me.

I’m Thomas Jefferson; and Edward Cook is the bee’s knees;

Our American Constitution incorporated his decrees.

 

And I believe 800 years, has proved from ancient pioneers;

Best British invention of all, apart of course from soccer ball.

Magna Carta! Super-charter! Magna Carta! It’s a part of;

What you’re taught at school. Magna Carta! Just for starters!

Magna Carta! Nothing smarter! Kings, watch how you rule.

 

Eleanor Roosevelt extended this letter to America.

Here’s the story, of a very old decree, and now enshrined in UN Human Rights since World War Two.

It began as, help for the aristocracy;

Now it’s you and me and everyone one in the world too.

 

And I would hope 800 years of freedom never disappears.

All hail this simple ancient law, may it survive 800 more.

Magna Carta! Super charter! Magna Carta! It’s a part of

What you’re taught at school. Magna Carta! Just for starters!

Magna Carta! Nothing smarter; Magna Carta rules!

---

ABOUT:

In 1215 King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta under pressure from the Barons who were sick of his abuse of power and economical failure. After King John signed the document it was passed through history and all Kings after had to do as it said.

Then in 1628 Edward Cook, a 17th Century politician, laid the foundations of the English legal system, including what was effectively an updated Magna Carta, in his three-part Institutes of the Lawes. He believed that King Charles I was abusing his power-which he was, and consequently lost the throne and his head in 1649. Cook inspired Thomas Jefferson, one of the American Founding Fathers, who combined some things written in the Magna Carta into the American Constitution.

Later, in 1948, Eleanor Roosevelt (First Lady of America) created the U.N. Human Rights Act, in which she combined some of the Magna Carta-which by then had changed the way  the English monarchy rule, challenged Charles I’s power and part of it was already in the American Constitution – Going a long way since 1215 and King John…

---

PICTURES:

---

MORE SIMILAR SONGS:

  

---

MORE SIMILAR VIDEOS:

  

---

MORE FROM THIS SERIES: