Get all 10 Ned Greenough releases available on Bandcamp and save 20%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Winter's Way (FAWM 2024), Parting Divide, Photography (FAWM 2022), SCP: The Foundation (FAWM 2021), Moons Aligned, Bird Flu, A Story of Excalibur: Part II (FAWM 2020), A Drop in the Bucket, and 2 more.
1. |
Overture
05:16
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[instrumental]
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2. |
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Narrator:
The truce is broken and the battle rages on
The Duchess of Cornwall watches from the tower above
A lustful Uther catches sight of her in his thirst for blood
He wields The Sword in glorious might
Striking foe with cold delight
The mighty Merlin stands in shadow
Waiting silently beside the battle
Uther Pendragon:
Merlin! The time is now!
I must have her in this castle tonight!
Change the way she perceives me so I can leave this fight
And join her in the castle much to my delight
I will love the Duchess of Cornwall tonight.
Merlin:
I will grant your wish
On one condition
If a child is born
I will take it as my own
Run now Uther
Time will flee
Your wish is granted
Make haste to her side
Serpent's breath,
Charm of death
Charm of Life
thy omen of making
Uther Pendragon:
The deed is done
I will have an heir
This kingdom I’ve won
And the duchess as share
The Duke is dead, I will never fall
Excalibur in hand, to slay all foes
I claim this land as my own
Narrator:
For many years, the kingdom lies in ruin
No one trusts the king, failed within
The day Arthur is born
Merlin appears to him once more
He takes the child and goes away
Uther tracks him down with a price to pay
Merlin’s magic severs through bone
As Uther’s sword falls in the stone
Merlin:
He who draws the sword from the stone, he shall be king.
I will take this child away, to somewhere safe
Arthur my child, you will claim this sword someday
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3. |
The Tournament
03:35
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Narrator:
The sun is shining in the city square
As Arthur and his friends head for the wood
The jousting tournament is today
The rite of passage in manhood
For the victor will receive
One chance at the sword
Pull it free from the stone
And gain kinghood
Merlin watches the boy from afar
He too has waited for this day
He knows he trained him very well
A surprise is surely coming his way
As he steps up on his turn
Mounts his chosen steed
Prepares himself inside
Until the signal to begin
Begin!
We have a champion!
Merlin helps him off his horse
There’s a smile shining brightly on his face
Arthur’s waving to the crowd
Friends run to him and embrace
Then he walks to the sword
Wraps his fingers on the grip
He lifts with all his strength
And feels it start to give
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4. |
The Rightful King
04:07
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Merlin:
Hail, the rightful king
Excalibur freed
Salvation it brings
You pulled the sword from the stone
This kingdom is yours
Your new found home
I’ve waited many years for this day
For you to reclaim what your father laid
Now Excalibur is yours
Wield her well with strength endured
Narrator:
Hail, the rightful king
Excalibur freed
Salvation it brings
Behold the king of the land
The sword and the king
Are bonded again
Arthur is gripped with fear and surprise
Anxiety is in his eyes
He looks to the crowd that's gathering there
Not sure what to say, he takes Merlin aside
Arthur:
I don’t know how I should feel about this
I’m no king just a victim of circumstance
But if my destiny is saying otherwise
I will lead my people ‘till the day that I die
I, your rightful king
Excalibur freed
Salvation it brings
Narrator:
The crowd begins to quickly divide
Each person must choose a side
To accept this newly rightful king
Or disbelieve in such a thing
Chorus:
Hail, the rightful king
Excalibur freed
Salvation it brings
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5. |
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Merlin:
Arthur go quickly now
Leondegrance needs your help
His castle is under siege
By those who revoked you as king
Arthur:
I will go and help my ally
Leondegrance pledged loyal to I
I will attempt to have Uriens do the same
Narrator:
Arthur fights fierce
With Excalibur in hand
He fights through his foes
To unite the land
He sees Uriens from a far
And approaches him with intent of a duel
He beats Uriens down
And pulls him up by the chest
Arthur:
You fought very well
I could use warriors such as you
Uriens:
I will never bow down
Before a boy that is not even a knight
Arthur:
Uriens, you are right
I ask you to knight me
I beg for your mercy
This choice is yours
Uriens:
In the Holy name of God
I give you the power to bear arms
And meet justice
Rise my knight and king
Arthur:
A duty I will obey as knight and king
Join me Uriens and my knights
To unite the land
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6. |
Sweet Guinevere
03:47
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Arthur:
My god, who is she?
The most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen
Let her dance for me
Merlin:
Focus on being king Arthur, not the girl…
Arthur:
Sweet Guinevere
Heart of fire
Tender and dear
Sweet Guinevere
Come to me
My love is here
One day I will call you my queen
Travel places that you’ve never been
Take my heart as gratitude for thee
Sweet Guinevere
Heart of fire
Tender and dear
Sweet Guinevere
Come to me
My love is here
Guinevere:
Arthur you saved my father and I
I will be grateful for all of time
Arthur and Guinevere:
I want to stay like this until we die
Until we die
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7. |
Lancelot's Duel
04:33
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Arthur:
Good evening sir, you are treading in my land
This trade bridge remains as the only piece left in the plan
Lancelot:
Then you’re a fool, this bridge is owned by I
If you best me in battle I will give what is rightfully mine
Arthur:
Prepare for death then, when Excalibur is drawn
I will beat any foe with this blade when destiny calls
Lancelot:
Ha! I AM LANCELOT!
I have never been bested by any foe that I have fought
Narrator:
There’s tension in the air as they stare each other down
Merlin tells Arthur,
Merlin:
It won’t be as easy this time around!
Narrator:
Arthur brings Excalibur in sight
It’s time for a fight
Lancelot:
You will never claim this land as your own
I am the ruler here, not some fool who drew a sword from a stone
Arthur:
Lancelot, You don’t understand what you say
May God have mercy when you meet your fate on this day
Lancelot:
My blood is flowing, I can’t believe I lost
I knew this day would come, but oh Lord, my God at what cost?
This is it now, my life is at its end
Run Excalibur through me to bring a final swift death
Arthur:
I refuse, you must join me my friend
All conflict is over since we have united the land
So please I insist
Come with me
Lancelot:
I would only serve the man that bested me
You’re a noble young king and I am grateful for thee
I accept your offer
Thank you glorious king
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8. |
Marriage at Camelot
02:15
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Narrator:
Today is the day the land meets their queen
A beautiful service for all to see
Camelot at dawn with sky of blue serene
The vows are made between the two
All people gather to get a glimpse of the view
Everyone cheers at the unison “I do”
Leondegrance offers Arthur a gift
An old round table where his knights could sit
And talk about battles and the future ahead
All as one family, Arthur accepts
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9. |
A Hidden Love
04:09
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Lancelot:
There’s something I must face alone
Feelings I’ve suppressed with no hope
What would I say if Arthur knew?
There’s really nothing I can do
A hidden love
One I must hide away for none shall see
Forbidden love
Oh what I’d do for her to come to me
I wish I could tell her how I feel
A lonely knight is I with a queen to steal
A hidden love
One I must hide away for none shall see
Forbidden love
Oh what I’d do for her to come to me
I toss and turn at night
My dreams, they taunt me
There’s nothing that I can do
That will break me free
Guinevere, oh Guinevere
Won’t you please tell me?
Should I lay my life on the line
For a chance to be with thee?
A hidden love
One I must hide away for none shall see
Forbidden love
Sweet Guinevere won’t you please come to me?
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10. |
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Gawain:
I see the way you look at her
Don’t lie to me Lancelot
I know what you want
You’d take the queen
Overthrow our king
Is that what you want?
Is that what you want?
Lancelot:
What foolishness is this?
You have no proof of your accusation!
Gawain:
I publicly denounce your role as knight
This shall be settled in a morning fight
I intend a duel to see which man is right
Narrator:
Swords are drawn as they face off in the square
Arthur and Guinevere can’t help but only stare
For the victor of this battle’s proven right
The men are prepared to take the other’s life
Fight!
(Lancelot’s inner monologue begins)
Gawain:
LANCELOT! I DECLARE YOU A TRAITOR TO THE KING AND HIS KINGDOM. YOU ARE PROVEN GUILTY OF ALL ACCUSATIONS. YOUR SOUL BE DAMNED.
Narrator:
Lancelot flees to the forest in fright
He won’t return for many nights
Guinevere watches him as he leaves
She sees something in him that she’s never seen
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11. |
Guinevere's Realization
03:13
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Guinevere:
Lancelot, I can’t believe
You would go through this for me
I am in shock and need to know more
I need to leave now, ready my horse
I’ll come to your side and never leave
Love you like I love a king
I must be off now before the sunsets
I’m coming to you, my knight in distress
Lancelot:
Guinevere
Don’t come near
Don’t do this to the kingdom
And the King
Guinevere:
You need to know
I love you so
Lancelot, you are the one
Please...
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12. |
The Forest
02:34
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[instrumental]
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13. |
A King Without A Sword
04:26
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Merlin:
Arthur my boy, look to the sky
Where is your wife?
She’s not by your side
Look to the woods where Lancelot ran
He lies with Guinevere
Go tend to them
Arthur:
I will Merlin, though I hope you are wrong
Sweet Guinevere
Betray my love and all I hold dear
Lancelot, no friend of mine
Fled the king to take the queen to lie
Wake up, wake up.
Wake up!
I don’t believe my eyes
I don’t know what to say
My truest companions
Betray me on this day
My heart is broken through
This wound will never heal
It pierces to my soul
More pain than bone and steal
Lancelot:
I have failed you as your knight, I deserve the worst my king
Guinevere:
Please, I love you Arthur, it’s not what it seems
Arthur:
Be gone from my sight, I won’t speak anymore
To the traitor of my throne and my beloved turned to a whore
I cannot go on.
There is nothing that I can do.
I revoke my place as king.
I will thrust Excalibur back into the stone.
Perhaps, someday it can be reclaimed and a new king will be restored.
It is not I.
It is not I.
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14. |
The Land Without A King
03:34
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Narrator:
And so the sword falls back into the stone
Arthur returns, but not to his throne
He believes this is the end
That his reign is now through
Little does he know
A quest will come soon…
Merlin:
To be continued!
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Ned Greenough Syracuse, New York
I write songs about wizards and rivers that kill people. I hope you like keyboards!
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