The main source for the story of King Lear is the 12th Century chronicler, Geoffrey of Monmouth, although he may have relied on earlier and now vanished accounts, which were perhaps somewhat embellished. Some people even think he made the whole thing up! He tells of how the legendary King founded the town of Leicester in around 800BC. Skakespeare may have possibly picked up the story when he visited Leicester around 1595 as part of Robert Dudley’s group of players. The main plot of Shakespeare’s drama closely follows the plot of Geoffrey’s original. It is said that Lear’s youngest and favourite daughter, Cordelia, buried her father in a tomb under the River Soar after he died. There is an argument that Lear did not exist at all as a real figure but was a personification of an old Celtic water god ‘Leir’, an old name for the River Soar.
lyrics
The Story of King Lear
1. Sixty years did I reign, many battles I won,
My wisdom renowned all over Britain,
My enemies crushed and quaking with fear,
At the mere mention of the name of King Lear
2. For all those years I drank from the cup,
Then decided it’s time that I put me feet up!
My daughters three they would each get a share
Of that mighty kingdom ruled by King Lear
Near the Holiday Inn, in a chamber somewhere,
That’s where they buried the bones of King Lear
Under the Soar quite but where it’s not clear
That’s where you’ll find the bones of King Lear
3. So it was I decided it’s time that I packed in,
To give myself more time for over acting,
I played the part and would now disappear,
As off into the sunset marches King Lear.
4. And so to my daughters I set a task,
To see which one would love me the most,
And those snakeoil words were music to the ears,
To bolster the ego of the great King Lear.
Near the Holiday Inn in a chamber somewhere,
That’s where they buried the bones of King Lear
Under the Soar quite but where it’s not clear
That’s where you’ll find the bones of King Lear
5. But my youngest and favourite proved a great pain,
Not towing the line, not playing the game,
Disappointing or what as I held her most dear
Banished penniless to France for not flattering King Lear.
6. But now its all turned out shaped like a pear,
Those ungrateful brats not content with their share,
Left me one measly knight attending me here,
From hero to zero for poor old King Lear.
Near the Holiday Inn in a chamber somewhere,
That’s where they buried the bones of King Lear
Under the Soar quite but where it’s not clear
That’s where you’ll find the bones of King Lear
7. Enough of austerity and tightening belts,
To my youngest in France who will now bail me out,
“Because I’m worth it!”, Cordelia dear
Will come to the rescue of the good old King Lear,
8. Restored on the throne I died of old age,
And lovely Cordelia my tomb she arranged,
So sound the hurrah and give aloud cheer
To the city of Leicester founded by King Lear
Near the Holiday Inn in a chamber somewhere,
That’s where they buried the bones of King Lear
Under the Soar but quite where it’s not clear
That’s where you’ll find the bones of King Lear
9. And so in the time of Good Queen Bess
The bard himself paid a visit to Leicester
As part of a troupe – strolling player-
He heard of the legend of good King Lear.
10. And there in the Guildhall he was heard to say
I heard of King Dick and I’ve written the play,
And so from the pen of that William Shakespeare
Flowed the story of our own king Lear.
Near the Holiday Inn in a chamber somewhere,
That’s where they buried the bones of King Lear
Under the Soar quite but where it’s not clear
That’s where you’ll find the bones of King Lear
And so friends and woolybacks lend me your ears..
And lets raise a toast to our man, King Lear,
We’ve summed up the plot in just three minutes here,
So just one more time for noble King Lear!
I write both serious and comedy songs. 6 solo CDs to date and collaborations with Steve Cartwright -"Legends of
Leicester/Leicestershire". "All at Sea" shantyish album. Folk based for the most part - when people ask where the ideas come from I can say with honesty -"not drugs!!".. Currently working on a new album "Aspects of Lurve" hopefully out later in 2024....more
