The Song of Roland - Michael Kelly - (Rosalind Jehanne cover)

My cover and interpretation of Mistress Rosalind Jehanne's 'The Song of Roland', which she based off of the ancient French work of the same name.

The original Song of Roland was penned sometime between the late 11th and early 12th centuries, by a French poet by the name of Turold or Turoldus, and is possibly the oldest major work of French literature of which there is still a complete, intact copy. The events portrayed in the poem are much older, however, and are based on Battle of Roncevaux Pass which took place in the year 778, during the reign of Charlemagne (Charles the Great).

In the poem, King Charlemagne's forces have fought the Muslim army of King Marsile to the point of forcing a surrender. Having received promises of treasure and Marsile's conversion to Christianity if the Franks will leave Spain, Charlemagne must select a messenger to send to Marsile's court to negotiate the peace. Roland, Charlemagne's nephew, nominates his stepfather, Ganelon, for the duty. Afraid that he will be murdered in the Muslims' court, and suspicious that this is what Roland intends, he gets revenge in betrayal by informing the Saracens of how they can successfully attack the Frankish rearguard, where he knows that Roland will be in command, along with his closest friend Oliver, and Archbishop Turpin.

Ambushed at Roncevaux, the Franks are overwhelmed. Oliver urges Roland to blow his horn, 'Oliphant', to summon the aid of the rest of Charlemagne's army. At first he refuses, thinking it an act of cowardice, until the Archbishop intervenes. Hearing the call, Charlemagne rides to Roland's aid, despite attempts at trickery by Ganelon. However, it becomes clear that by the time reinforcements arrive, the battle will be lost.

While I learned the song through oral tradition, and the way that I sing the lyrics differs a little from the versions I've been able to find online, there is one line that deserves a special note. I sing it as "your sword beneath your side" rather than "your sword there by your side". The line references his hiding the legendary sword Durendal with his own body after being struck his mortal blow, so that the relic will not fall into the hands of his Saracen enemies after his defeat.

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"THE SONG OF ROLAND" - written by Mistress Rosalind Jehanne (m.k.a. Jonna Bernstein)

The fairest flower of chivalry to bloom in all the land,
The noblest of all the knights of Charlemagne.

Was Roland, Roland, King Charles sister's son,
Renowned through all the Frankish lands for battles you have won.
In Council hear you Ganelon make plea to go to war,
To aid the rebel Saracens, against their rightful lords

Roland, Roland, you call this plan ill made,
But nonetheless does Charlemagne agree to send them aid.
The Ganelon requests for you the post most perilous,
And willingly do you accept, as honor deems you must.

Roland, Roland, the rear guard you command,
With Oliver your loyal friend to ride at your right hand.
But at the Vale of Roncevaux your doom is now anigh,
The Saracens do hold the pass, and will not let you by.

Roland, Roland, you know now you're betrayed,
But in your heart is courage, and your voice is not dismayed.
Face ye now grim battle, take your shields and hold them high,
With honor we have lived our lives with honor we shall die.

Roland, Roland, sound your mighty horn.
Try to call the men back that rode out just yestermorn.
The king has heard you call afar, but Ganelon says nay,
Tis only our young Roland, out hunting on this day.

Roland, Roland, sound your horn again.
Meanwhile the battle rages in the valley and the glen.
Again the King has heard your call. Again the traitor lies,
And none shall come to aid you, since your peril he denies.

Roland, Roland, Sound your final blast,
As one by one your men at arms die fighting in the pass.
And last of all is Oliver by swordsmen overthrown,
And you of all the Frankish knights now stand alone.

Roland, Roland, oh black the day you died.
Your comrades slain around you and your sword there by your side.
They found you on a hilltop with your face turned to the foe,
And never has there been a day of such great woe.

Roland, Roland, your name will live in song,
Whenever brave men take up arms to right a grievous wrong.
The fairest flower of chivalry to bloom in all the land,
And the noblest of all the knights of Charlemagne.

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