Noble England by Rik Mayall

Album: Single Release Only (2010)

Charted: 7

License This Song

Songfacts®:

Released to tie in with England's participation in the 2010 World Cup, this patriotic single features Rik Mayall recreating the famous speech from William Shakespeare's Henry V over rousing chants. His adapted speech invokes the spirit of the Battle of Agincourt. "That battle was basically very few Englishmen against the rest of the world," said Mayall. "When you hear the speech delivered in a gutsy way it makes you go, 'Yeah, right, bring 'em on, let's do it', rather than, 'How nice, what a lovely piece of poetry.'"
The single did not chart at the time, but became the subject of an online campaign following Rik Mayall's death on June 9 2014, just before the Brazil World Cup. Jon Morter, who got Rage Against The Machine's "Killing In The Name" to #1 in 2009, told the Evening Standard: "It would be great thing for Rik's memory. He was a comedy legend. Rage Against the Machine was more of a protest whereas this campaign seems to be a way of displaying respect. It's a cruel irony that on the eve of the World Cup we have lost him. It's now time for everyone to wake up to this fantastic song."
Rick Mayall's only other visit to the UK singles chart was as a member of the cast of The Young Ones, whose remake alongside Cliff Richard of his own track "Living Doll" went all the way to #1 in 1986.

Comments: 1

Moosehead from ScSILENT P!!!!! YOU ARE MISSED!!! can you actually kill yourself with laxative pills, Vyv? i am writing to the lead singer of Echo and the Bunnymen.
and yes, the Henry the V speech is one of the greatest pieces in history.

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Bad BoysInner Circle

Most of us only know "Bad Boys" by Inner Circle from the 25 seconds used as the Cops theme, but it's a full song telling the story of a Jamaican youth who doesn't accept family support and ends up a criminal.

Sixth Avenue HeartacheThe Wallflowers

Mike Campbell from Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers played the slide guitar on "Sixth Avenue Heartache." There is a connection here - Wallflowers lead singer Jakob's dad, Bob Dylan, played with Tom Petty in The Traveling Wilburys.

Old ManRedlight King

Neil Young rarely allows his songs to be sampled, but he let the Canadian group Redlight King use "Old Man" in their 2011 song, also called "Old Man."

Time After TimeCyndi Lauper

Cyndi Lauper came up with the title "Time After Time" when she saw it in TV Guide magazine. It's the name of a 1979 movie about a man who invents a time machine.

Without YouNilsson

The song "Without You," a hit for Nilsson in 1972 and Mariah Carey in 1994, was written and originally recorded by Badfinger in 1970.

Three Week HeroPJ Proby

The first time Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Bonham and John Paul Jones all recorded together in the studio was when they backed American singer PJ Proby on his Three Week Hero album.