In 1977 he played the roles of Narrator and King of Elfland on the concept album The King of Elfland's Daughter. The album also featured Mary Hopkin, PP Arnold, Frankie Miller and Alexis Korner.
He also started a career as singer as with his first album in 1998 entitled, Devils, Rogues & Other Villians and in the post-millennial era he appeared as a narrator for Italian symphonic fantasy metal band Rhapsody, playing the Wizard King in two albums, Symphony of Enchanted Lands II: The Dark Secret and Triumph or Agony. In addition to narrating several tracks on the two albums, he also sang & recorded a duet album with lead vocalist Fabio Lione called "The Magic of the Wizard's Dream".
He released his second solo album in 2007 at the age of 84 under the name of "Revelation" (including a heavy metal song in it).
In March 2010, he released the symphonic metal album "Charlemagne: By the Sword and the Cross". It was later followed up by "Charlemagne: The Omens of Death" in May 2013.
Christopher Lee died on June 7, 2015 after being hospitalized for respiratory problems and heart failure.
The Siege
Christopher Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A state of crisis has emerged
For you've incurred the wrath
Of the Lombard King
Desiderius
Cast his daughter aside
And took another for your wife
And it's too late to make amends
Our papal lands
Have been occupied by force
And fallen to the hands
Of the barbarian horde
For too long that vile race
Has remained a threat
To papal authority
That scheming Lombard King
Is flouting his debt wilfully
We must stand up and wage war
This has gone on for too long
It's in all of our interests to subdue them
Once and for all
My Lord and Holy Father
This I pledge to thee
Like my fathers before me
I shall fight for the Holy City
My Lord and Holy Father
I pledge thee my loyalty
I shall see this Holy City
Restored to its former glory
It has been three hundred years
Since 'cross the Alps came
Those faithless lepers
To usurp the lands
Of their peace-loving neighbours
Encroaching closer upon Rome
Their leaders wanted to
Capture it for their own
And now King Desiderius
Has started to harass us
Your father was a champion of the Church
An agent of civilisation in the western world
Chosen to lead the people to the cross
The time is once more upon us
To look to our old friends
As your fathers before you
Came to our defence
And you are/I a am the chosen one
To lead the faithless to the cross
In His Empire in the west
O'er the Lord's flock you/I keep the watch
And with the authority vested in me
I shall claim the Iron Crown of Lombardy
Come springtime
The last of the alpine blasts had blown
The franks are still encamped
By the banks of the river Po
The son of Desiderius to
Byzantium had flown
The banks of the river Po
Are swelled by the melting snows
Christopher Lee’s song “The Siege” is a narrative of a state of crisis that King Charles was facing after incurring the wrath of the Lombard king Desiderius. The Lombard king took offense when King Charles cast aside his daughter and took another woman as his wife. As a result, the Lombard king occupied papal lands by force with his barbarian army, violating papal authority. The Lombard king had long remained a threat and refused to repay his debt. In response, King Charles pledged to fight for the Holy City, restore its former glory, and subdue the Lombard king once and for all.
The song also reflects on the history of how those faithless lepers crossed the Alps three hundred years ago and usurped their peace-loving neighbor’s land, eventually encroaching closer upon Rome. The singer reminds King Charles that his father was a champion of the Church and an agent of civilization in the western world, chosen to lead the people to the cross. It’s now King Charles' turn, and he is the chosen one to lead the faithless to the cross, keep the watch over the Lord's flock in his Empire in the west, and claim the Iron Crown of Lombardy with the authority vested in him, come springtime.
Overall, the song “The Siege” is a story of conflict, loyalty, and salvation, where King Charles pledges to fight for the Holy City and restore its former glory. The Lombard king's barbarian invasion of papal lands and his refusal to repay his debt is threatening papal authority and needs to be addressed, and King Charles is determined to do so.
Line by Line Meaning
My Lord King Charles
Addressing King Charles, expressing respect and loyalty
A state of crisis has emerged
A critical situation has arisen
For you've incurred the wrath
You have angered
Of the Lombard King Desiderius
The king of the Lombards, Desiderius
Cast his daughter aside
Rejected his daughter
And took another for your wife
Married another person, after having rejected his daughter
He has taken offence
He is angry or displeased
And it's too late to make amends
It is no longer possible to repair the relationship
Our papal lands
The lands of the pope
Have been occupied by force
Have been seized through violence
And fallen to the hands
Have come under the control
Of the barbarian horde
Of the savage and uncivilized groups
For too long that vile race
For too long, that wretched people
Has remained a threat
Has continued to pose a danger
To papal authority
To the power of the pope
That scheming Lombard King
That deceitful king of the Lombards
Is flouting his debt wilfully
Is deliberately ignoring his obligation
We must stand up and wage war
We need to fight back
This has gone on for too long
This has continued for an unacceptable amount of time
It's in all of our interests to subdue them
It is advantageous for us to conquer them
Once and for all
Completely and decisively
My Lord and Holy Father
Addressing the pope with respect
This I pledge to thee
I promise you
Like my fathers before me
Similar to my ancestors
I shall fight for the Holy City
I will combat for the sacred place
I pledge thee my loyalty
I promise you my faithfulness
I shall see this Holy City
I will witness this sacred place
Restored to its former glory
Brought back to its previous grandeur
It has been three hundred years
Three centuries have passed
Since 'cross the Alps came
Since crossing the Alps
Those faithless lepers
Those unfaithful and sickly people
To usurp the lands
To take over the territories
Of their peace-loving neighbours
Of their friendly inhabitants
Encroaching closer upon Rome
Advancing nearer to Rome
Their leaders wanted to
Their rulers aimed to
Capture it for their own
Seize it for their personal gain
And now King Desiderius
The Lombard king, Desiderius
Has started to harass us
Has begun to attack or annoy us
Your father was a champion of the Church
Your father was an advocate of the Church
An agent of civilisation in the western world
An influential person in the growth of civilization in the West
Chosen to lead the people to the cross
Selected to guide the community towards devotion to Christianity
The time is once more upon us
The moment has come again
To look to our old friends
To turn to the allies we had in the past
As your fathers before you
As your ancestors prior to you
Came to our defence
Protected us
And you are/I am the chosen one
You/I have been selected
To lead the faithless to the cross
To guide the disbelievers to Christianity
In His Empire in the west
In the Western world of Christianity
O'er the Lord's flock you/I keep the watch
Oversee and protect the people of the Lord
And with the authority vested in me
With the power and privilege given to me
I shall claim the Iron Crown of Lombardy
I intend to obtain the symbol of ultimate authority in Lombardy
Come springtime
When spring arrives
The last of the alpine blasts had blown
The final gusts of wind from the mountains have subsided
The franks are still encamped
The Franks are still settled in a camp
By the banks of the river Po
Next to the Po River
The son of Desiderius to
Desiderius' offspring had gone to
Byzantium had flown
Traveled to Byzantium
The banks of the river Po
The area surrounding the Po River
Are swelled by the melting snows
The riverbanks are experiencing increased water levels due to the snow melting
Contributed by Claire K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.