The Borgia Family
Horrible Histories Lyrics
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Gioffre and Cesare
Italian barmy army,
The Borgia Family
Our daddy was Rodrigo
I had a monstrous ego
Where he makes trouble we go
Our tale begins Renaissance Spain,
It's leaders were a shower
So I run out of patience
So began in my quest for power
I splashed my cash to all the papal cardinals in hope
That they'd be bought,
They were in short
And I became the Pope
More power than I oughta
Blood's thicker than water
Appoint my sons and daughter
To run a dynasty
With daddy as the Pope I could do as I pleased was ace,
I'd kill a man who dared
Like invade my personal space
I found a husband for Lucrezia
Rich Giovanni Sforza, do you love him?
Yes of course but love is power and money more so
Now married to the Sforza's
This opens up new doorsas
They world bows down before us
The Borgia/Sforza family
Yes, and while we're at it we will marry son Gioffre
Aged twelve but so what soon will be
The Borgia/Sforza and the Naples family
When the Sforza family
Eventually bores ya
With just annul the marriage
If he refuses to divorce ya
Don't I get a say?
Don't fret, for you another man I'll get
Alfonzo of Aragon
I like him this could go on and on!
You like him I've gone off him
His pretty face makes me wince
You killed him!
Yeah I'm the model for
Machiavelli's Prince
Giovanni run the army but Cesare said
No way! I'll kill you if you cross me
I might kill you anyway
I am the mostest powerfulest, evilest of all
As long as dad's alive
There's not a single chance I'll fall
Huh aaaaah!
Awww nooo
We suddenly lost status
It seemes the whole world hate us
They excommunicate us
The Borgia Family
R.I.P.
The song "The Borgia Family" by Horrible Histories is a fun and raucous exploration of the notorious Borgia dynasty, which ruled Renaissance Spain and Italy with an iron grip. The song begins by introducing the family members: Lucrezia, Giovanni, Gioffre, and Cesare, and describes them as the "Italian barmy army" that is the Borgia clan. The family's patriarch is Rodrigo, who holds the title of Pope, and his egotism and thirst for power are on full display throughout the song.
The first verse sets up the family's quest for power, as Rodrigo becomes Pope and uses his money and influence to consolidate his position of authority. The family's actions become increasingly ruthless, as they marry off Lucrezia to the wealthy Giovanni Sforza and then annul the marriage when it no longer serves their strategic interests. Giovanni eventually falls out of favor with the Borgias and is killed, while Lucrezia is married off to Alfonso of Aragon, who is also eventually murdered.
The song showcases the family's brutal tactics, especially those of Cesare, who is portrayed as the most ruthless member of the clan. He takes over the army from his brother Giovanni and threatens to kill anyone who crosses him. The song ends on a melancholy note, as the family's power begins to wane and they are excommunicated from the Church.
Line by Line Meaning
Lucrezia, Giovanni,
These are some of the members of the Borgia Family, a powerful Italian family.
Gioffre and Cesare
These are two other members of the Borgia Family.
Italian barmy army,
The Borgia Family is strong and influential, like an army.
Our daddy was Rodrigo
Rodrigo is the father of the Borgia Family.
I had a monstrous ego
Rodrigo was very confident and full of himself.
Where he makes trouble we go
The Borgia Family follows Rodrigo's lead to cause trouble.
Our tale begins Renaissance Spain,
The story of The Borgia Family begins in Spain during the Renaissance period.
It's leaders were a shower
Spain had bad leaders at the time.
So I run out of patience
Rodrigo was fed up with the situation in Spain.
So began in my quest for power
Rodrigo started trying to gain power.
I splashed my cash to all the papal cardinals in hope
Rodrigo bribed the cardinals in the church.
That they'd be bought,
Rodrigo hoped that the cardinals would be bought by his bribes.
They were in short
The cardinals didn't accept Rodrigo's bribes very easily.
And I became the Pope
In the end, Rodrigo became the Pope.
More power than I oughta
As the Pope, Rodrigo had more power than he should have.
Blood's thicker than water
Family is more important than anything else.
Appoint my sons and daughter
Rodrigo gave power to his children.
To run a dynasty
The Borgia Family wanted to rule for a long time.
With daddy as the Pope I could do as I pleased was ace,
Rodrigo's children could do whatever they wanted with their father as the Pope.
I'd kill a man who dared
The Borgia Family was not afraid to kill people.
Like invade my personal space
The Borgia Family was willing to kill people for small reasons.
I found a husband for Lucrezia
Lucrezia got married.
Rich Giovanni Sforza, do you love him?
Lucrezia's husband was rich, but nobody knows if she loved him.
Yes of course but love is power and money more so
Love is important, but power and money are more important.
Now married to the Sforza's
Lucrezia is married to the Sforza family.
This opens up new doorsas
This gives The Borgia Family new opportunities.
They world bows down before us
The Borgia Family was very powerful and influential.
The Borgia/Sforza family
The two families were now connected through marriage.
Yes, and while we're at it we will marry son Gioffre
The Borgia Family wanted to keep marrying into other powerful families.
Aged twelve but so what soon will be
Gioffre was very young, but The Borgia Family didn't care.
The Borgia/Sforza and the Naples family
By marrying Gioffre into the Naples family, the three families were now connected.
When the Sforza family
If The Borgia Family gets bored of the Sforzas...
Eventually bores ya
...they will annul the marriage.
With just annul the marriage
The Borgia Family would end the marriage with ease.
If he refuses to divorce ya
If the husband doesn't agree to the annulment, they will still end the marriage.
Don't I get a say?
The husband may not want to end the marriage.
Don't fret, for you another man I'll get
The Borgia Family would find another husband for their daughter if needed.
Alfonzo of Aragon
The Borgia Family found another husband for their daughter.
I like him this could go on and on!
The Borgia Family had many opportunities for marriage and they liked it.
You like him I've gone off him
One of the other family members didn't like the new husband anymore.
His pretty face makes me wince
He was no longer attractive to the family member who liked him before.
You killed him!
The family member who didn't like the new husband killed him.
Yeah I'm the model for Machiavelli's Prince
The family member who killed the husband was a ruthless leader.
Giovanni run the army but Cesare said
Two brothers had different opinions on running the army.
No way! I'll kill you if you cross me
One brother was willing to kill the other if they didn't agree.
I might kill you anyway
The other brother was not safe, even if they agreed.
I am the mostest powerfulest, evilest of all
One brother believed he was the most powerful and evil of all.
As long as dad's alive
As long as their father Rodrigo was alive...
There's not a single chance I'll fall
...the other brother couldn't stop the powerful brother.
Huh aaaaah!
The family suddenly lost power.
Awww nooo
They lost the support of the world and were excommunicated from the church.
We suddenly lost status
The Borgia Family was no longer powerful.
It seemes the whole world hate us
The Borgia Family was hated by many people.
They excommunicate us
The church took away their power.
The Borgia Family
The powerful family was no longer influential.
R.I.P.
The Borgia Family is no more.
Contributed by Ryan B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.