Act 3: The Bloody Verdict of Verden

Lyrics

Young Charlemagne (Vincent Ricciardi): Does a man have to fight all his life Only in death to take flight to the skies? Warmongers vie to take my throne No respect is ever shown To Pope, or Prince, nor man, nor beast And steal our cattle for to feast! No Earthly princeling mind shall take For scandalous idolatry so fake! Old Charlemagne (Christopher Lee): In borderland raids, they came in their hordes; ransacking villages, taking the spoils! With nothing to lose and possessions few: Bold, sturdy, fearless and cruel! Young Charlemagne: Defiant of Baptism on pain of death Tough measures call for me to be ruthless To set an example to the rebels Draconian for their worship of devils Old Charlemagne: How many times did I venture forth To the extreme wilderness of the north? To subdue those whose hatred was great Against churches and priests of our Christian state Four thousand men all dead in one day They would not renounce their heathen ways Thirty years of campaigning consumed To subject those Pagans to Christianhood Choir: The Bloody Verdict of Verden! Young Charlemagne: Rivers flowing red With the blood of four thousand men that I did behead! Both: I shed Blood of Saxon Men! I shed the Blood of the Saxon men! I shed the Blood of the Saxon men! I shed the Blood of the Saxon men! I shed it at Verden! I shed the Blood of the Saxon men! I shed the Blood of four thousand Saxon men! I shed the Blood of the Saxon men! I shed the Blood of the Saxon man! Young Charlemagne: Shall my realm be taken as I toil To force others out of Frankish soil? And I return to learn that all is lost Yet my companions I trust, the sword and the Cross Those good industrious Frankish folk Who toil out lands with oxen and yoke! Whilst Lombard, Vulgar and Moorish men Dare to even glance at them! Old Charlemagne: Converting entire tribes by the sword In the name of Jesus Christo, our Lord! On that day in Verden No mercy given Victory to the chosen people! Young Charlemagne: Weary grow I of this task which fell On the shoulders of a man who yearns to spend But one hour with wife and child To gaze on faces innocent and mild Old Charlemagne: Four thousand men all dead in one day They would not renounce their heathen ways Thirty years of campaigning consumed To subject those pagans to Christianhood Choir: To build a better world than even has been seen An empire made great by deeds of great kings Both: I shed Blood of Saxon Men! I shed the Blood of the Saxon men! I shed the Blood of the Saxon men! I shed the Blood of the Saxon men! I shed it at Verden! I shed the Blood of the Saxon men! I shed the Blood of four thousand Saxon men! I shed the Blood of the Saxon men! I shed the Blood of the Saxon man!