[1] John Cleese, who wrote the lyric, debuted the song in the episode of the radio show I'm Sorry, I'll Read That Again broadcast on 2 February 1969, when it was introduced as "The Ballad of Oliver Cromwell".
It is sung to Frédéric Chopin's Heroic Polonaise, and documents the career of British statesman Oliver Cromwell,[2] from his service as Member of Parliament (MP) for Huntingdon to his installation as Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England.
The lead vocals, often heavily multi-tracked, are performed by Cleese, with interjections by Eric Idle.
The piano introduction is accompanied by a spoken-word introduction, setting a tone of macabre humour ("The most interesting thing about King Charles the First is that he was five foot six inches tall at the start of his reign, but only four foot eight inches tall at the end of it"), as are the subsequent connecting passages.
To the interlude is set King Charles I's trial and execution, with rubato adding atmosphere; the only sound effect is implied to be that of Charles's head falling (followed by a solitary giggle from Cromwell).