Knights of the Round Table (Monty Python song)
Encyclopedia
"Knights of the Round Table" is a song from the comedy film Monty Python and the Holy Grail
. The song's lyrics were written by Graham Chapman
and John Cleese
, with music by Neil Innes
. Sung by the jolly (and rather silly) Knights of Camelot, the song describes their hobbies and other un-knightly activities, such as impersonating Clark Gable
, attending the opera
, placing sequins on vests and pushing the "pram
a lot".
rounds up all of his knights, the group reaches the fabled castle of Camelot
(which Arthur's companion Patsy
quite rightly describes as "only a model"). As Arthur and his knights ride toward the castle, we see a spectacular song and dance number in which several knights (played by the entire Monty Python
group and a few locals of the filming location) dance and sing about their fantastic lives as "Knights of the Round Table." The cheery number includes knights dancing on tables, kicking over fruit, banging people on the head, a prisoner in the dungeon attempting to clap along despite being chained in manacles to a wall, and stepping on a cat (cat abuse is a recurring theme in the film). After the song ends, Arthur remarks, "No, on second thought, let's not go to Camelot. 'Tis a silly place."
The sequence, like most of the castle scenes in the film, was shot at Doune Castle
. The Pythons only had one day to shoot the entire musical number.
, a version of the entire sequence is performed by Lego
block figures. The short follows the sequence perfectly, only changing two things; instead of stepping on the cat, a knight beats a parrot against a table, though the cat sound effect from the film remains. This is a reference to the "Dead Parrot
" sketch from Monty Python's Flying Circus
. Another is the hanging man is replaced by a clapping skeleton. The sequence was animated by Spite Your Face Productions
.
production of Spamalot features a rendition of the song in its first act. The song is redone as a pastiche of a glitzy Las Vegas
-show number. The title of the show is taken from a lyric in the song about how the knights "eat ham and jam and Spam
a lot." However, the connection between Monty Python and Spam is solidified with their well-known Spam Song. Indeed, a giant can of Spam is featured in the production of the song, as Hormel
sponsored the play.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a 1974 British comedy film written and performed by the comedy group Monty Python , and directed by Gilliam and Jones...
. The song's lyrics were written by Graham Chapman
Graham Chapman
Graham Arthur Chapman was a British comedian, physician, writer, actor, and one of the six members of the Monty Python comedy troupe.-Early life and education:...
and John Cleese
John Cleese
John Marwood Cleese is an English actor, comedian, writer, and film producer. He achieved success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and as a scriptwriter and performer on The Frost Report...
, with music by Neil Innes
Neil Innes
Neil James Innes is an English writer and performer of comic songs, best known for his collaborative work with Monty Python, and for playing in the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and later The Rutles.-Personal life:...
. Sung by the jolly (and rather silly) Knights of Camelot, the song describes their hobbies and other un-knightly activities, such as impersonating Clark Gable
Clark Gable
William Clark Gable , known as Clark Gable, was an American film actor most famous for his role as Rhett Butler in the 1939 Civil War epic film Gone with the Wind, in which he starred with Vivien Leigh...
, attending the opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
, placing sequins on vests and pushing the "pram
Baby transport
Baby transport consists of devices for transporting and carrying infants. A "child carrier" or "baby carrier" is a device used to carry an infant or small child on the body of an adult...
a lot".
In the film
After King ArthurKing Arthur
King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and...
rounds up all of his knights, the group reaches the fabled castle of Camelot
Camelot
Camelot is a castle and court associated with the legendary King Arthur. Absent in the early Arthurian material, Camelot first appeared in 12th-century French romances and eventually came to be described as the fantastic capital of Arthur's realm and a symbol of the Arthurian world...
(which Arthur's companion Patsy
Patsy (Monty Python)
Patsy is a character in the film Monty Python and The Holy Grail and the musical Spamalot. He is played by Terry Gilliam in Monty Python and The Holy Grail...
quite rightly describes as "only a model"). As Arthur and his knights ride toward the castle, we see a spectacular song and dance number in which several knights (played by the entire Monty Python
Monty Python
Monty Python was a British surreal comedy group who created their influential Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four series...
group and a few locals of the filming location) dance and sing about their fantastic lives as "Knights of the Round Table." The cheery number includes knights dancing on tables, kicking over fruit, banging people on the head, a prisoner in the dungeon attempting to clap along despite being chained in manacles to a wall, and stepping on a cat (cat abuse is a recurring theme in the film). After the song ends, Arthur remarks, "No, on second thought, let's not go to Camelot. 'Tis a silly place."
The sequence, like most of the castle scenes in the film, was shot at Doune Castle
Doune Castle
Doune Castle is a medieval stronghold near the village of Doune, in the Stirling district of central Scotland. The castle is sited on a wooded bend where the Ardoch Burn flows into the River Teith. It lies north-west of Stirling, where the Teith flows into the River Forth...
. The Pythons only had one day to shoot the entire musical number.
Lego
Featured as a supplementary feature on the Monty Python and The Holy Grail special edition DVDDVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
, a version of the entire sequence is performed by Lego
Lego
Lego is a line of construction toys manufactured by the Lego Group, a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. The company's flagship product, Lego, consists of colorful interlocking plastic bricks and an accompanying array of gears, minifigures and various other parts...
block figures. The short follows the sequence perfectly, only changing two things; instead of stepping on the cat, a knight beats a parrot against a table, though the cat sound effect from the film remains. This is a reference to the "Dead Parrot
Dead Parrot
The "Dead Parrot Sketch", alternatively and originally known as the "Pet Shop Sketch" or "Parrot Sketch", is a popular sketch from Monty Python's Flying Circus, and one of the most famous in the history of British television comedy...
" sketch from Monty Python's Flying Circus
Monty Python's Flying Circus
Monty Python’s Flying Circus is a BBC TV sketch comedy series. The shows were composed of surreality, risqué or innuendo-laden humour, sight gags and observational sketches without punchlines...
. Another is the hanging man is replaced by a clapping skeleton. The sequence was animated by Spite Your Face Productions
Spite Your Face Productions
Spite Your Face Productions, or SYF, is an animation production company based in London, England, consisting of animation directors Tony Mines and Tim Drage...
.
Monty Python's Spamalot
The BroadwayBroadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
production of Spamalot features a rendition of the song in its first act. The song is redone as a pastiche of a glitzy Las Vegas
Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada; adjacent to, but outside the city limits of Las Vegas proper. The Strip lies within the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester...
-show number. The title of the show is taken from a lyric in the song about how the knights "eat ham and jam and Spam
Spam (food)
Spam is a canned precooked meat product made by the Hormel Foods Corporation, first introduced in 1937. The labeled ingredients in the classic variety of Spam are chopped pork shoulder meat, with ham meat added, salt, water, modified potato starch as a binder, and sodium nitrite as a preservative...
a lot." However, the connection between Monty Python and Spam is solidified with their well-known Spam Song. Indeed, a giant can of Spam is featured in the production of the song, as Hormel
Hormel
Hormel Foods Corporation is a food company based in southeastern Minnesota , perhaps best known as the producer of Spam luncheon meat. The company was founded as George A. Hormel & Company in Austin, Minnesota, U.S., by George A. Hormel in 1891. The company changed its name to Hormel Foods...
sponsored the play.