Electric Light Orchestra - The Battle Of Marston Moor Lyrics

No Answer lol - still love that screwup by UA in the US

Sorry but I freaking love this track. Though, back in the 70s it took me awhile to warm up to this entire album. Especially since my first exposure to ELO was "A New World Record" in '76. Needless to say, backtracking to "No Answer" was a bit of a shock and took some getting used to. Now its one of my favorites, though New World Record is still king. That and Eldorado, Face The Music, and my number ONE album - On The Third Day.

Born in '71 so started listening a bit later than you. Agree with you on best albums, for me its between Eldorado and new world record; Eldorado defines them the best, but new world record my fave

Roy Wood to think he played all the instruments on this.

He apparently could play 19 instruments

This is awful, so bad that Bev wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole!

complex, excelent...

What a great steaming pile of crap!

Definitely takes a few listens to get into !

Bev Bevan, the drummer of ELO hated this so much he refusted to play on it. So Roy Wood is playing the drums here.

Really?! Jesus, I think it's absolutely wonderful!

@Daniel Bettega Bev missed out

@Kevin Pepperoni, undoubtedly.

I agree with him. I am a huge ELO fan but I just can't stand this.

This is so freaky that it´s hard to not love (and giggle hysterically)

No poptastic hit record here mate, just pure classic Roy Wood Baroque & Roll.

Roy Wood master piece

cello !

Thank God Wood left. This is rubbish!

My Lord King,
You stoop to betray your own people,
And even in the eyes of God,
Do you not relent?
I am therefore bound by no other course.
I shall raise an army.
Together we will march against you and your kind,
And every born man will fight to regain his own freedom,
And cleanse his wretched soul.

I myself really like Roy Wood's contributions on this album, including this song, which to me very convincingly evokes England during the Cromwell era. I also really like the hauntingly beautiful "Whisper in the Night" and the classical guitar instrumental "Jumpin' Biz". But I also really like ELO after he left, up to and including the double album from 1978.

Wood was a musical genius. This song was expiramental so it's understandable why people wouldn't like it

@Kevin Pepperoni exactly...good point Kevin

If it's not Baroque, don't fix it!

The next time somebody annoys you just forcefully recite the opening lyric at them and watch them scurry away hastily.

I have done that

not quite their best track bit behind its time lol

Furchtbare Musik ! Das ist sicher nicht Jeff Lynne's ELO. Das ist der verrückte "Wizzard" Roy Wood (und damit The Move). Gott sei Dank hat er ELO 1971 gleich wieder verlassen, sonst hätte es solche brillianten Alben wie Eldorado, Face the Music, A new world record und sicher nicht Out of the blue gegeben.Die beiden Alben von 1973 "ELO II" und "On the third day" hatten leider auch noch diesen experimentellen Einschlag (wobei auf On the third day bereits merkliche Verbesserungen zu hören sind).Leider wurde ELO mit "Discovery" zu kommerziell und brach sich mit "Xanadu" langfristig das Genick, auch wenn Time noch einmal an die guten alten Zeiten anknüpfte.Bei "Secret Messages" von 1983 und erst Recht bei "Balance of power" von 1986 war die "Luft raus". Die Soloalben "Armchair Theatre" und "Long wave" haben mir, ähnlich wie die Travelling Wilburys leider nicht so gut gefallen. ELO part II war eine reine Katastrophe (Honest men auf ELO pII ausgenommen).Auch "Zoom" 2001 konnte nicht an die guten alten Zeiten anknüpfen, obwohl das Album deutlich besser war, als Secret Messages oder Balance of power.2015 "Alone in the Universe" ist seit 30 Jahren wieder eine echte ELO Attraktion !Vielleicht gibt's ja noch ein Album .. Lynne ist mittlerweile auch schon fast 70 !

wizzard, the move, 1971 (old fart born that year ;) ). been to Germany twice - my roots - hope to get back. ELO fan 4ever.

Danke mein herron!

Suhi Huhi es ist auch nicht mein Lieblingstück von dem Album aber Nellie Takes Her Bow finde ich schlechter und ist das einzigste Stück was mir nicht so gut auf dem Album gefällt.

Te wczesne nagrania ELO sa wrecz genialne...

Tak, coś pięknego.

Roy Wood

Mozart, Schubert, Verdi, Chopin, Jeff Lynne.............................

Lynne Musicalgenius except this is a roy wood penned song

Hearing this threw me for a loop when I first heard it. It does stick out the other tracks because it sounded like Roy was mocking the whole Baroque standard. 

Constructive criticism: Why is the audio at such a lower pitch than the album version?

because your record player is too fast?

hahahhahahah lool

Baroque-'n-roll at it's finest.

Didn't Jeff Lynne say that this song (????) sounded like a load of old dustbins falling down the stairs? Bev Bevan wanted nothing to do with it apparently.

I quite like it!

Yes, there's still more music in it than in a load of dustbins. 2:57 that's quite beautiful. 1:05 the theme is quite driving and powerful. 3:40 the typical yearning cello of very early ELO. That sound is so unique. So yes, it's really baroque'n'roll. Imagine any band today recording sth as daring as this. Long live ELO!

Me too.

this song is completely mad

Yes...that's part of it's beauty.....it's about a battle after all....what do you expect .sleigh bells?

In a good sense, I suppose.

You can imagine Roy having a riot recording this, whilst Jeff was shaking his head in the control room and Bev was off running his record shop in Birmingham. To me, the whole first ELO album was just The Move under another name.

First album a less produced more classical sound. You can hear the greater production and rock influence in later albums. Always interesting to see how a band grows. Thanks Youtube

Royalists vs. Parliamentarians...take your bet.

THE MIGHTY ELO..

blimey ..dont blame bev !

huge bev fan - damn yankee -(styx fan - that works)

ELO at their most ELO, why is it the most creative songs are written when the band is at their youngest?

Expirementation man

No pressure. After an artists first album, the record producers are breathing down their neck to churn anything out to make them richer.