England Keep My Bones

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Act 5, scene 1 King John submits his royal power to the Pope in exchange for Pandulph’s intercession against the French forces. The Bastard reports the successes of the French army, the death of Arthur, and the revolt of the nobles, and urges John to fight the French rather than seek peace through Pandulph. King John gives the Bastard the authority to deal with the French as he chooses. I can't wait to get this record out there," Frank explains. "The new songs have been going down really well live, but I think that when people hear the studio versions they're going to go nuts. I really think it's the strongest set of material I've had on one record." Thomas, Adam (20 June 2011). "Frank Turner - England Keep My Bones". United States: Sputnik Music. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021 . Retrieved 20 June 2011.

The most nationalistic point on England Keep My Bones, surely, is ‘English Curse,’ an acapella song composed in the style of a medieval folk ballad. It tells the story of how King William II— the son of William the Conqueror—was killed by a stray arrow whilst hunting. “King William came / To Albion fair, King Harold to slay / With greed in his heart and his scurrilous claim / He took the land for his own,” Turner intones, haunting and hypnotic. “But if you steal the land of an Englishman / Then you will know this curse / Your first-born son’s warm blood will run / Upon the English earth.”Act 5, scene 4 While the English army continues to fight successfully under the Bastard, the rebel English nobles learn from the wounded French Count Melun that the Dauphin plans to murder them if the French are victorious. The rebels decide to return to John. Would I have written and recorded and released this record last year?” Turner ponders. “Quite possibly not.” Johnson, Andy (27 June 2011). "PopMatters Review". PopMatters. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021 . Retrieved 3 July 2021. But there’s a problem: King Harold of England wasn’t exclusively English. His mother was a member of the Danish aristocracy, the guy’s uncle was King Cnut. The king before him, Edward the Confessor, was half Norman.

Frank Turner’s fourth album ‘England Keep My Bones’, is the record that saw Frank step-up from cult status to mainstream success. Produced by Tristan Ivemy and recorded at The Church Studios in 2011, the album found Frank dwelling on themes of mortality and Englishness; and formulating some of his most profound and accomplished material in the process. Recorded within the stunning confines of Church Studios at Crouch End, Frank, along with his band and producer Tristan Ivemy, has created an album steeped in the heart and soul of England. The record has a touching undercurrent of yearning, playing like a heartfelt homage to Turner's homeland, friends and family which he so often has to leave as he travels the world with his guitar.Frank Turner Interview". Flares n Seagulls. 3 November 2009. Archived from the original on 12 June 2011 . Retrieved 15 February 2012. Interview: Frank Turner «HAUS DIGITAL". Hausdigital.com. 19 February 2011. Archived from the original on 6 February 2012 . Retrieved 15 February 2012. Alongside the original album, the tenth anniversary edition will also include a bonus disc of unheard demo recordings from the El Paso Sessions of the period. Customised with bespoke new artwork, the double-disc set will be available on 180g vinyl and in a multitude of different colour variants – exclusive to indie retailers across the world. Englishness certainly encompasses a huge part the record. But it’s not the only theme. There’s one other major thread that runs through England Keep My Bones, and it’s hard to say with certainty whether it’s more or less taboo than the first one.