Iced Earth - The Glorious Burden Album Lyrics

---

The Star-Spangled Banner

[Instrumental]

 

---

Declaration Day

A desperate situation
Forced to retaliation
The task ahead a burden
Men will suffer, that's for certain
We'll charging to the fire
The cause, we must inspire
We raise our fist to tyranny
A high price, freedom is not free

The odds are stacked against us
But with our resolve relentless
An arrogance their weakness
Our cause is just, we won't be beaten
Upon this declaration
Will come a grand new nation
Where men are seen as equal
Governed by and for the people

[Chorus:]
So we make our stand and pray
On this Declaration Day
For independence I will fight
With liberty I will defy
So we make our stand and pray
On this Declaration Day
Give me liberty or give me death
I'll fight 'till my last breath

With virtue as our beacon
Our cause is charged as treason
Battle worn and starving
Through the hell of war we'll keep marching
The birth of our new nation
An act of desperation
We'll force King George down to his knees
Capitulation

[Chorus:]
So we make our stand and pray
On this Declaration Day
For independence I will fight
With liberty, I will defy
So we make our stand and pray
On this Declaration Day
Give me liberty or give me death
I'll fight 'till my last breath

 

---

When The Eagle Cries

Another day, just like any other
out of the blue, it turned to horror
How could they?
Why would they?
The innocents suffered hell's inferno
An senseless act that goes unforgotten
How could they?
They will pay.

[Chorus:]
When the Eagle Cries
Blood will flow
When the Eagle Cries
For freedom's fight
When the Eagle Cries
We love her so
When the Eagle Cries
We will sacrifice

Out of the ashes came a tempted vengeance
but we are focused, we seek redemption
we are free
we'll stay free
All they've done is make us stronger
The sleeping giant is asleep no longer
If need be
we'll die free

[Chorus:]
When the Eagle Cries
Blood will flow
When the Eagle Cries
For freedom's fight
When the Eagle Cries
We love her so
When the Eagle Cries
We will sacrifice

 

---

The Reckoning (Don't Tread On Me)

Destiny's called us
It's the reckoning
This time it's for blood
Don't tread on me
Revenge is not justice
It's the reckoning
This time it's for blood
Don't tread on me

You went too far this time
for this heinous crime
You will know defeat
Begging on your knees

One by one you'll fall
Your back against the wall
Nowhere to turn
You're sure to burn

Destiny's called us
It's the reckoning
This time it's for blood
Don't tread on me

The hours close at hand
We'll make our final stand
Justice shall be done
Nowhere to run

True evil broods in you
You're just a brainwashed fool
The coward close that hides
Spewing forth his lies

Revenge is not justice
It's the reckoning
This time it's for blood
Don't tread on me

Born of destruction, bred in agony
Is this my salvation?
From these ashes, i am your devastation

If it was up to me
Eye for an eye I'd seek
But the high road we will take
Lady Justice is at stake

The Judgement has been made
In blood it shall be paid
Death knows what to do
The horseman comes for you.

Destiny's called us
It's the reckoning
This time it's for blood
Don't tread on me
Revenge is not justice
It's the reckoning
This time it's for blood
Don't tread on me

 

---

Greenface

A warrior down to the depths of my soul
I terrorize evil thats out of control.
On land, in the air, at sea
On danger I feed
My warpaint, the last things my enemies see
Their teeth and their ears are trophies for me
On land, in the air, at sea
I'll be where the metal meets the meat
GREENFACE
GREENFACE
Lagoons deep in the jungles are home for me
The desert nor mountains, they can't hide from me
On land, in the air, at sea
I'll be where the metal meets the meat
GREENFACE
GREENFACE

 

---

Attila

He's ruled them for twenty years
And ravaged as their king
Conquest burns in his eyes
And ice shoots through his veins
Their leader's new ambitions lie
Further to the West
The Empire that he seeks
The Father to the Rest
Attila wants to take his place
Like the impetuous son
To make the entire world bow
To the kingdom of the Huns

Alliance has been made
With many other clans
Frank and Vandal forces
Held within his hand
And by Attila's hand it's said
His brother met with death
To make his rule his legacy
He did his awful best
Ethele and Etzell
By many names he's known
But "Scourge of God" is the one
That rings the darkest tone

[CHORUS]
Hell awaits behind Gaul's gates
The Roman's stand only to fall
They will die by his sword
The barbarian lord
Attila hear's victory call

[BRIDGE]
[Huns]
Path of Fire and Plunder
Cities burn and crumble
Atila's fate beckons
He will come to conquer

[Romans]
Archers stand at ready
Centurions all together
Keep to your lines
And the Mongol's sure to falter

[Huns]
We will surely break them
We will overtake them
Fight till our deaths
On the Christians devastation

[Romans]
They won't overthrow us
God will stand before us
Show us the path to the Huns destruction

Sing to the sky, the battle cry
To propagate their fears
As terror is the weapon drawn
When battle has drawn near
And so the conflict is at hand
The gauntlet has been thrown
Contempt for the Christian reign
The poison seed now sewn
And if by chance all is lost
Cut down by Roman steel
We'll suffer not as others have
Broken mind nor broken will

[REPEAT CHORUS]

 

---

Red Baron / Blue Max

The son of a major, Prussian nobleman
His name bestowed by a holy Roman
The war broke out, so he looked to the air
24 hours of training and he was there

100 miles an hour
Top speed his plane would fly
And if he flew behind you
You know you're sure to die
Eighty kills, that are confirmed
While other pilots have so much more to learn

[Chorus:]
Red Baron...Blue Max
The Albatros flies high
Red Baron...Blue Max
He's got you in his sights

The Red Battle Flyer, Red like fire
He sees' no faces, he's the ace of aces

His British quarry flew a reckless flight
A shot from the ground took the red baron's life
He flew with honor, he flew with pride
In 1918, the battle flyer died

[Chorus:]
Red Baron...Blue Max
The Albatros flies high
Red Baron...Blue Max
He's got you in his sights

 

---

Hollow Man

Emptiness, consuming me
Head in hands, I can hardly speak
Looking for solitude
Lost in humanity
True knowledge leads to suffering
A constant quest an endless dream
Searching for inner peace
Hidden so deep in me

Don't wanna be a hollow man
Ain't gonna be the hollow man

Sadness comes knocking constantly
Filling up my eyes, for all to see
Peace will come someday
I pray that it finds a way
Darkness caressing my mind and soul
My spirits rejecting, I'm feeling whole
Emptiness goes away
Fills with the light of day

Don't wanna be a hollow man
Ain't gonna be the hollow man

I rise up like the phoenix
from the ashes of an older way
With wisdom gained, I turn away
I turned away
Hollow man find yourself some other Plan

Don't wanna be a hollow man
Ain't gonna be the hollow man

 

---

Valley Forge

Close your eyes and imagine
the soldier at Valley Forge
The suffering that he endured was real
starvation, total war.
Yet in has eyes the iron will to win
and for the cause, he won't relent

[Chorus]
Would he look upon us now
in anger and disgust?
His providence, our birthright and our creed
Will we let ignorance and laziness
bring our demise
Complacency, we're blinded by our greed

Standing barefoot, frozen bloody hands
his musket clutched, an iron grip
and for the cause, he has but one regret,
he's only got one life to give

[Chorus]
Would he look upon us now
in anger and disgust?
His providence, our birthright and our creed
Will we let ignorance and laziness
bring our demise
Complacency, we're blinded by our greed

It's time for us, to open up our eyes,
and cherish the lives we all can have
and to the ones who've kept our freedom free
words can't express all that you've done

[Chorus]
Would he look upon us now
in anger and disgust?
His providence, our birthright and our creed
Will we let ignorance and laziness
bring our demise
Complacency, we're blinded by our greed

 

---

Waterloo

Usher in the rally cries
Revolution's here again
The emperor's bond's are broken
And free he shall remain

Escape, though narrow was demand
While his reign remained in view
This fight for France through bitter end
He must see it though

Coalition forms of many lands
Against Napoleon, West to east
Dogs of war will take to arms
And soon will be unleashed

Prussian, Russian, and Austrian
All follow British lead
At the allies' helm is Wellington
Who must make his foe concede

[Chorus:]
For shadowed man of destiny
Soon you will be forced to see
Nations aligning against you
Marking your time Your reign is through
...And you will see a 100 days
come to an end
For shadowed man of destiny
Soon you will be forced to see
Nations aligning against you
Marking your time Your reign is through
...It lies before you, fate shall befall you

Quickly the allies gather force
Near the Franco Belgian line
While 124,000 French
march there in double time

As the battle begins
Napoleon springs his audacious plan
He'll attack them on two fronts
splitting up his warring band

As the Prussians sound retreat
Behind they leave 10,000 slain
Most of their force is still intact
and will live to fight again

Wellington, who felt the loss
of 5,000 men
Would feel more under killing fire
bombardment from the French

[Chorus]

Of all the wars I have waged
To propel my nations might
For this I'll be remembered
From now 'till the end of time
If To the victor goes the spoils
I may die an impoverished man
For in the end irony
has dealt the cruelest hand

The French force was swift and sure
But their attack would be repelled
And though the center batteed
The Anglo-Dutch line would be held

And as fate or skill would have it
And army moves in from the east
The Prussians, who slipped through his hands
Would soon spell his defeat

The French lines now are broken
And being open to attack
The emperor has no choice
And the old guard calls him back

45,000 wounded or dead
When the fight was finally through
On a 3 mile square the battlefield
Near a town named Waterloo

[Chorus]

 

---

When The Eagle Cries (Unplugged)

Another day, just like any other
out of the blue, it turned to horror
How could they? Why would they?
The innocents suffered hell's inferno
An senseless act that goes unforgotten
How could they? They will pay.

[Chorus]
When the Eagle Cries [5x]

Out of the ashes came a tempted vengeance,
but we are focused, we seek redemption
we are free, we'll stay free
All they've done, is make us stronger
The sleeping giant, is asleep no longer
If need be, we'll die free

[Chorus]
When the Eagle Cries (blood will flow)
When the Eagle Cries (for freedom's fight)
When the Eagle Cries (we love us all)
When the Eagle Cries (we'll sacrifice)
When the Eagle Cries

When the Eagle Cries (blood will flow)
When the Eagle Cries they made us stronger (for freedoms fight)
When the Eagle Cries we'll sacrifice (we love us all)
When the Eagle Cries for freedom's fight (we'll sacrifice)
When the Eagle Cries

 

---

The Devil To Pay

[July 1st, 1863]

In July 1863
A nation torn in tragedy
A trick of fate, two great armies merge
Gods of war at Gettysburg
Devastation lies ahead
50,000 bodies litter the land
Hell rages three full days
The reaper sows, there's the devil to pay

The pressure's on and the reb's attack
The yanks must hold, They can't fall back
Just two brigades, 2000 strong
Against 20,000 they can't hold long

General Reynolds makes his way
Expect no mercy from the iron brigade
Until he shows they're on their own
But Buford's men have a will of stone

Bayonets gleam in the morning sun
Smoke and fire belching from their guns
Another volley and again they strike
Thousands more comin' down Chambersburg pike

[Chorus:]
This tragedy and what it brings
All the devastation
(The reaper has his way)
Men will kill, Blood will spill
To preserve the nation
(There's the devil to pay)

South of town down the Emmitsburg road
The first corps are starting to show
For Buford's men, they're here just in time
The desperate need to strengthen the line

Bodies dropping the blue and the grey
Muskets fire and cannon blaze
The union fights defending the town
But they're outnumbered and losing ground

From the north and the west more rebels arrive
Thousands more and the fight multiplies
McPhearson's ridge and the black hats strike
A rebel sharpshooter takes Reynolds life

[Repeat Chorus]

Attack! Attack! General Lee gives command
They're overwhelmed, The situation demands
The federals retreat and rush out of town
But they have fortified and saved the high ground

The day ends in victory for the south
Lee's as convinced as God's will is profound
They are invincible and their cause is just
But Longstreet is cautious and lacking in trust

Across the way the union digs in
The round tops, Cemetery Ridge and out to Culps Hill
Their lines are strong, no denying they'll stay
When the confederates strike
There'll be the devil to pay

[Repeat Chorus]

 

---

Hold At All Costs

[July 2nd, 1863]

Just a mile or so away
Lives my dearest friend in this world.
He wears the Blue and I the Grey
And god it hurts me so
The last time we were together
I grabbed his hand and I pledged
If I ever draw my sword on you
May the good lord strike me dead.

The union flank's in trouble
To the round top on the double
A bad decision, insubordination
Exposed our line in a dangerous way

The burden lies upon us
Surrender is not an option
We are the flank and if we break
The union crumbles, We could lose the war!

Down below's the carnage
The rebel's charging onward
Push the slaughter forward the Peach Orchard.
Through the Wheat Field and Devil's Den

The valour of the Texans
And Alabama's best men
They're unrelenting and devastating
The last full measure of devotion's clear.

[Chorus:]
We know what we're made of.
When up against all odds we hold our line
For the cause that we so love
We must hold at all cost
We know what we're made of
when our nation needs us we'll stay the course
for the union we so love
We must hold at all costs!

Wave after wave they're coming
Their power must be waning!
We're out of ammo, we can't fall back, no!
One desperate measure, a means to end

On their next wave we charge them
There is no other option
Disconcert them, force submission
On my command, fix bayonets!

[Chorus:]
We know what we're made of.
When up against all odds we hold our line
For the cause that we so love
We must hold at all cost
We know what we're made of
when our nation needs us we'll stay the course
for the union we so love
We must hold at all costs!

[Chorus:]
We know what we're made of.
When up against all odds we hold our line
For the cause that we so love
We must hold at all cost
We know what we're made of
when our nation needs us we'll stay the course
for the union we so love
We must hold at all costs!

 

---

High Water Mark

[July 3rd, 1863]

[1. Cannonade/Intro]

[Instrumental]

[2. The Burden of Command]

[Lee:]
"It Was Very Close Yesterday
I Thought For Sure They Would Break
But This Attack That I Have Planned
A Massive Strike Across Open Land
In The Center They Will Break (Will They Break?)
Plan it well, everything's at stake
We'll Hit 'Em Hard, Not A Silent Gun
Before The Infantry's Begun.

Execute It Well, We Risk Everything.
It's In God's Hands Now."

[Longstreet:]
"General Lee I Must Tell You Straight
That I Believe This Attack Will Fail.
No 15,000 Men Ever Made
Will Overtake That Ridge Today.
A Mile Charge Over Open Ground
With Yankee Cannon Gunnin' Us Down."

[Lee:]
"We Do Our Duty, We Do What We Must
And In My Plan You Will Trust."

(Thousands Die On This Day)
"Execute It Well, We Risk Everything.
It's In God's Hands Now."

[3. The Last Full Measure]

The Rebel Cannon Break The Silence
150 Guns Make Up Their Cannonade

They Must Destroy The Union Center
Before The Infantry Can Launch Their Grand Assault

The Yankees Are Returning Fire
(The Earth Shakes Violently)
In Washington D.C. Lincoln Feels The Earth Shake

What Happens Here This Day
The Fate Of This Nation
In The Balance It Will Hang
Consumed With The Pain
The Courage Of The Blue
The Valor Of The Grey
So Very Sad But True
Consumed With The Pain

The Virginians Are The Chosen
In Wait Behind The Trees On Seminary Ridge

Longstreet's Slow To Give The Order
The Lines Emerge, A Mile, 15,000 Men

The Charge Begins In All Its Grandeur
(To The Copse Of Trees)
For Many Of These Men They Know It Is Their Last

The Slaughter Now Ensues
Bodies Fall Like Rain
They Valiantly Pursue
Yet Doomed To Remain
At The Double Quick They Charge
The Canister Rips Through Them
To The Mouth Of hell They March
Glory, The Only Gain

[4. Charge!!]

[Armistead:]
"We're almost there, my boys
I've Never Served With Finer
We Must Push Forward Boys
And Bayonet The Yankee Tyrants
To The Copse Of Trees We Charge
To Crush The Union Center
And When They Turn And Run
An Open Road Leads Us To Freedom"

[5. The Melee]

[Lee:]
"It's Over Now, We Are Retreating
I Never Thought That We'd Be Beaten
All This Blood Is On My Hands
The Thousands Dead Due To My Plan
I am responsible, all of this is my fault
I Thought Us Invincible
Is This God's Will After All?
I Look Across This Blood Soaked Land
All This Blood Is On My Hands
God Forgive Me, Please Forgive Me
It's All My Fault, The Blood Is On My Hands"