Jonathan Shayfer
Sword and Shield
I look out to the grey horizons, as far as I can see,
and all I discern are my folk on the turn,
and they're yearning to be free.
There's a changing in our homeland
and our lives are not he same,
And the poor are poorer than before
and the wealthy have no shame.
CHORUS:
Awake, Awake, Arise, Arise!
There's a war for the land to be won.
Awake, Awake, Arise, Arise!
We'll bend the knee to none.
For we are the sword and we are the shield.
Through storm and fire we'll never yield,
There's a war for the land to be won, my friend,
A war for the land to be won.
I remember the past with glory,
when we fought to defend the oppressed.
And the tides they turned and the bridges we burned
for the legions of dispossessed.
Now my brothers and sisters are rising,
with the blood of our kin in our veins.
Godspeed to the fighters for freedom
as we take up the gauntlet again.
CHORUS
BRIDGE:
For we march with the ghost of Wat Tyler,
and the Tolpuddle Martyrs too.
And a heart of oak of old John Ball,
and the spirit of Peterloo.
There's a darkness spread out before us,
but there's light when you're doing what's right.
We brandish our torches for justice,
and go forth with all of our might.
For they planned a rich harvest to suit them,
but remember you reap what you sow,
for the ground will tremble at our approach
and our righteous anger will grow.
CHORUS