Get all 13 Forefather releases available on Bandcamp and save 40%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Ours is the Kingdom (2017 re-issue with bonus track), Tales From a Cloud-Born Land EP, Engla Tocyme (2017 re-issue with bonus track), The Fighting Man (2015 re-issue with bonus track), Curse of the Cwelled, Deep Into Time (2014 re-issue with bonus track), Last of the Line, Summer's Flame, and 5 more.
1. |
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When the fiends have come there is nowhere to hide
I must swing my axe, my brothers at my side
Feeding on our own fear, passions running high
Fleeing not a choice, better to fight and die
In the shield-wall we stand to defend our land
Holding on till the end
Brace the storm and keep the shining blades at bay
Fight to let our kingdom live another day
Heed the old ones’ cries, we mustn't let them down
We will slaughter them to keep them from the crown
In the shield-wall we stand to defend our land
Holding on till the end
Flanas gesecaþ me
Ecga beataþ me
Beornas wieldaþ me
Cyningas sind genered þurh me
Iren gewundaþ me
Wæpen deriaþ me
Cempa teoraþ me
Cynedom is gewered þurh me
In the shield-wall we stand to defend our land
Holding on till the end
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2. |
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Our hearts lie not in heaven
Nor eastern desert sands
With eyes closed to your saviour
Our fate is in our hands
Great glass eyes look down on me
So lofty and so great
In your world we are filth
Toys of your lord to dominate
High spires reach for Đunor's sky
A misfit court of stone
Like flame upon the water
It stands there all alone
You say our ways are evil
That devil’s seed we sow
Yet we have greater wisdom
Than you will ever know
Your lodging here is ended
Your welcome here is ceased
No honour left bestowed
Our open hand now iron fist
Ours is the Kingdom
On land, up high, on sea
In jest we let you play
But now's our time for victory
The storm is ever brewing
A power rising fast
Lightning strikes our veins
As we see the bridge at last
As we ride the endless
The truths seem only lies
The few that faced the fire
Honoured as the kings
Now we ride the deathless
Our kingdom has returned
Of fallen kings and heroes
Our children now have learned
Your lodging here is ended
Your welcome here is ceased
No honour left bestowed
Our open hand now iron fist
Ours is the Kingdom
And this we proudly hail
Your teachings have no truth
Our heathen land will now prevail
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3. |
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When Offa spilled Myrging blood we were proud
When Hengest routed the wealas we were proud
When Penda withstood the cross we were proud
When Alfred stayed the Danes we were proud
Heroes passed unto ye we give hail
Mighty men without fear, without shame
Some will say that our pride is a sin
But in their name we’ll unite and we're proud to be proud
When victory was won at Brunanburh we were proud
When Byrhtnoth raised his sword we were proud
When Harold destroyed Hardrada we were proud
When Hereward defied the bastard we were proud
Heroes passed unto ye we give hail
Mighty men without fear, without shame
Some will say that our pride is a sin
But in their name we’ll unite and we're proud to be proud
Slowly with time the past slips away
But deep in our souls their memory stays
Weapons of guilt won’t conquer our minds
Just strengthen our will to defy
The ignorant void ever opening wide
But we keep their names and spirits alive
Arrows of fear won’t pierce our minds
Just strengthen our will to defy
Heroes passed unto ye we give hail
Mighty men without fear, without shame
Some will say that our pride is a sin
But in their name we’ll unite and we're proud to be proud
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4. |
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Papal banner, cross bears the red of the blood we shed
Gave his blessing, leaving the heart of the nation dead
Ancient sunwheel stolen and warped for a demigod
Raised in our name, you will worship what you hate and fought
Sign of conquest buries the past in the centuries
Beast in slumber lurks in their deepest and darkest fears
Restless dragon guarding the horde of our destiny
Fuck your standard, watch in despair as we're breaking free
Show them our sign, raise it up high
Banish their symbol of conquest
Tear it to shreds, burn it to ash
Throw of the weight of enslavement
Open your souls to our mark of old
Don't let the false one deceive you
Now is the time, we shall rule again
Bring down the cross that subdued you
The Golden Dragon flying high again...
Dragon slayer, so goes the myth and the history
With sword he severed, cut us adrift from our unity
Drifting, wondering what is amiss, what it means to be
Raise the dragon, find the answer to the mystery
Show them our sign, raise it up high
Banish their symbol of conquest
Tear it to shreds, burn it to ash
Throw of the weight of enslavement
Open your souls to our mark of old
Don't let the false one deceive you
Now is the time, we shall rule again
Bring down the cross that subdued you
The Golden Dragon flying high again...
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5. |
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Falling towers of stone, smashed by fate
The giants’ craft declines, undermined by age
Once shining and strong with celebration of men
Until the mighty one swept them away
Their warriors destroyed with war, the times of affliction came
Their shining realms in ruin, deserted and decayed
Where bold, proud-hearted men looked on riches bright
Behold the power of fate at this crumbling site
The earth's grip holds as eras pass
We took what we wanted and claimed it as ours
Many a storm these shadow kingdoms have seen
Grey with lichen, stained with blood and misery
Once they looked on riches, possessions, precious stones
Everything must die, all that's left is echoes
Legends fading day by day, cracks are gaping wide
Till mighty fate will sweep away their ancient work and pride
Their warriors destroyed with war, the times of affliction came
Their shining realms in ruin, deserted and decayed
Where bold, proud-hearted men looked on riches bright
Behold the power of fate at this crumbling site
The earth's grip holds as eras pass
We took what we wanted and claimed it as ours
Many a storm these shadow kingdoms have seen
Grey with lichen, stained with blood and misery
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6. |
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7. |
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From beyond we sailed the sea
Seeking new prosperity
We came for the victory
On the fields we cut them down
Stole their pride and burned their towns
These lands held our destiny
Routed and shamed to the mountains they fled
Soundly defeated they sadly abandoned their homes
A new force had arrived to remain
Covered with glory we conquered and settled our land - Englaland
From foreign soil they saw us come
They new the fight could not be won
We offered them no mercy
Ruthlessly they felt our might
In fear they ran into the night
We shattered their dignity
Routed and shamed to the mountains they fled
Soundly defeated they sadly abandoned their homes
A new force had arrived to remain
Covered with glory we conquered and settled our land – Englaland
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8. |
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A withering flower without its roots
Sadly passing away unloved
Songs to sing and tales to tell
Vanishing into obscurity
A dwindling power bereft of soul
Quietly leaving the world behind
Names to praise and sacred sites
Drifting away to nothingness
But we'll resist until the end
Till the last of us shall fall
And we will love you to the end
Our folk that time forgot
A withering flower without its roots
Sadly passing away unloved
Songs to sing and tales to tell
Vanishing into obscurity
But we'll resist until the end
Till the last of us shall fall
And we will love you to the end
Our folk that time forgot
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9. |
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Wise are the weavers who carry our destiny
Golden threads are the tales of our lives
Worlds entwining, a journey eternally
All as one are the earth and the skies
Three are the goddesses, pillars of wisdom
Spinners of what is, what has and will be
There is no escaping the web
You cannot defy them, you cannot break free
Enter the world and the sisters are with you
An energy knot in the fabric of time
To rulers of gods death's the debt we must pay
For creating the pattern of our life's design
Few are the shamans who look upon everything
For this great gift sacrifice they must pay
They will know our choice at the crossroad
The strings of the universe will lead the way
Never-ending river flowing
Threads of time unfold
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10. |
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Now is the time, to the battle we go
The enemy's waiting, much blood will soon flow
But fear ye not death, no such honour so high
To fight with your brothers and die
Think not of failure and be strong of mind
Remember our women and bairns left behind
Dawn is now breaking, be ready to fight
We'll feast our triumph tonight
For our kin we must win
Never stop struggling
Never give in
Show them our might!
Show them our pride!
Our culture and creed confined to history
Such a sad tale to tell so my warriors keep marching on!
The sun is now rising, the birds are in song
Let thoughts of your families spur you along
Smiling they'll greet you, a hero’s return
Fame and renown to be earned
Gather your weapons, lock pity away
We shall be drinking as night follows day
Boasting of victory, praising our dead
And glorious times that lay ahead
For our kin we must win
Never stop struggling
Never give in
Show them our might!
Show them our pride!
Our culture and creed confined to history
Such a sad tale to tell so my warriors keep marching on!
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11. |
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Wyrd has woven our path, now a tyrant rules our land
A beheaded people we are, our power in a dark one’s hand
A final hope remains for those with the will to resist
To rally behind his name and defy the bastard’s rule
The joy of a battle won like lightning swept away
Our kingdom seized by those with the serpent's eye
Rebel of the marshlands, banished to the shade
Defender of our honour, a prisoner of time
Forgotten freedom fighter, outlaw of the fens
The spirit of the warder shall rise in us again
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12. |
Wudugast (2017 re-issue)
06:25
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For centuries roaming among these beams
My ghostly voice haunting and whistling through the trees
Rarely seen but always my presence felt
A lonely soul trapped between life and death, condemned to dwell
In this wood my spirit shall stay
Until time will take this forest away
A man of war, wearied and battle-stained
Then came my fate, by an arrow felled but here remained
A sorry heart, my thoughts my only friend
Wandering on, and I fear my pain will never end
Some say they've seen me floating from tree to tree
Hooded and clad in green, shrouded in mystery
Some say they've heard me singing my mournful song
Crying for anyone to set my spirit free
In this wood my spirit shall stay
Until time will take this forest away
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13. |
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See, my son, how the king's men come
Great is the clamour for spear and shield
We must go straight where the foemen wait
Blacksmiths, ploughmen, woodwrights
Brothers one and all
Fighters of the Angelcynn
Heed the holy standards
Fyrdmen, defend this sacred soil
Boldly he beseeches you
Brave, beloved by all
Heads high, go now (we) gladly
Spear tips gleam (shine) in the morning light
Hear, good thegn, we pledge to thee
Our undivided loyalty
In times of weal and times of woe
Our duty only we shall ever know
Kinsmen side by side
Sturdy warriors bound in bravery
Praise and fame to find
Noble deeds sing through eternity
Veiled in the mist he stands
Fighting lord, bedecked in majesty
Master of these lands
Guiding light bathes us in victory
Hark, my son, how the field was won
Great were the efforts of spear and shield
We sent them straight to their dismal fate
Blacksmiths, ploughmen, woodwrights
Honouring the call
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Forefather England, UK
Anglo-Saxon Metal since 1997
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