I was so young I didn't understand my father,
When he said the king demands that every man must stand and fight
He gave me wine and said, "I know you're not a man yet,
But the king demands that old and young must ride with him tonight"

He took my hand and we both rode to where the line was
They laughed and said "This boy is far too small to fight"
And there we waited for the sun to burn our hearts out
Until the stars came out and day turned into night

Morning came and lined the sky with silver
"Do not be ashamed," I heard my father say
"When the soldiers come, go hide amongst the heather
When the battle's done…I'll meet you by the stream" By the stream…

The sword they gave me was a man's, I couldn't lift it
The chain, it weighed a weight, so much I couldn't run
And when the moon was full, I stood next to my father
Before an army to amount a nameless sum

Morning came and lined the sky with silver
"Do not be ashamed," I heard my father say
"When the soldiers come, go hide amongst the heather
When the battle's done…I'll meet you by the stream"

I looked for him in the morning
I stood and called my father's name
I felt his sword in the river
But my father never came…
Not again

Morning came and lined the sky with silver
"Do not be ashamed," I heard my father say
"When the soldiers come, go hide amongst the heather
When the battle's done…I'll meet you by the stream"

Morning came and lined the sky with silver
"Do not be ashamed," I heard my father say
"When the soldiers come, go hide amongst the heather
When the battle's done…I'll meet you by the stream"

Morning came and lined the sky with silver
"Do not be ashamed," I heard my father say
"When the soldiers come, go hide amongst the heather
When the battle's done…I'll meet you by the stream"

I was so young I didn't understand my father,
When he said the king demands that every man must stand and fight…