Hereward The Wake

Lyrics

[Intro Music]

[Verse]

I spent years training in Flanders as a mercenary.

Soon I returned to England, and my noble family.

Arriving at my family’s hall, a chill ran down my spine!

Normans had taken control, but the worst was plain in sight!

My father dead, my brother’s head,

Mounted upon a spike!

My heart aggrieved, my sword unsheathed!

Those Normans I did strike!

[Chorus]

Anglo-Saxons, rise up now!

I will lead you! We will not bow!

My foes had better watch out!

I will cut many of them down!

I shall free England!

About that make no mistake!

I am William the Conqueror’s worst nightmare!

I am Hereward the Wake!

[Interlude Music]

[Verse]

I led Anglo-Saxons, worked with Danes, fought for English land!

Peterborough Abbey’s treasures, we saved from Norman hands!

William’s soldiers, sent to crush us, drowned at Aldreth Causeway!

To England’s freedom, I would fight for days to pave the way!

I and my men, triumphed again!

Rebellion just begun!

We dealt more blows, to Norman foes!

Our war was close to won!

[Chorus]

Anglo-Saxons, rise up now!

I will lead you! We will not bow!

My foes had better watch out!

I will cut many of them down!

I shall free England!

About that make no mistake!

I am William the Conqueror’s worst nightmare!

I am Hereward the Wake!

[Interlude Music]

[Bridge]

But our luck soon ran out, for monks of greed had betrayed us.

My rebellion was crushed, William victorious.

But no one knows of my fate, what became of Hereward.

Did I surrender or die fighting? You have no clear word.

But what’s not shown, but always known,

Is I was a great man!

I almost broke, the Norman yoke,

That was forced on England!

[Chorus]

Anglo-Saxons, rise up now!

I will lead you! We will not bow!

My foes had better watch out!

I will cut many of them down!

I shall free England!

About that make no mistake!

I am William the Conqueror’s worst nightmare!

I am Hereward the Wake!

[End]