The wind lashed in our faces
The English found our traces
On moss-covered land
Scotland we defend
At Stirling bridge we try to last
But we fail to stand fast
Blood mingles with pouring rain
Writing tales of pain
Help - Else we will perish
Help - Else we will vanish
Look - Heaven's sign
Look - Ship's graceful lines
White knights appear
Silhouetted against the dark
In the battle of Bannockburn
The table turns
Few knights appear
But masters of the fight
In the battle of Bannockburn
The table turns
They draw their glaming swords
Two knights one horse
How they swing their flail
Ending the bloody tale
Just like a bad dream
English disappear in fog
Finally - Victory
Highlanders' victory

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Grave Digger's song The Battle of Bannockburn narrate the story of the historic Battle of Bannockburn, which took place on June 23 and 24, 1314, between the troops of the Scottish King Robert the Bruce and the forces of King Edward II of England. The opening lines describe the harsh weather and difficult terrain the Scottish soldiers must face as they defend their land against the invading English army. The reference to "moss-covered land" emphasizes the natural advantage that the Scottish soldiers had over the English, as they were more familiar with the rugged terrain.

The lyrics then describe the Scottish soldiers' initial attempt to defend themselves at Stirling bridge, which ultimately failed as they were unable to withstand the English onslaught. The imagery of "blood mingling with pouring rain" highlights the brutality and grim nature of the battle, as countless soldiers lost their lives. The lines "Help - Else we will perish / Help - Else we will vanish" signify the desperation of the Scottish soldiers, who are in dire need of reinforcements.

The mood of the lyrics changes with the appearance of the white knights, who are likely to be the Knights Templar, a powerful European military order that was known for its fighting prowess. The arrival of these knights in the middle of a battle is considered to be a miracle, and the lyrics describe them as "masters of the fight." The triumph of the Scottish forces is underscored by the final lines of the song, which declare their victory over the English and the emergence of Scotland as an independent nation.

Line by Line Meaning

The wind lashed in our faces
We faced strong winds as we went into battle

The English found our traces
The English army was able to track us down

On moss-covered land
We fought on land covered in moss

Scotland we defend
We fought to defend Scotland

At Stirling bridge we try to last
We fought at Stirling bridge, trying to hold out against the English

But we fail to stand fast
Unfortunately, we were not able to hold out for very long

Blood mingles with pouring rain
As we fought, blood mixed with the rain pouring down around us

Writing tales of pain
Our struggle and suffering will be remembered in history

Help - Else we will perish
We needed help to avoid defeat

Help - Else we will vanish
Without help, we would have lost the battle and disappeared

Look - Heaven's sign
We saw a sign from heaven that gave us hope

Look - Ship's graceful lines
We saw a ship with elegant design that exemplified strength and hope

White knights appear
A group of knights wearing white armor appeared on the battlefield

Silhouetted against the dark
Their figures were highlighted against the darkness of the battlefield

In the battle of Bannockburn
This was the battle of Bannockburn

The table turns
The course of the battle changed

Few knights appear
Only a small group of knights joined the battle

But masters of the fight
These knights were very skilled at fighting

They draw their glaming swords
The knights pulled out their shining swords

Two knights one horse
Two knights rode on one horse, showing great bravery

How they swing their flail
The knights swung their flail weapons deftly and efficiently

Ending the bloody tale
They fought until the end, putting an end to the bloody battle

Just like a bad dream
The English army disappeared quickly, like a bad dream

English disappear in fog
The English army disappeared as if swallowed by the fog

Finally - Victory
We were victorious in the end, after a hard-fought battle

Highlanders' victory
This was a hard-won victory for the Highlanders

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