In 1992, along with fellow American White Power band Final Solution, Bound For Glory was one of the first American white power rock bands to play a concert in Europe or abroad, setting a precedent that gained exponentially as the years went on. The concert in Weimar, Germany had over 4,000 attendees from all over Europe. The concert also included the German bands Störkraft and Radikahl.
Since the beginning the band has gone on to record 9 studio albums and one split album with the Finnish band Mistreat. They also released 2 collaboration records titled "Guess whos coming to Dinner (Vol 1 and 2) which featured guest vocals from Landser, Celtic Warrior, Griffin and more. The band was active from 1989-2007 then returned in 2011 and is currently writing new material and playing select shows.
BFG has played concerts throughout the US and Europe and in 2013 they officially became the first American RAC band to play in Japan.
The Awakening
Bound for Glory Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Destined to conquer, pure by birth
Forged in steel, yet hard as stone
The most feared this world has known
I'm in your soul, I'm in your heart
I've been there right from the start
I'm your spirit that wants to awake
I'm that part of you, you just can't shake
Chorus:
Hail to the loyal, hail to the bold
Hail to the northern heart and soul
Hail to the kings, hail to war
Hail to the breed we're fighting for
Hail to life, hail to death
Hail to the gods that gave me breath
Hail to the spirits, hail to their hate
Hail defenders of the faith
I've been through fire, I've been through snow
I've been to places no man goes
I've seen destruction, I've heard its calls
I've seen mighty civilizations fall
My eyes are yours for you to see
I will show you the cycles of history
Follow me I know your desires
For it's the fight in you that I sire
(Repeat Chorus)
Deep in your soul is where I lie
That warrior spirit, not willing to die
A call of the ancients, that forever lasts
I am the testimony of your past
You can't kill me, my powers are strong
Thousand year bloodlines can't be wrong
Follow me, I know your desires
It's the fight in you that I sire
(Repeat Chorus)
The lyrics to Bound for Glory's song "The Awakening" is a call to action for the "loyal" and "bold" to embrace their inner warrior spirits that are "destined to conquer," born "pure" and "forged in steel." The song speaks to the idea that the "most feared" among us have endured trials and tribulations ("been through fire," "been through snow," "seen destruction") through history and have emerged victorious. These warriors challenge us to embrace our "fight" and become defenders of the faith. The chorus is a repetition of the rallying cry of these ancient warriors, calling upon us to hail the spirit of the north, to hail life and death, to hail the gods that gave them breath, and above all, to hail the defenders of the faith.
At its core, "The Awakening" speaks to the idea that within each of us resides a warrior spirit that desires to be awakened. The song asks us to follow in the footsteps of the old warriors and become the latest in a long line of defenders of the faith. Through the lyrics, Bound for Glory makes a powerful statement, challenging us to embrace our warrior spirit, and to join the ranks of the most feared warriors that the world has ever known.
Line by Line Meaning
I've spilled my blood, I've soiled this earth
I have given everything I have to achieve greatness, leaving behind a trail of destruction
Destined to conquer, pure by birth
I am born to lead, destined for greatness
Forged in steel, yet hard as stone
My will and determination are unbreakable, like the strongest of metals
The most feared this world has known
My reputation precedes me, striking fear into the hearts of my enemies
I'm in your soul, I'm in your heart
I inspire and drive those who seek greatness within themselves
I've been there right from the start
I have existed since the dawn of time, a primal driving force within us all
I'm your spirit that wants to awake
I am the warrior spirit within each of us, urging us to be our best selves
I'm that part of you, you just can't shake
I am that inner drive within us that cannot be quelled or ignored
Hail to the loyal, hail to the bold
Praise those who remain faithful in the face of adversity, and those who boldly strive for greatness
Hail to the northern heart and soul
Praise the hardened resilience of those from the north, with strong spirits and unbreakable wills
Hail to the kings, hail to war
Praise those who lead courageously and are willing to fight for what they believe in
Hail to the breed we're fighting for
Praise the cause we are fighting for and the people who share our drive and determination
Hail to life, hail to death
Praise the entirety of the human experience, from birth to death
Hail to the gods that gave me breath
Praise the powers and forces that give us life and drive us forward
Hail to the spirits, hail to their hate
Praise the fierce spirits of those who seek to destroy us, for they drive us to be stronger
Hail defenders of the faith
Praise those who defend their beliefs and their cause, no matter the cost
I've been through fire, I've been through snow
I have faced the most extreme challenges and persevered
I've been to places no man goes
I have pushed myself to the limit, experiencing things that few others ever will
I've seen destruction, I've heard its calls
I have witnessed the devastation of war and the cries of those affected by it
I've seen mighty civilizations fall
I have seen the rise and fall of great empires and learned from their mistakes
My eyes are yours for you to see
I offer you a view of history through my eyes, so you may learn and grow
I will show you the cycles of history
I will teach you about the patterns of history and how they repeat themselves
Follow me I know your desires
Trust in me, for I understand and share your deepest desires for greatness
For it's the fight in you that I sire
I inspire and awaken the warrior spirit within you, driving you to strive for greatness
Deep in your soul is where I lie
I reside deep within you, driving your innermost desires and willpower
That warrior spirit, not willing to die
I am the unbreakable drive within you that refuses to give up, even in the face of death
A call of the ancients, that forever lasts
I represent the primal call to greatness that has existed within humanity since the dawn of our existence
I am the testimony of your past
I am a representation of the collective history and experiences of our ancestors
You can't kill me, my powers are strong
The warrior spirit within us cannot be killed or silenced, for it is unbreakable and fierce
Thousand year bloodlines can't be wrong
The drive for greatness and the warrior spirit reside within our DNA, passed down through generations
Contributed by Sophie I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Mike-jr5hq
Top notch 80s Heavy Metal. Would be great to see this get reissued to CD and Vinyl.
@grahamferguson4797
Sounds great, I'd love to hear the whole album.
@SausageFingers420
"Daryl Downer" is the most "bassist in a metal band from Burlington, Iowa" name I've ever heard.
@skoieboy1
Daryl is still a badass bass beast
@michaelscott1658
Is that Debbie Downers brother?
@ddreamberry2
Daryl Downer approves of this comment.❤
@JOHNNIE_DIO_1982
Great band, rare songs.
Excellent upload.
@armoredsaint1977
Perfect bass great band 🤘🤘🤘
@emersonpauferroribeiroemer9028
Sonzeira 🤘 🎤 🎸 🥁 🎶 🎵
@joshuaswannmusic6462
Love this raw sound