Tales of the Great Wars
Glass Hammer Lyrics

Hear our tale now, a soldier's story
Listen to our story of a soldier

And his quest for the source of glory
And his search for honor

When a lad he had heard it spoken
As a child, he was told of it

By an elder both scarred and broken
By an elder who had been wounded in battle

Warrior of the legion
Soldier of the Roman army

He had journeyed to the frontier
He had been sent to the border to fight

And had fought bravely
And he had fought with courage

But was wounded, then awarded
But he was injured, then given recognition

For deeds and actions in the fray
For his bravery in the battle

He was swept away when hearing
He was captivated when he heard

Of the great wars
Of the epic battles of the past

Not content with the veteran's rambling
Not satisfied with the older soldier's stories

Sought he tales of great men, who gambling
He sought stories of heroes who risked their lives

In a game of man's decimation
In a game of war that destroyed human life

Won the crowns of their conquering nations
And were rewarded with leadership of their victorious countries

Armies marching ever in his young mind
He imagined armies always marching in his youth

There were great towers, bastions of evil
He imagined large towers, representing evil forces

And the people cried for heroes who would lay siege
The people called for heroes to attack the evil forces

And bring them down
And defeat them

He was swept away when hearing
He was enthralled when he heard

Of the great wars
Of the epic battles of the past

"I will lead the charge one day," he swore
"One day, I will lead the attack," he promised

Dreaming of the day he would make war
Dreaming of being a warrior

Youth soon was spent, came the time to enlist
He became an adult and decided to join the army

Rome forged his shield and the sword in his fist
The Roman army equipped him with a shield and sword

Now at last war is come
Finally, the war has begun

And he dreams that he'll find sweet glory here
He hopes to find honor in this battle

In the ranks he stands firm
He stands bravely in the ranks

Up ahead, coming fast, the enemy
The enemy is approaching quickly

"Hold the line! Here they come!"
"Stand firm! They're coming!"

Bearded ones, angry sons, screaming
The enemy soldiers were screaming as they charged

See his sword rise and fall
He swings his sword in the battle

Now a man, no more time for dreaming
Now he's an adult and there's no time for fantasies

Fair haired daughters of the land will
Beautiful women of the country will

Come down and kiss the feet
Kneel down and honor him

Of the hero
As a hero

Laurels, medals they will bestow on
They will give him symbols of victory, such as medals and crowns

Him who carried battle to the foe
The man who fought the enemy

Hero!
A hero!

Now a captain, and decorated
Now he's a captain, with honors

Back to Rome where the elder waited
He returns to Rome, where the wounded elder awaits him

There to query the young commander
The elder asks the young officer

"Where but battle was glory grander?"
"Where else but in war can you find true honor?"

"Glory? You deceived me
"Honor? You tricked me

I saw nothing in the great battle
I didn't find any honor in the big battle

If not for killing and much slaughter
It was just about killing and death

Now in dreaming I see the faces
Now I see the faces of the people I killed in my dreams

Of those I killed
The faces of the people I killed

He was swept away when hearing
He was captivated when he heard

Of the great wars
Of the epic battles of the past