The Nightwatchman - Battle Hymns lyrics

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Battle hymns for the broken<br />

Battle hymns for the mislead<br />

Battle hymns for the wretched<br />

The forgotten and the dead<br />

<br />

Battle hymns of redemption<br />

Of solidarity and pride<br />

Battle hymns we will be singing<br />

At the turning of the tide<br />

<br />

Can you explain to the mothers and the fathers of those<br />

Who come riding home in coffins in their military clothes<br />

Shiny metals pinned on their dead teenage chests<br />

While the trumpets blare<br />

<br />

And you lie your best, so ask all you want<br />

From the dusk till the dawn<br />

The answer is still no<br />

Cause brother I'm gone<br />

<br />

Battle hymns for the broken<br />

Battle hymns for the mislead<br />

Battle hymns for the wretched<br />

The forgotten and the dead<br />

<br />

Battle hymns of redemption<br />

Of solidarity and pride<br />

Battle hymns we will be singing<br />

At the turning of the tide<br />

<br />

Can you explain away the slide of hand<br />

And the criminality<br />

Of spending souls for oil<br />

Well in the mirror I can see<br />

<br />

I am the path that leads down<br />

I am the dark and bloody hall<br />

I'm the reaper, executioner, hangman<br />

Judge and the law<br />

<br />

So tie a yellow ribbon round the oak tree on the lawn<br />

But the calvarys not comin cause brother their gone<br />

<br />

Battle hymns for the broken<br />

Battle hymns for the mislead<br />

Battle hymns for the wretched<br />

The forgotten and the dead<br />

<br />

Battle hymns of redemption<br />

Of solidarity and pride<br />

Battle hymns we will be singing<br />

At the turning of the tide<br />

<br />

So I'm sharpening my shovel<br />

And I'm firing my kilm<br />

I'm blind and I am purposeful<br />

A martyr on the hill<br />

<br />

The dream you might be dreamin<br />

Might be someone elses dream tonight<br />

I'm the whisperer of misgivens<br />

And I'm the fading tail light<br />

<br />

I'm the call for retrobution<br />

From the back of the smoke filled hall<br />

I'm the vile of bitterness<br />

I am the poison in the well<br />

<br />

I'm the photographic memory<br />

Of the deeds I will avenge<br />

I'm the cold in the river hollow<br />

I have a hat pin, I have a plan<br />

<br />

And I don't care for cause of consequence<br />

Head shaved and body lean<br />

I'm the go-getter, the score-settler<br />

I'm the shadow on the green<br />

<br />

And there's a flock of black birds flying<br />

Nearly ten thousand strong<br />

They were set off this morning<br />

And brother, their gone<br />

<br />

Battle hymns for the broken<br />

Battle hymns for the mislead<br />

Battle hymns for the wretched<br />

The forgotten and the dead<br />

<br />

Battle hymns of redemption<br />

Of solidarity and pride<br />

Battle hymns we will be singing<br />

At the turning of the tide</