The Star-Spangled Banner
Francis Scott Key

(Instrumental)

Declaration Day
Music & Lyrics by Jon Schaffer

A desperate situation
Forced to retaliation
The task ahead a burden
Men will suffer, that’s for certain
We’ll charge into the fire
The cause, we must inspire
We raise our fists to tyranny
A high price, freedom is not free

The odds are stacked against us
But with our resolve relentless
And arrogance their weakness
Our cause is just, we won’t be beaten
Upon this declaration
Will come a brand new nation
Where men are seen as equal
Governed by and for the people

Chorus
So we make our stand and pray
On this Declaration Day
For independence I will fight
With liberty I will defy
So we make our stand and pray
On this Declaration Day
Give me liberty or give me death
I’ll fight ‘til my last breath

With virtue as our beacon
Our cause is charged as treason
Battleworn and starving
Through the hell of war we’ll keep marching
The birth of our new nation
An act of desperation
We’ll force King George down to his knees
Capitulation

Chorus
And so we make our stand and pray
On this Declaration Day
For independence I will fight
With liberty I will defy
So we make our stand and pray
On this Declaration Day
Give me liberty or give me death
I’ll fight ‘til my last breath

When the Eagle Cries
Music & Lyrics by Jon Schaffer

Another day just like any other
Out of the blue it turned to horror
How could they?
Why would they?
The innocent suffered hell’s inferno
A senseless act that goes unforgotten
How could they?
They will pay

Chorus
When the eagle cries
Blood will flow
When the eagle cries
For freedom’s fight
When the eagle cries
We love her so
When the eagle cries
We will sacrifice

Out of the ashes came a tempting vengeance
But we are focused, we seek redemption
We are free
We’ll stay free
All they’ve done is make us stronger
The sleeping giant is asleep no longer
If need be
We’ll die free

Chorus
When the eagle cries
Blood will flow
When the eagle cries
For freedom’s fight
When the eagle cries
We love her so
When the eagle cries
We will sacrifice

The Reckoning (Don’t Tread On Me)
Music and Lyrics by Jon Schaffer

Destiny’s called us
It’s the reckoning
This time it’s for blood
Don’t tread on me
Revenge is not justice
It’s the reckoning
This time it’s for blood
Don’t tread on me

You went too far this time
For this heinous crime
You will know defeat
Begging on your knees

One by one you’ll fall
Your back’s against the wall
Nowhere to turn
You’re sure to burn

Destiny’s called us
It’s the reckoning
This time it’s for blood
Don’t tread on me

The hour’s close at hand
We’ll make our final stand
Justice shall be done
Nowhere to run

True evil broods in you
You’re just a brainwashed fool
The coward kills then hides
Spewing forth his lies

Revenge is not justice
It’s the reckoning
This time it’s for blood
Don’t tread on me

Bridge
Born of destruction, bred in agony
Is this my salvation?
From these ashes, I am your devastation

If it was up to me
Eye for an eye I’d seek
But the high road we will take
Lady justice is at stake

The judgement has been made
In blood it shall be paid
Death knows what to do
The horseman comes for you

Destiny’s called us
It’s the reckoning
This time it’s for blood
Don’t tread on me
Revenge is not justice
It’s the reckoning
This time it’s for blood
Don’t tread on me

Greenface
Music & Lyrics by Jon Schaffer

A warrior down to the depths of my soul
I terrorize evil that’s out of control
On land, in the air, at sea
On danger i feed
My warpaint, the last thing my enemies see
Their teeth and their ears are trophies for me
On land, in the air, at sea
I’ll be where the metal meets the meat
Greenface
Greenface
Lagoons deep in jungles are home for me
The desert nor mountains, they can’t hide from me
On land, in the air, at sea
I’ll be where the metal meets the meat
Greenface
Greenface

Attila
(Schaffer, Barlow)

He’s ruled them for 20 years
And ravaged as their king
Conquest burns in his eyes
And ice shoots through his veins
Their leader’s new ambition lies
Farther to the west
The empire that he seeks
The father to the rest
Attila wants to take his place
Like the impetuous son
To make the entire world bow
To the kingdom of the Huns

Alliance has been made
With many other clans
Frank and vandal forces
Held within his hand
And by Attila’s hand it’s said
His brother met with death
To make his rule his legacy
He did his awful best
Ethele and Etzell
By many names he’s known
But “scourge of god” is the one
That rings the darkest tone

Chorus
Hell awaits behind Gaul’s gates
The roman’s stand only to fall
They will die by his sword
The barbarian lord
Attila hear’s victory call

Bridge

(Huns)
Path of fire and plunder
Cities burn and crumble
Attila’s fate beckons
He will come to conquer

(Romans)
Archers stand at ready
Centurions all together
Keep to your lines
And the Mongol’s sure to falter

(Huns)
We will surely break them
We will overtake them
Fight till our deaths
Or the Christians devastation

(Romans)
They won’t overthrow us
God will stand before us
Show us the path to the Huns destruction

Sing to the sky, the battle cry
To propagate their fears
As terror is the weapon drawn
When battle has drawn near
And so the conflict is at hand
The gauntlet has been thrown
Contempt for the Christian reign
This poison seed now sewn
And if by chance all is lost
Cut down by roman steel
We’ll suffer not as others have
Broken mind nor broken will

Hollow Man
Music & Lyrics by Jon Schaffer

Emptiness, consuming me
Head in hands, I can hardly speak
Looking for solitude
Lost in humanity
True knowledge leads to suffering
A constant quest, an endless dream
Searching for inner peace
Hidden so deep in me

Chorus
Don’t wanna be a hollow man
Ain’t gonna be the hollow man

Sadness comes knocking constantly
Filling up my eyes for all to see
Peace will come someday
I pray that it finds a way
Darkness caressing my mind and soul
My spirits rejecting, I’m feeling whole
Emptiness goes away
Fills with the light of day

Chorus
Don’t wanna be a hollow man
Ain’t gonna be the hollow man

Bridge
I rise up like the Phoenix
From the ashes of an older way
With wisdom gained, I turn away
I turn away
Hollow man find yourself some other prey

Valley Forge
Music & Lyrics by Jon Schaffer

Close your eyes and imagine
The soldier at Valley Forge
The suffering that he endured was real
Starvation, total war
Yet in his eyes, the iron will to win
And for the cause he won’t relent

Standing barefoot, frozen bloody hands
His musket clutched, an iron grip
For the cause he has but one regret
That he’s only got one life to give

Chorus
Would he look upon us now
In anger and disgust?
His providence, our birthright and our creed
Will we let ignorance and laziness
Bring our demise?
Complacency, we’re blinded by our greed

It’s time for us to open up our eyes
And cherish the lives we all can have
And to the ones who’ve kept our freedom free
Words can’t express all that you have done

Chorus
Would he look upon us now
In anger and disgust?
His providence, our birthright and our creed
Will we let ignorance and laziness
Bring our demise?
Complacency, we’re blinded by our greed

Waterloo
(Schaffer, Barlow)

Usher in the rally cries
Revolution’s here again
The Emperor’s bonds are broken
And free he shall remain

Escape, though narrow, was demand
While his reign remained in view
This fight for France, ‘til bitter end
He must see it through

Coalition forms of many lands
Against Napoleon, west to east
Dogs of war will take to arms
And soon will be unleashed

Prussian, Russian, and Austrian
All follow British lead
At allies’ helm is Wellington
Who must make his foe concede

Chorus
Foreshadowed man of destiny
Soon you will be forced to see
Nations aligning against you
Marking the time your reign is through
…and you will see your hundred days come to an end
Foreshadowed man of destiny
Soon you will be forced to see
Nations aligning against you
Marking the time your reign is through
…it lies before you, fate shall befall you

Quickly, the allies gather force
Near the Franco-Belgian line
While 124,000 French
March there in double time

As the battle begins
Napoleon springs his audacious plan
He’ll attack them on two fronts
Splitting up his warring band

As the Prussians sound retreat
Behind they leave 12,000 slain
Most of their force is still in tact
And will live to fight again

Wellington, who felt the loss
Of 5000 men
Would feel more under cannon fire
Bombardment from the French

Repeat chorus

Bridge
Of all the wars i have waged
To propel my nations might
For this I’ll be remembered
From now ‘til the end of time
If to the victor go the spoils
I may die an impoverished man
For in the end, irony
Has dealt the cruelest hand

The French force was swift and sure
But their attack would be repelled
And though their center battered
The Anglo-Dutch line would be held

As fate or skill would have it
An army moves in from the east
The Prussians who slipped through his hands
Would soon spell his defeat

French lines now all broken
And being open to attack
The emperor has no choice
And the old guard pulls him back

45,000 wounded or dead
When the fight was finally through
On a three mile square of battlefield
Near a town named Waterloo

The Devil to Pay
Music and Lyrics by Jon Schaffer

Intro
“The idea that I wanted to get across in this intro is that which actually happened at West Point when the Union garrison at Fort Sumter surrendered to the Rebels on April 13th, 1861. When this fact was announced at West Point the cadets were doing flag duty. Upon hearing the news, the band immediately broke into the National Anthem. After a few bars the southern cadets started singing “Dixie”. Eventually, pushing and shoving developed into a fist fight between fellow cadets, many of which were very dear friends. This intro is symbolic of that day at West Point and the beginning of the Civil War. The National Anthem starts and then after a few bars “Dixie” comes in, albeit half time and a bit altered, it gets the point across and creates the tension I was looking for. The cannon fire is self explanatory…..the nightmare begins and we fast forward to July, 1863.”

In July 1863
A Nation Torn In Tragedy
A Trick of Fate, Two Great Armies Merge
Gods Of War At Gettysburg
Devastation Lies Ahead
50,000 Bodies Litter The Land
Hell Rages Three Full Days
The Reaper Sows, There’s The Devil To Pay

“I chose to open the epic with the events that Union Cavalry General John Buford was faced with on this first day of battle. Whether it was providence or instinct, he was responsible; foreseeing the clash that was about to happen in an almost prophetic manner. It was due to his experience and “ iron will” that the Union was able to hold the high ground and have the upper hand in the coming days’ battle. Being around 2000 strong, his two brigades were able to “bottle up” the ever advancing Confederates (at the peak numbering near 20,000 troops) until infantry support could arrive and give the dismounted cavalry a much needed break. U.S. Infantry General John Reynolds did arrive just in time and although he was killed shortly after going into action, his contributions on this day are also very important in the big picture.”

The Pressure’s On And The Reb’s Attack
The Yanks Must Hold, They Can’t Fall Back
Just Two Brigades, 2000 Strong
Against 20,000 They Can’t Hold Long

General Reynolds Makes His Way
Expect No Mercy From The Iron Brigade
Until He Shows They’re On Their Own
But Buford’s Men Have A Will Of Stone

Bayonets Gleam In The Morning Sun
Smoke And Fire Belching From Their Guns
Another Volley And Again They Strike
Thousands More Comin’ Down The Chambersburg Pike

Chorus
This Tragedy And What It Brings
All The Devastation
*The Reaper Has His Way
Men Will Kill, Blood Will Spill
To Preserve The Nation
*There’s The Devil To Pay

South Of Town Down The Emmitsburg Road
The First Corps Are Starting To Show
For Buford’s Men, They’re Here Just In Time
The Desperate Need To Strengthen The Line

Bodies Dropping The Blue And The Grey
Muskets Fire And Cannon Blaze
The Union Fights Defending The Town
But They’re Outnumbered And Losing Ground

From The North And The West More Rebels Arrive
Thousands More And The Fight Multiplies
McPhearson’s Ridge And The Black Hats Strike
A Rebel Sharpshooter Takes Reynolds Life

Chorus
This Tragedy And What It Brings
All The Devastation
*The Reaper Has His Way
Men Will Kill, Blood Will Spill
To Preserve The Nation
*There’s The Devil To Pay

Bridge
“This instrumental bridge starts off with a somewhat melancholic version of “When Johnny Comes Marching Home.” I wanted to pay tribute musically to Union General John Reynolds who was shot and instantly killed on this day. Since many soldiers refer to death as “going home” I thought this would be a fitting musical passage to get that point across.
At approximately 7minutes and 05 seconds the pace picks up and a volley is fired by the Union side. This entire section is devoted to the Union holding and eventually losing the occupation of the town of Gettysburg. You will hear the orchestra play passages throughout this entire section that are symbolic of which side is firing, and when. I decided to make “Johnny” the Union melody and “Dixie” the Confederate melody. You will hear the orchestra play variations of the “Johnny” melody in the first part, then “Dixie” when the Rebels return fire, then “Johnny” again and finally the two together, which is symbolic of when they clash in town. At approximately 8:10 the musical passage that happens here is symbolic of the Union forces being overwhelmed and eventually fleeing from town and leaving it occupied by the Confederates. 8:36 to 9:02 is the Union retreat, following that, the musical passage is a more uplifting vibe to reflect a very enthusiastic rebel army that has won the first days battle.”

Attack! Attack! General Lee Gives Command
They’re Overwhelmed, The Situation Demands
The Federals Retreat And Rush Out Of Town
But They Have Fortified And Saved The High Ground

The Day Ends In Victory For The South
Lee’s As Convinced As God’s Will Is Profound
They Are Invincible And Their Cause Is Just
But Longstreet Is Cautious And Lacking In Trust

Across The Way The Union Digs In
The Round Tops, Cemetary Ridge And Out To Culps Hill
Their Lines Are Strong, No Denying They’ll Stay
When The Confederates Strike There’ll Be The Devil To Pay

Chorus
This Tragedy And What It Brings
All The Devastation
*The Reaper Has His Way
Men Will Kill, Blood Will Spill
To Preserve The Nation
*There’s The Devil To Pay

“So closes the first day of battle. The Confederates hold the town of Gettysburg and are in a strong position on Seminary Ridge. Across the way however, the Union hold the high ground from Culp’s Hill down to Cemetery Ridge and out to the Round Tops, their line forming the shape of a fish hook……”

Hold At All Costs
Music and Lyrics by Jon Schaffer

“The “Brother Against Brother” intro is specifically based on the brother like friendship of Confederate General Lewis A. Armistead and Union General Winfield Scott Hancock. It was very common that friends and family were torn apart during the Civil War. Imagine having to face your best friend, brother, or cousin on a battlefield. Imagine trying to uphold your duty, even if it means killing your best friend.
I chose to write “Brother Against Brother” based on Armistead and Hancock’s relationship but it works for almost anyone who was faced with a similar situation.
It is based on a conversation between the two the last night they were together, before going to their respective sides.”

Intro “Brother Against Brother”
Just A Mile Or So Away
Is My Dearest Friend In This World
He Wears the Blue And I The Grey
And God It Hurts Me So
The Last Time We Were Together
I Grabbed His Hand And I Pledged
If I Ever Draw My Sword On You
May The Good Lord Strike Me Dead

“It’s now day two, and although many amazing and tragic events happened on this day, I chose to write about one particular event and one of my favorite personalities of the Civil War, Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain of the 20th Maine. “Hold At All Costs” is my dedication to him, and my way of helping his memory live on. His story has to be one of the most inspiring of any in the chronicles of human history.”

The Union Flank’s In Trouble
To The Round Top On The Double
A Bad Decision, Insubordination
Exposed Our Line In A Dangerous Way

The Burden Lies Upon Us
Surrender Is Not An Option
We Are The Flank And If We Break
The Union Crumbles, We Could Lose The War


Down Below’s The Carnage
The Rebel’s Charging Onward
Push The Slaughter Forward, The Peach Orchard
Through The Wheatfield And Devil’s Den

The Valor Of The Texans
And Alabama’s Best Men
They’re Unrelenting And Devastating
The Last Full Measure Of Devotion’s Clear




Chorus

We’ll Know What We’re Made Of
When Up Against All Odds We Hold Our Line
For The Cause That We So Love
We Must Hold At All Costs
We’ll Know What We’re Made Of
When Our Nation Needs Us, We’ll Stay The Course
For The Union We So Love
We Must Hold At All Costs

“The instrumental passage that happens at approximately 2:36 is designed to give the listener a feeling of the overwhelming endurance that both the Union and the Confederates showed on Little Round Top. Wave after wave of Texan and Alabamian attacks forced Chamberlain and the 20th Maine to resort to an obscure military text book maneuver that ultimately saved the day for the Union.
Imagine these Rebel forces enduring a forced march through the night before making their way to the battle and immediately being put into action. On top of that they ran out of water during the march, so these guys are charging the hill over and over again after marching all night, having no water and suffering in the brutal heat and humidity of summer.
Chamberlain, who was placed at the extreme left of the Union line, was ordered to hold at all costs, retreat is not an option. Since he was the extreme left he had to stop the Confederates, otherwise they would be able to attack the Union lines from behind, and that would have been devastating, possibly being the final blow to the Union.
When the fight started his men had around 60 rounds of ammo, after numerous rebel attacks he was forced to make a decision that proved to be one of the boldest moves in military history. Having repelled wave after wave of attack from the rebels, his men made him aware of the fact that they were out of ammunition, a desperate situation indeed. Knowing that the rebels were just moments away from another charge, he ordered his men to fix bayonets. He gambled that if his boys were at the end, the reb’s had to be near the end as well, so he ordered a sweeping motion with fixed bayonets down the hill, a bold and desperate charge. The amazing thing is that it worked. The rebel’s were so shocked by the move that they surrendered and threw down their arms. This is reverse psychology at its best; they take the Confederates prisoner with empty muskets and attitude.”

Their Power Must Be Waning
We’re Out Of Ammo, We Can’t Fall Back, No!
A Desperate Measure, A Means To End

On Their Next Wave We Charge Them
There Is No Other Option
Disconcert Them, Force Submission
On My Command, Fix Bayonets!

Chorus

We’ll Know What We’re Made Of
When Up Against All Odds We Hold Our Line
For The Cause That We So Love
We Must Hold At All Costs
We’ll Know What We’re Made Of
When Our Nation Needs Us, We’ll Stay The Course
For The Union We So Love
We Must Hold At All Costs

We’ll Know What We’re Made Of
The Burden Lies With Us
When Up Against All Odds We Hold Our Line
We Can’t Fail
For The Cause That We So Love
We Must Hold At All Costs
We’ll Know What We’re Made Of
With Courage In Our Hearts
When Our Nation Needs Us, We’ll Stay The Course
We Won’t Fail
For The Union We So Love
We Must Hold At All Costs

High Water Mark
Music and Lyrics by Jon Schaffer

“This being the third day, it’s definitely the most epic and theatrical of the three parts of the trilogy. At this point in the battle, Lee has been unsuccessful in breaking through the Union lines. On day two he attacked simultaneously, both ends of the Union line. The fighting at Culp’s Hill and the Round Tops, as well as the Wheatfield, Peach Orchard and Devil’s Den was fierce and devastating, and the bloodiest of the three days of the battle. Lee’s convinced that since he’s attacked the ends of the line that the Union must be more vulnerable in the center. Lee’s “old warhorse” General James “Pete” Longstreet is skeptical and voices his concern that this day’s attack is doomed to fail. Lee insists that his plan be executed and Longstreet, ever the dutiful soldier, reluctantly follows his Commanders orders.”

1. Cannonade/Intro

“The cannonade and the intro that follows it are both symbolic of the massive artillery battle that took place before what is now known as “Pickett’s Charge.” It is said that President Lincoln could see the smoke in the distance and feel the earth shake at the White House during this unprecedented cannonade.”

2. The Burden of Command
“The next section is my interpretation of the conversation that took place between Lee and Longstreet. In order to ad a character like atmosphere, I had Tim sing the parts of Lee and I did the voice of Longstreet. Listen carefully to the angelic voices in the background that give a dark foreshadow to the coming events………”

Lee
“It Was Very Close Yesterday
I Thought For Sure They Would Break
But This Attack That I Have Planned
A Massive Strike Across Open Land
In The Center They Will Break (Will They Break?)
But Plan It Well, Everything’s At Stake
We’ll Hit ‘Em Hard, Not A Silent Gun
Before The Infantry’s Begun”

“Execute It Well, We Risk Everything”
“It’s In God’s Hands Now”

Longstreet
“General Lee I Must Tell You Straight
I Believe This Attack Will Fail
No 15,000 Men Ever Made
Will Overtake That Ridge Today
A Mile Charge Over Open Ground
With Yankee Cannon Gunnin’ Us Down”

Lee
“We Do Our Duty, We Do What We Must
And In My Plan You Will Trust”

(Thousands Die, On This Day)
“Execute It Well, We Risk Everything”
“It’s In God’s Hands Now”

3. The Last Full Measure
“This next musical passage at 3:28 was designed to give the listener the feeling of what a heavy burden it must have been for everyone involved, from the officers down to the ranks. When I really thought about what must have been going through the minds of those boys behind the trees on Seminary Ridge it translated to this somewhat sad but determined and emotional piece of music. Lyrically I’m setting up the whole scenario that’s taking place. This is definitely one of my favorite parts of the trilogy as it really moves me every time I hear it.”

The Rebel Cannon Break The Silence
150 Guns Make Up Their Cannonade

They Must Destroy The Union Center
Before The Infantry Can Launch Their Grand Assault

The Yankees Are Returning Fire (The Earth Shakes Violently)
In Washington D.C. Lincoln Feels The Earth Shake

What Happens Here This Day
The Fate Of This Nation
In The Balance It Will Hang
Consumed With The Pain
The Courage Of The Blue
The Valor Of The Grey
So Very Sad But True
Consumed With The Pain

The Virginians Are The Chosen
In Wait Behind The Trees On Seminary Ridge

Longstreet’s Slow To Give The Order
The Lines Emerge, A Mile, 15,000 Men

The Charge Begins In All It’s Grandeur (To The Copse Of Trees)
For Many Of These Men They Know It Is Their Last

The Slaughter Now Ensues
Bodies Fall Like Rain
They Valiantly Pursue
Yet Doomed To Remain
At The Double Quick They Charge
The Canister Rips Through Them
To The Mouth Of Hell They March
Glory, The Only Gain

4. Charge!!

“At 6:51 the Confederate infantry advances. From behind the trees on Seminary Ridge 15,000 men stretched out a mile long emerge and march forward to converge on the center of the Union line on Cemetery Ridge. This is the largest infantry assault to ever take place on North American soil. They must march a distance of a mile with every movement easily viewed by the Union troops. Union cannon fire will decimate the advancing rebels with devastating accuracy. Bodies are literally dropping like flies but onward they march with a determination rarely seen.
At 7:21 the mood changes drastically to reflect my image of the Union troops, specifically the “Irish Brigade”, waiting patiently behind the rock wall on Cemetery Ridge with aimed muskets, all along watching the rebel troops move forward off in the distance. At 7:51 the focus is back on the rebel charge and the intense fire that they are taking. Again, at 8:06 we are back at the Union side as the pressure builds and the rebels come ever closer to their objective. At 8:36 we begin to focus our attention on Lewis Armistead and his Virginians as they approach the Emmitsburg Road. At 8:51 Armistead gives his men one final pep talk and it’s at this point where he takes off his hat and runs his sword through it to inspire and rally the troops.”

Armistead
“We’re Almost There My Boys
I’ve Never Served With Finer
We Must Push Forward Boys
And Bayonet The Yankee Tyrants
To The Copse Of Trees We Charge
To Crush The Union Center
And When They Turn And Run
An Open Road Leads Us To Freedom”





5. The Melee
“At 9:21 I wanted to create some tension so this short section of guitars and the orchestra is sort of a “calm before the storm” and is designed to build as it goes to achieve a musical climax. At 9:36 the melee begins, total hand to hand combat and chaos. Armistead’s boys were the only ones to actually break through the line and take a Union battery. Although it proved to be futile, it is what’s considered today to be the “High Water Mark” of the Confederacy. Never again would the Army of Northern Virginia come so close to threatening the Union in their own country.
At 10:05 the music and lyrics reflect my interpretation of the heavy emotion that General Robert E. Lee must have felt at the end of this days’ battle. Obviously, this is total conjecture on my part, but I feel sure that when he looked across that field littered with the thousands of dead and dying soldiers, there must have been an overwhelming sense of responsibility.
Tim did an incredible job at delivering the emotion that I was looking for in this part of the epic and I couldn’t be happier with his performance.
I felt that ending this whole thing with a very heavy and ominous part was the right thing to do. I wanted to leave the listener with a sense of how truly devastating what went on there really was.”


Lee
“It’s Over Now We Are Retreating
I Never Thought That We’d Be Beaten
All This Blood Is On My Hands
The Thousands Dead Due To My Plan
I Am Responsible, All Of It Is My Fault
I Thought Us Invincible
Is This God’s Will After All?
I Look Across This Blood Soaked Land
All This Blood Is On My Hands
God Forgive Me, Please Forgive Me
It’s All My Fault, The Blood Is On My Hands”