Lyrics
Could be that the the columns which halt here
Speculation about columns halting and men dispersing in the wind.
That these endless rows of men
Endless rows of men may scatter and disperse.
are scattered in the wind, split up and disperse
Possibility of men deserting and splitting up.
and will desert me, could be, could be
Anticipation of being deserted, uncertain.
my lips may stammer mad words
Lips may speak incoherent words in madness.
but the flag will only fall when I fall
The flag symbolizes resolve, falling only with the speaker's fall.
and be a shroud, covering my corpse
The flag serves as a shroud for the speaker's corpse.
Obedience unto death - never to fall aside
Commitment to obedience unto death, never falling aside.
forever to stride
Commitment to continue striding forward forever.
on deaths wings they ride
Symbolic riding on death's wings.
We must be dominated by one will
Call for domination by one collective will.
we must form one unity
Emphasis on forming a unified entity.
we must be held together by one discipline
Necessity of maintaining discipline for unity.
and form one obedience
Formation of obedience as part of unity.
Forwards, forwards call the fanfares
Forward movement signaled by fanfares.
for the last time the reveille has sounded
Last reveille before battle, standing ready.
for battle sees us stand in stern array
Preparation for battle, standing in stern array.
obedience unto death....
Reiteration of obedience unto death.
I shall remain faithful, even though deserted by all
Declaration of remaining faithful despite desertion.
I shall carry the flag, staggering and alone
Determination to carry the flag alone, staggering.
We march into eternity
Marching into eternity with the banner transcending death.
for our banner is greater than death
The banner's significance surpassing death.
behold the knight in solemn black manner
Depiction of a knight in solemn black attire with ominous symbolism.
with a skull on his crest and blood on his banner
Symbolic imagery of a knight with a skull and blood on the banner.
in black we are dressed
Reference to dressing in black, symbolizing solemnity.
in blood we are drenched
Emphasis on being drenched in blood.
with a death's heads on our collars
Symbolic mention of death's heads on collars, representing resilience.
we stand unshaken
Unshaken stance despite challenges.
Obedience
Reiteration of the theme of obedience unto death.
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