HORSES FOR THE NORTH

The salt still clings to cloak and blade, The ships lie dark where landfall's made. But keels alone won't win the ground, We need the thunder without a sound. Beyond the shore lie field and road, A kingdom wide, a heavier load. No oar can carry steel inland, So bring us horses from this land. Unbar the stable, loose the rein. We did not cross to wait again. From tide-wet sand to inland stone. THE ROAD AHEAD WILL BE OUR OWN. Horses for the North — let the iron ride! Leave the waiting longships with the turning tide. Hooves upon the old roads, thunder through the land, No longer bound by ocean, no longer bound by sand. The farmers watch from fence and field, They know the axe, the spear, the shield. But something changed beneath that sky: The Northmen came — and passed them by. Not scattered bands that strike and flee, Then vanish home across the sea. Rank after rank now takes the track, And every hoofbeat drives us back— Not back to ships. Not back to foam. The road itself will lead us on. Where does the road through autumn run? Where walls stand high beneath the sun. And who waits north beyond the plain? LET THEM HEAR US BEFORE THEY KNOW OUR NAME. Horses for the North — let the iron ride! Across the fields where frightened watchfires hide! FROM SHORE TO ROAD, FROM ROAD TO WAR! THEY'LL HEAR OUR COMING LONG BEFORE!