Manowar
"The Warrior's Prayer"

Grandfather, tell my a story!
All right, go and get your storybook
No, no, not one of those, a real story!
A real story?
Yes, tell me about when you were a boy
Well, then, I shall have to take you back with me
A long way in time...

It was my thirteenth year on a cold winter's day
As I walked through the enchanted forest
I heard the sound of horses, and men at arms
I felt compelled to walk on
And find the place of these sounds

And when the forest did clear
I was standing on a hill
Before me the armies of the worlds standing, waiting
I thought to myself
For whom or for what are they waiting?

Suddenly a gust of wind came up
From the north there appeared a lone rider, holding a sword of steel
Then from the south came another, bearing a battle ax
From the east came a third holding a spiked club
And finally from the west, a rider who wielded a great hammer of war

With them came their soldiers of death
Followed by an army of immortals
They were few in number
But the look in their eyes told all who beheld them
That they would leave this day only in victory or death
And there was a great silence...

My heart began to pound
Storm clouds filled the sky with darkness
Rain came and the four winds blew with such anger
That I held fast to a tree
I watched the four riders raise their weapons into the air

Without warning, screaming their war cry
They led the attack, down to the battle they rode
They met the armies of the world with a mighty clash!
I could feel the ground shake
The earth drank much blood that day
Each of the four, was unto himself
A whirlwind of doom!

When the smoke did clear, many thousands were dead
There was much blood and gore
Their bodies lay broken and scattered across the battlefield
Like brown leaves blown by the wind
And I saw the four ride together to the top of the hill
While below them the soldiers of death assembled
All those who would now swear allegiance to them

And the four spoke the words
Of the warrior's prayer

Gods of war I call you, my sword is by my side
I seek a life of honor, free from all false pride
I will crack the whip with a bold mighty hail
Cover me with death if I should ever fail
Glory, majesty, unity, hail, hail, hail

And as I stood and looked on
I heard the armies of the world hail them without end
And their voices of victory
Carried long and far throughout the land!

Well, that's it, did you like the story?
Yeah, it was great!
Oh good, I'm glad, now off to bed with you
Grandfather?
Yes?
Who were those four men?
Who were they?
They were the metal kings!