On the castle wall where the guardsmen walk,
The Noble stands alone with his fears,
When the morning comes, then the Mongols ride,
And for him it is the end of years.
When the morning comes and the Mongols ride,
For him it is the end of years.
In the castle keep where the women pray,
The priest can give no ease for their pains,
When the next night comes they may all be dead,
Or captured, enslaved, in chains.
When the next night comes they may all be dead,
Or captured, enslaved, in chains.
On the facing plains where the campfires gleam
Mongol raiders wait for the dawn,
When the first light glows, then they mount and ride,
Nothing stands whole when they move on.
When the first light glows, then they mount and ride,
Nothing stands whole when they move on.
When the next nights mood rides across the sky,
Where a fortress stood is a ruin,
The lord and fighters dead, and the women gone,
Lonely winds sing a mournful tune.
The Lord and fighters dead, and the women gone,
Lonely winds sing a mournful tune.