The wind was a river of darkness, sighing among the trees
The stars were ghostly glimmers, shining on wind-torn leaves
The road was a ribbon of moonlight, marching over the moors
Along it the soldiers came marching
Marching, Marching,
The soldiers came a-marching
Out from their homes' front doors
 
"A kiss my lovely sweetheart," the soldier had begged his wife
"King Arveleg has summoned us to the coming strife."
"But I'll return to thee I say
Watch for me by the starlight,
Look for me in the sunlight,
I'll come to thee by the dawn's light
though hell should bar the way
 
O'er the cobbles they clattered, to Amon Sul's great gate
Their banner overhead, it fluttered, and led them to their fate
Heeding the orders of the Captains, up to the ramparts they sped
The soldiers went a-running
Running, Running
The soldiers went a-running
where their Captains led
 
Tata-ra tata-ra in the distance. Tata-ra a sound to dread
Out of the darkling sunset, before the rise of the moon
While the road was a ribbon of darkness, lying in its bed
Orcs and worse came marching
Marching, Marching
Angmar's troops came marching
Endless in the dark of the moon
 
The wind was a torrent of darkness, roaring among their ranks
Fires flared up in the blackness, torches held in the ranks
Up rode their leader the Witch-King, Fell his words on their ears
"Surrender" he hissed in the blackness
"Surrender" he roared in the darkness
"Surrender" he cried to the fortress
"Surrender" and live your years
 
Silence reigned on the tower, men on their knees in despair
To-roo a horn called in the silence, To-roo it rang in the air
"Rise up!" roared the voice of the soldier, "Stand up for the Seven Stars"
They drew their swords in the moonlight
Gleaming now in the starlight
Sharp against the torchlight
To-roo it stirred their hearts
 
W'out a word from the Witch King, up they surged like the tide.
At the tower they threw them, shrieking their curse to the sky.
They hurled their ram at the gate, meaning to batter it wide.
Hate and rage in the midnight
Raging against the starlight
Battle waged in the firelight
"Death!" their hatefilled cry
 
High upon the ramparts, shoulder to shoulder they stood
Fiercely surged the fighting, as they hurled their foemen down,
Off the mighty tower, shrieking down to the ground
Yet they held to the ramparts
Blood ran over the ramparts
Red were the stones of the ramparts
Still they held the ramparts, wet with their own red blood
 
Deathly still sat the horseman, Angmar's witch king grim
He stood upright in his stirrups, raising his fist to the night
"Slay them" whispered the witch king, hissing a commandment grim
Fear took the men on the tower
Fear shook the men in the tower
Fear mastered the men in the tower, and they fled into the night

With a roar of exulatation, the orcs and trolls burst in
They slew and they maimed and fought, 'til noone remained within
In through the gate rode the witch king, fear following like a cloud
"Burn it" hissed the fell king
Fire leaped in the moonlight
They broke its stones in the dying night
Amon Sul fell in dark night, while the Witch King looked on proud

He didn't come in the evening, he didn't come with the noon
He didn't come with the dawning, but after the rise of the moon
Down the darkling ribbon of road, winding o'er the moor
The soldiers came a marching
Marching, Marching
The soldiers came a marching, up to the farm house door

They said no word to the lady, but left their burden instead
They'd taken the soldier and wrapped him, hiding his long black hair
The soldier they took and they buried him, in his eternal bed
She buried her love in the starlight
Oh sweet love in the moonlight
She buried her love in the starlight, and wept in the darkness there

The wind is a river of darkness, sighing among the trees
The stars are ghostly glimmers, shining on wind-torn leaves
The road is a ribbon of moonlight, marching over the moor
Along it the soldier comes a-marching
Marching, Marching,
The soldier comes a-marching
Up to his old front door