Crimson Veldt

(Verse 1) Dawn breaks, a bloody stain on the veldt's embrace Another charge, another day, another grim-faced race Against the Mauser's crack and spit, the whistle and the whine Another yard of sun-scorched earth we claim as ours, and die. (Chorus) Oh, the dust and the heat, a thirst I cannot quench But the Queen commands, and forward we must wrench Our bodies, weary, broken, spirits near the brink Another brother falls, another life to think. (Verse 2) Sergeant, they called me, stripes upon my sleeve But what good is rank when all around you grieve? Young Tommy, barely a man, a bullet in his side Whispered for his mum, and then lay down and died. (Chorus) Oh, the dust and the heat, a thirst I cannot quench But the Queen commands, and forward we must wrench Our bodies, weary, broken, spirits near the brink Another brother falls, another life to think. (Bridge) Then a searing pain, a crimson stain blooms wide I stumble, fall, the world spins, fades outside The buzzing flies, the vultures circle high above Another soul to claim, another casualty of love? (Verse 3) But wait, what's this? A whisper on the breeze The sound of marching feet, a moment's sense of ease Through the haze I see them, lads I knew before Their faces calm, serene, untouched by war. (Chorus) No more dust, no more heat, my thirst is finally gone The battle's done, the victory won, a new day has begun Our bodies whole, our spirits free, no longer on the brink We march together, side by side, no more time to think. (Outro) They stop beside me, a gap within their line A silent invitation, a sign, a place for me to shine I rise, join their ranks, feel the warmth of their embrace And together we march on, towards that peaceful, distant place.