A long time ago in a place far away
A battle was fought on a very cold day
The cold was a killer, the men they fought hard
Their hands were all frozen, their faces all scarred
The landscape was foreign, positions were locked
Some men were bleeding while others, others were shocked

Destruction and death were the rules of the game
Those who lived through it were never the same
As many lay dying, their futures forsaken
The generals were happy, as the trenches were taken
The men who were in them, just prayed for it to stop
As the generals ordered them over, "OVER THE TOP!"

Take a deep breath, a last look at the sky
It's not so easy, when you know you must die
Illusions were shattered, with tears of despair
Death and derision of man filled the air
Freedom of choice had gone with the wind
And those that deserted were shot, shot for their sin

How could they lose, they were so full of courage?
How could they lose, they were so full of love?
How could they lose, as they fought for their country?
How could they lose, as they fought for the dove?
As they fought for the dove
As they fought for their love
As they died for God above!

They prayed for an end to the shooting and bombs
They prayed to our God, they thought of their mums
Some found religion, some lost it too
And they all knew the stories from hell had come true
This time mankind had really done his worst
This was the war that was known, known as the first

And when it was over, the killing was done
The men could look up and again see the sun
Soon the land healed and the people grew wheat
And people forgot the times when bread was a treat
The lucky survivors went home to their friends
While the generals planned to go through it, it all again

How could they lose, they were so full of courage?
How could they lose, they were so full of love?
How could they lose, as they fought for their country?
How could they lose, as they fought for the dove?
As they fought for the dove
As they fought for their love
As they died for God above!