[brianbc]

I have lived many lifetimes
I have sailed all known seas
you may seek my name now
but my tale first if you please

I noticed a birth take place
far across the ocean
and being tired of my same old games
A new game I set in motion

I first came to your shores in 1775
and waving battle streamers
I though to take this land in stride
but the cries went out
beginning with Paul Revere
and by mid '83
I had left possesing nothing here

This did not deter me
nor sway my ghost white steed
I mounted up and rode out
to further battle Liberty

By 1812 I was at it again
driving death before me
riding with my Red Coat friends
and they made a fair showing
but buckled swiftly under
the strenght of freedom loving men

By now you might think that I'd had enough
and my friends you may well have been right
for my luck had been rather rough
and many bruises I had come by in this fight

But not being one
to give over to defeat
I devised a new strategy
and set out to reap what I might reap

I arrived again in 1861
my colors now waving blue and grey
with a foul load of grapeshot
would fathers kill their sons

They ripped each other apart
and my pulse did quicken
oh sweet victory was mine I thought
but again I was mistaken

Though I reaped huge gains by mid '65
they saw the folly of their ways
and from my path did avert their eye

So I found this baby now become a boy
and though I had tried three times before
I could not persuade him with my toys

I saw another opportunity in April of '98
and upon the backs of sailors
another war I did propagate
but by now they could see my coming
and did not hesitate
with swift action and overwhelming force
my pawns did they annihilate

Well this would never do
I needed another angle
so from barbaric ashes
I raised a new death angel

In 19 and 14 did my angel fly
and in my old stomping grounds death rained from the sky
the angel was cunning and evil to the core
his ingenious weapons added much to the horrors of war
but Liberty once again raised her shining head
and the boy from across the sea
struck my angel dead

In all my history I had never seen
one such as this Liberty rightouse and clean
within my dark eyes
the sight of her had become obscene

I determined Liberty would die
and in mid '38
from the ashes of my lost angel
a great demon did I amalgamate

It's leathern wings spread
across the once bright Europe
seeding clouds of death
never before seen on this earth

I knew this time I would win the day
and although my old nemesis was now a man
by cleaver maneuvering
I had made him stay his hand

So my demon raged
and rose up lesser tyrants
but one of these forgot his place
and woke the sleeping giant

Oh that the lesser tyrant had served his master
in all that was instructed
for the giant had harnessed the stars
and drove them down upon him in brilliant destruction
and seeing the end before this
the great demon upon his own sword had thrusted

Still I sit and I contemplate
that beam of light
that liberty shines from her shores
I have sent few messengers
since the war to end all wars

I now play a different game
the one I played with great Rome before
now I will lull them to sleep
before I loose the great whore

And this time friends
as history will attest
by doing nothing
I will most likely do my best

And Liberty shall not see my coming
dreaming of past glories
fed by self indulgence
corrupted by passionless men

She will no longer know my name
I am the great enemy of Liberty
I am dark Tyranny