"It was very close yesterday
I thought for sure they would break
But this attack that I have planned
A massive strike across open land
In the center they will break
But plan it well, everything's at stake
We'll hit 'em hard, not a silent gun
Before the infantry's begun
Execute it well, we risk everything
It's in God's hands now"

"General Lee, I must tell you straight
I believe this attack will fail
No 15,000 men ever made
Will overtake that ridge today
A mile charge over open ground
With Yankee cannon gunnin' us down"

"We do our duty, we do what we must
And in my plan you will trust"

Thousands die, on this day

"Execute it well, we risk everything
It's in God's hands now"

The rebel cannon break the silence
One-hundred fifty guns make up their cannonade
They must destroy the union center
Before the infantry can launch their grand assault

The Yankees are returning fire
The Earth shakes violently
In Washington D.C. Lincoln feels the Earth shake

What happens here this day
The fate of this nation
In the balance it will hang
Consumed with the pain
The courage of the blue
The valor of the grey
So very sad but true
Consumed with the pain

The Virginians are the chosen
In wait behind the trees on Seminary Ridge
Longstreet's slow to give the order
The lines emerge, a mile, 15,000 men

The charge begins in all its grandeur
To the copse of trees)
For many of these men, they know it is their last

The slaughter now ensues
Bodies fall like rain
They valiantly pursue
Yet doomed to remain
At the double quick they charge
The canister rips through them
To the mouth of hell they march
Glory, the only gain

"We're almost there my boys
I've never served with finer
We must push forward boys
And bayonet the Yankee tyrants
To the copse of trees we charge
To crush the union center
And when they turn and run
An open road leads us to freedom"

"It's over now, we are retreating
I never thought that we'd be beaten
All this blood is on my hands
The thousands dead due to my plan
I am responsible, all of it is my fault
I thought us invincible
Is this God's will after all?
I look across this blood soaked land
All this blood is on my hands
God forgive me, please forgive me
It's all my fault, the blood is on my hands"


Lyrics submitted by ricoetc

High Water Mark Lyrics as written by Jon Schaffer

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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High Water Mark song meanings
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13 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    I'm listening to this epic song right now. This made me want to read more about the American Civil War, and about USA history as a whole. Schaffer is a genius!

    CurseofFeanoron August 16, 2017   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is probably the most beutiful IE song I've ever heard. I love the emotion they put into this song, the classical elements of violin and the orchestra really accentuate the music, they make it much more emotional.

    psychoman364on May 18, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    To me, this song means Goodness

    maddoxon June 26, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Last part of the "Gettysburg Trilogy" tells the conclusion of the battle of Gettysburg.

    Pocket_Savioron November 06, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is about the thrid and final day of Gettysburg, one of the best damn songs I've ever heard

    DiBowfleXon December 22, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is about the tragic events that happened on the third day of Gettyburg. Also about how Lee felt so bad after he realized his mistake. The most beautiful and aweinspiring song i've ever heard

    IcedEarthisgodon May 04, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The part 4. "charge" is amazing . "His brigade, led from the front by Armistead, waving his hat from the tip of his sword, reached the stone wall at the "Angle", which served as the charge's objective. The brigade got farther in the charge than any other.."

    Durang0on December 28, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I was quite sceptical upon the departure of Matt and the introduction to the new singer, but MY GOD. Although Barlow is still my fav iced earth singer i have to admit, Ripper Owens does a HELL-OF-A-JOB on this one along with all the other tracks on the Glorious Burden. It's amazing how virtually 70% of metal bands these days just dumbfoundedly bark into a microphone about Satan, but Iced Earth has so much more depth; Sure on the occasion they belch and growl upon theology issues(which for them still isn't bad because i mean c'mon, ITS ICED FUCKING EARTH[they dont make mistakes haha] but for the most part each one of their song tells a different cpmplex and profound story.

    Also this song is about the Battle of Gettysburg and how Lee's plan failed . . . It's his intense and consuming guilt for such a huge downfall . . . great song . . . great lyrics . . . GREAT BAND!

    Phlegethonon May 22, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    and burn in hell "Loboparamilitary", this song, along with Iced Earth kicks ass . . . the musical composition is amazing and the lyrics are intensely beautiful . . . Even if i don;t like something i have sense enough to say it is well-composed and you know for a face it is so stifle your putrid mouth.

    Phlegethonon May 22, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    fact***

    Phlegethonon May 22, 2007   Link

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