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To Take the Black Lyrics
Cast out from the lands of their births
Banished from hearth and home
All brothers must swear the oath
Forsaking all they've ever known
If you choose to take the black
Bid farewell to comforts great and small
Those who do, don't come back
Prepare yourself for life on the wall
Night gathers and the watch begins
The wind carries an unnatural chill
There are things beyond the northern borders
Mere steel can't kill
Men who choose to take the black
Rogues and rangers, one and all
Those who do, won't come back
Prepare yourself for life on the wall
Banished from hearth and home
All brothers must swear the oath
Forsaking all they've ever known
Bid farewell to comforts great and small
Those who do, don't come back
Prepare yourself for life on the wall
The wind carries an unnatural chill
There are things beyond the northern borders
Mere steel can't kill
Rogues and rangers, one and all
Those who do, won't come back
Prepare yourself for life on the wall
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This song refers to the Night's Watch, a group from George R. R. Martin's fantasy series "A Song Of Ice And Fire".
They are a group of soldiers who live in garrisons along The Wall, which is a giant series of castles and walls seperating the wilderness of the north from the inhabited lands of the south.
To "take the black" is a term for joining the Night's Watch, as they always wear black from head-to-toe, and most of the people who take the black are exiles or criminals, "cast out from the lands of their births".
They must swear an oath of duty when joining the Watch, and must stay on The Wall forever. It is a dangerous duty and many people try to escape The Wall, as there are rumours of undead, magical creatures in the forests of the north.
The power metal band Hammerfall made a song called "Take The Black" too, which is also about joining the Night's Watch.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night%27s_Watch
Yeah, definitely the Night's watch. I love the riff in between the sung verses. Very catchy.