Race To The Sea – English Lyrics

• By: Sabaton
• Album: The War To End All Wars

Lyrics & Translation

Learn about a pivotal moment in World War I history through the powerful and melodic storytelling of Sabaton's "Race To The Sea." This song offers a unique opportunity to understand the desperation, courage, and strategic thinking that defined the Battle of the Yser. It's a testament to the resilience of a nation and its king, fighting to preserve their freedom against all odds.

[English]

We're keeping the kingdom free

As an archduke falls and the battle horn calls

Our lives would never be the same

We were looking down the barrel of a gun

Now the war has come and the battle's begun

We are desperate and overrun

To the war drum we'll be marching until it's done

Lead the way, we will follow into the fray

We will hold the line we will not be led astray

For king and for country, we are flooding the river

Our stand at Yser will be, the end of the race to the sea

The last piece of Belgium is free, we're keeping a sliver

A cog in the war machine, October of 1914

As our foe draws forth we are moving on north

We will never let them have it all

There's a price for freedom paid by Belgiums sons

They may take our towns, they may conquer our grounds

We'll defend the nation and the crown

We'll uphold our independence with our guns

All the way, on to triumph or to judgement day

We will follow and we will not be led astray

For king and for country, we are flooding the river

Our stand at Yser will be, the end of the race to the sea

The last piece of Belgium is free, we're keeping a sliver

A cog in the war machine, October of 1914

...

See a king and a soldier, fighting shoulder to shoulder

See a king and a soldier, fighting shoulder to shoulder

He overruled his commanders, he made a last stand in Flanders

We see our king and a soldier, they're fighting shoulder to shoulder

To keep the last piece of Belgium free

All the way, on to triumph or to judgement day

We will follow and we will not be led astray

For king and for country, we are flooding the river

Our stand at Yser will be, the end of the race to the sea

The last piece of Belgium is free, we're keeping a sliver

A cog in the war machine, October of 1914

For king and for country, we are flooding the river

Our stand at Yser will be, the end of the race to the sea

We're free

For king and for country we are flooding the river

No more of our country lost, the line will be held at all cost

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
king /kɪŋ/ A2	noun - the male ruler of a country
battle /ˈbæt.l̩/ B1	noun - a fight or war between armed forces
war /wɔːr/ A2	noun - a state of armed conflict
line /laɪn/ A1	noun - a long narrow mark or band
fight /faɪt/ A2	verb - to use physical force against someone noun - a physical conflict
crown /kraʊn/ B2	noun - a circular ornamental headdress worn by a monarch
river /ˈrɪv.ər/ A2	noun - a large natural stream of water
machine /məˈʃiːn/ B1	noun - a device that uses energy to perform a task
foe /foʊ/ B2	noun - an enemy or opponent
stand /stænd/ A2	noun - a position or stance for supporting or displaying something verb - to remain upright or in a specific position
march /mɑːrtʃ/ B1	verb - to walk steadily in a set rhythm noun - a coordinated march
overrun /ˌoʊ.vəˈrʌn/ C1	verb - to spread over or occupy completely