Lyrics of Blood of Bannockburn by Sabaton
Now that our time has come to fight
Scotland must unite
We´ll make a stand on Stirling ground
To put a challenge to the crown
We are one, we have come
We´re here to break and end the occupation
We have our nation’s fate in hand
It’s time we make our final stand
Rally all the clans
Englishmen advance
Blood of Bannockburn
Point of no return
Join the Scottish revolution
Freedom must be won by blood
Now we call for revolution
Play the pipes and cry out loud
We need a king to rule our land
Bruce is in command
It is the crown that’s in his sight
And it´s the reason we will fight
To attack, send them back
And then we´ll see to Bruce’s coronation
We are the Scots with pikes in hand
And we will die to claim our land
Rallied all the clans
Halted English plans
Charge of Bannockburn
Freedom we shall earn
And as the hammer lost its crown
And a weak heir to succeed it
Play the tunes of victory
Play them higher and higher tonight
Wallace showed the way
Led us to this day
Here at Bannockburn
Freedom we have earned
Historical Background
In short: The song is about the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 and Scotland’s independence.
Blood of Bannockburn – Scotland’s Fight for Freedom
Some battles are about land. Others are about legacy.
Sabaton’s Blood of Bannockburn isn’t just another war song—it’s a battle cry. It takes us straight to 1314, where Scotland, after years of English occupation, finally fought for its independence—and won.
This is the Battle of Bannockburn, where Robert the Bruce and his outnumbered Scots crushed the English army and changed history forever.
The Road to War – Scotland Under English Rule
For decades, Scotland had been under the boot of the English crown. Kings came and went, but Edward I (“The Hammer of the Scots”) made sure Scotland stayed a vassal state.
Then came William Wallace—a warrior who showed Scotland that freedom was worth fighting for.
“Wallace showed the way, led us to this day.”
Wallace’s rebellion inspired a nation, but he was captured and executed in 1305.
With Wallace gone, Scotland needed a new leader.
That man was Robert the Bruce.
The Battle of Bannockburn – Scotland Strikes Back
By 1314, Bruce had reclaimed most of Scotland, but the English still held key castles—including Stirling Castle. The English king, Edward II, sent a 25,000-man army to crush the Scots once and for all.
Bruce? He had no intention of running.
“Now that our time has come to fight, Scotland must unite!”
With only 6,000 Scots, he prepared for battle. His strategy? Use the terrain, force the English into a trap, and make them fight on his terms.
“We have our nation’s fate in hand, it’s time we make our final stand!”
And on June 23-24, 1314, the battle began.
The Battle – How the Scots Broke an Empire
“Join the Scottish revolution, freedom must be won by blood!”
The Scots used pike formations—tight groups of spearmen who blocked cavalry charges and trapped English forces in the marshes.
- The English charged, expecting an easy victory—but found themselves stuck in mud and chaos.
- The Scottish pikes ripped through the knights, while archers rained death from the hills.
- The English were pushed back, broken, and slaughtered.
By the end of the battle, thousands of English troops lay dead—and Edward II fled the battlefield in disgrace.
“Rally all the clans, Englishmen advance—Blood of Bannockburn, point of no return!”
This wasn’t just a defeat. It was a statement.
Scotland was done being ruled by England.
The Aftermath – Scotland Wins Its Crown
“We need a king to rule our land, Bruce is in command!”
After Bannockburn, Bruce’s path to the throne was clear.
- In 1320, Scotland declared independence with the Declaration of Arbroath.
- In 1328, England finally recognized Scotland’s independence.
- Robert the Bruce became King of Scotland, fulfilling the dream Wallace died for.
“And as the hammer lost its crown… Freedom we have earned!”
Why Blood of Bannockburn Still Matters
This battle wasn’t just about a king. It was about a nation choosing its own fate.
- It proved that strategy beats numbers.
- It showed that freedom is never given—it’s taken.
- It made sure that Scotland would never be easily conquered again.
“Play the tunes of victory, play them higher and higher tonight!”
Bannockburn wasn’t just a battle.
It was the moment Scotland took its place in history.
The Lesson?
A small, determined force with a vision and the will to fight can take down even the most powerful empire.
Scotland refused to bow—and because of that, they won their freedom.
And today? The echoes of Bannockburn still ring loud.
Hear the song here: