Lyrics of Cliffs of Gallipoli by Sabaton
Hear them whisper
Voices from the other side
Hear them calling
Former foes now friends are resting side by side
They will never
Leave our hearts or fade away
Live forever
They were far too young to die in such a way
How many wasted lives?
How many dreams did fade away?
Broken promises, they won’t be coming home
Oh, mothers wipe your tears
Your sons will rest a million years
Found their peace at last
As foe turned to friend and forgive
And they knew they’d die
Gallipoli
Left their letters in the sand
Such waste of life, Gallipoli
Dreams of freedom turned to dust
Hell is waiting
Where the ocean meets the sand
Cliffs of burden
Where the soldiers rushed into a certain death
At the shoreline
Blood of heroes stains the land
Light a candle
One for each of them who fought and died in vain
There is no enemy, there is no victory
Only boys who lost their lives in the sand
Young men were sacrificed
Their names are carved in stone and kept alive
And forever we will honour the memory of them
And they knew they would die
Gallipoli
Left their letters in the sand
Such waste of life, Gallipoli
Dreams of freedom turned to dust
How many wasted lives?
How many dreams did fade away?
Broken promises, they won’t be coming home
Oh, mothers wipe your tears
Your sons will rest a million years
Found their peace at last
As foe turned to friend and forgive
And they knew they would die
Gallipoli
Left their letters in the sand
Such waste of life, Gallipoli
Dreams of freedom turned to dust
Historical Background
In short: The song is about the British Gallipoli campaign in 1915 and 1916 of World War I.
Gallipoli – The Tragedy That Shaped Nations
Some battles change borders. Others change history. But the Gallipoli Campaign (1915-1916)?
It changed the way war was remembered.
Sabaton’s Gallipoli isn’t just about a failed military operation—it’s about wasted lives, shattered dreams, and enemies who became brothers in death. Let’s break down the brutal reality of one of World War I’s greatest disasters—the Gallipoli campaign.
The Plan – A Gamble That Turned Into a Nightmare
By 1915, World War I was locked in a brutal stalemate. The Western Front was a bloodbath, and the Allies were desperate for a breakthrough. British leaders—especially Winston Churchill—believed they had a solution: attack the Ottoman Empire and open a new front.
“Dreams of freedom turned to dust.”
The plan was ambitious. The Allies wanted to:
- Land troops on the Gallipoli Peninsula, seize it, and push toward Constantinople (Istanbul).
- Knock the Ottoman Empire out of the war.
- Open a supply route to Russia, keeping their Eastern Front alive.
It sounded good on paper. But in reality?
It was a disaster from the start.
The Landings – Walking Into Hell
“Hell is waiting, where the ocean meets the sand.”
On April 25, 1915, British, Australian, New Zealand, and French troops stormed the beaches of Gallipoli. They expected a quick victory.
Instead, they found death waiting for them.
- The Ottomans, led by Mustafa Kemal (Atatürk), were ready.
- The beaches were heavily defended with machine guns, trenches, and artillery.
- The troops landed in the wrong places, facing steep cliffs and impossible terrain.
- Soldiers were mowed down before they could even fire a shot.
“Cliffs of burden, where the soldiers rushed into a certain death.”
It was suicide warfare, but the attacks kept coming.
Months of Horror – A War of Attrition
The fast victory never came. The Allies were trapped in brutal trench warfare, just like on the Western Front.
- Summer heat brought disease, corpses rotted in the open.
- Winters were freezing, soldiers lost fingers and toes to frostbite.
- Supplies ran low, morale collapsed, and no progress was made.
“There is no enemy, there is no victory, only boys who lost their lives in the sand.”
By December 1915, the Allies had lost all hope. They evacuated—leaving behind tens of thousands of dead.
The Aftermath – A Battle That Defined Nations
“Left their letters in the sand, such waste of life, Gallipoli.”
Gallipoli was a military failure, but its impact was massive.
- For the Ottoman Empire, it was a rare victory—and launched Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s rise as a national hero.
- For Australia and New Zealand, it was a defining moment—the ANZAC spirit was born, and Gallipoli became a symbol of national identity.
- For Britain and France, it was a humiliating defeat—and Churchill was blamed, almost ending his career.
And for the soldiers?
“Hear them whisper, voices from the other side. Hear them calling, former foes now friends are resting side by side.”
Even today, ANZAC troops and Turkish soldiers are honored together, not as enemies, but as brothers in sacrifice.
Why Gallipoli Still Matters
Gallipoli wasn’t just a battle—it was a lesson in the cost of war.
- 120,000 men died—but nothing changed.
- It proved that glory in war is a lie—most soldiers never even saw the enemy before they were cut down.
- It showed that courage doesn’t always lead to victory, but it does create legends.
“And forever we will honour the memory of them.”
The Lesson?
Gallipoli was a war of hope, sacrifice, and tragedy.
Because in the end? All that remained were names carved in stone—and dreams buried in the sand.
Listen to the song here:
