Lyrics

Here they come now under blazing sun now
The first of them come to the field
Three columns come on, over four thousand strong
"Let them come anyhow", we'll not yield

A thin British line, we're a force in our prime
Commanded by old Daddy Hill
The two forces meet, see the French in retreat
From a volley that shatters their will


Let them know what we did here
We who defeated a King here
Let them know how we fought, let them know how we bled
Let them know how we stood and our enemies fled
Let them know what we did
At Talavera

There's more yet in store, hear the batteries roar
Napoleon's beautiful daughters
See the men torn apart, we will not lose our hearts
We will stand firm in spite of the slaughter

The French are not done, thirty thousand now come
Advancing to sweep us away
Though our fire drives them back, Sherbrooke's counter attack
Swiftly turns to disaster may cost us the day

There's chaos in the centre, where the Frenchmen make us pay
The gallant First division cut to pieces in the fray
The cavalry charge to the North, met by unbroken square
Marshal Jourdan sees his chance, there’s not a moment left to spare

They think they have won, General Wellesley's not done
He sends in the brave 48th
They stand and they fight till the cavalry strike
And we watch as the French army breaks

1809, when a disciplined line
Cause King Joseph to turn and to flee
Over twelve thousand lost, it's the terrible cost
That we pay for a great victory