The Clansman

"The Clansman" is the fourth track on Iron Maiden's 1998 studio album Virtual XI. It was written by bassist Steve Harris, and was inspired by the film Braveheart. Live versions of the song with Bruce Dickinson on vocals appear on the albums Rock in Rio and Nights of the Dead: Live in Mexico City.

Lyrics
Wake alone in the hills With the wind in your face It feels good to be proud And be free and a race That is part of a clan And to live on highlands And the air that you breathe So pure and so clean

When alone on the hills With the wind in your hair With a longing to feel Just to be free

It is right to believe In the need to be free It's a time when you die And without asking why Can't you see what they do They are grinding us down They are taking our land That belongs to the clans

Not alone with a dream Just a want to be free With a need to belong I am a clansman...

Freedom (4x)

It's a time wrough with fear It's a land wrough with change Ancestors could hear What is happening now They would turn in their graves They would all be ashamed That the land of the free Has been written in chains

And I know what I want When the timing is right Then I'll take what is mine I am the clansman

And I swear to defend And we'll fight to the end And I swear that I'll never Be taken alive And I know that we'll stand And we'll fight for our land And I swear that my bairns Will be born free

And I know what I want When the timing is right Then I'll take what I want I am the clansman...

Freedom (2x)

[x2] No, no we can't let them take anymore No we can't let them take anymore We've the land of the free

No, no we can't let them take anymore No we can't let them take anymore No we can't let them take anymore We've the land of the free

Oh, oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh Oh, oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh Oh, oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh

Freedom (4x)

It is right to believe In the need to be free It's a time when you die And without asking why Can't you see what they do They are grinding us down They are taking our land That belongs to the clans

Not alone with a dream Just a want to be free With a need to belong I am a clansman...

And I know what I want When the timing is right Then I'll take what is mine I am the clansman...

Freedom (4x)

And I know what I want When the timing is right Then I'll take what is mine I am the clansman...