We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

AFRICANVS

by Steelsong

/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $5 USD  or more

     

1.
50,000 men slaughtered at Cannae Encircled by Hannibal almost none escaped Our Punic foe from years ago advances once again Occupying Italia, it seems they’re closing in Survival is what we’re fighting for In this drastic war A son of Rome must arise Before we meet our demise He survived the slaughter, while so many men did fall But the young man never lost sight of victory at all Scipio, once in command would never lose again He’d see the seventeen-year war to its bloody end The final blow seems ever near The senate is consumed with fear How can the republic carry on? With so many leaders gone The testing of a power more than 500 years old From a tribe into an empire, laying mankind’s foundation stone One man stood determined to defend his family’s home Africanus faced destruction and he resurrected Rome The noble council sought surrender, their minds filled with despair But he stood forth and took command, naked gladius in the air “None of you shall desert! Now join me as I stand The forces of Carthage will be driven from our land! Heading for Iberia The Celtic chiefs would surrender Joining Scipio in his fight To defeat the Carthaginian blight After his father’s death, he took charge in Hispania, He landed at the Ebro, and took Carthago Nova The whole town put to the sword, with many more to come The three armies spread through this land will be cut down one by one DE SUPERISSIMIS HOSTIBVS TANTAS VICTORIAS ADIPISCETVR DVCTVS DE NVMINE SCIPIO REI PVBLICAE FATVM PROTEGET CVNCTOS INIMICOS DEVINCAT NVMQVAM NOMEN SVVS OBLITTERABITVR
2.
Heading inland seeking Hasdrubal With an army to settle the score To fight the man who brought his father’s death At the Baetis three years before Finding his prey south of Baecula On high ground behind river and ravine He split his army in to separate forces One advancing, and one unseen Scaling the hill under showering missiles His infantry closed the gap A pincer striking on either flank Surrounding the Carthaginian camp Hasdrubal eluded the trap In the face of defeat he pulled his men back Retreating to Gaul towards the mountain path Where his brother, years past, marched on the attack Hasdrubal escaped but his fate was sealed He made it through the Alps to be killed in the field Scipio, victorious was not complete Two more armies still awaited defeat News of Roman victory spread through the land Now came the chiefs of the Spanish clans To pledge their loyalty to Jupiter’s son Scipio’s Triumph was still to come SVVM PATREM AVVNCVLVMQVE VLTVS ADOLESCENS ACCESSIT SVVM FATVM TAM LVBRICVM NEQVE VMQVAM ERAT INFERIOR, OBVIAM MONSTRIS TVRPIBVS AFRICA, ET GREGIBVS EQVITVM NVMIDORVM IIT SVVM PRAEDAM TAMEN QVASSAVIT Mago fell beneath his heel Gisco too would be forced to kneel To the man with a mind sharper than steel Thousands tried to bring him down Thousands fell and hit the ground To the young avenger of his family and his home!
3.
Marching through Hispania, still on the hunt Mago and Hanno, both on the run Recruiting Iberians, but to no avail Marcus Silanus would see that they fail In the valley he found the two camps, The Hispanians rested with no defense The soldiers of Carthage rushed to protect them But gravely outnumbered they were slaughtered like beasts Hanno was captured, but Mago escaped For one more year he would live, but he only delayed his fate After Ilipa the tide of the war would forever change A brutal defeat by Jupiter’s son for him did await Rising early before the dawn Scipio’s men advanced with the sun No food in their bellies his enemy rushed into line But the Roman formation was different this time Standing for hours, waiting to pounce Their hungry opponents’ strength running out A charge on the flanks, slow advance at the center Even outnumbered he still was the victor
4.
After so long a treaty signed To bring peace and end the violent times 16 years of total war Hannibal now departing Latin shores Carthage blockaded and starved! It’s people defying the senate’s charge! Their conqueror coming back home They followed him to their doom A Roman ship blown off course Beached on the Carthaginian coast It’s hull full of food, begging the starving to seize its loot! The people had their way They seized the cargo, breaking the treaty Back to war with Rome, Hannibal against Scipio! A showdown on the African plains, The fields of Zama to be the stage Both sides bolstered by foreign aid The battle of the century 4,000 Greek hoplites! Philip gifting Carthage a great Phalanx They made the core of Hannibal’s line But the Numidians were no longer at his side 80 elephants on the charge! Did nothing to stop the Roman march! The once feared beasts of war, The Roman column did ignore Forward rode the cavalry, All but the Greeks they did flee, Bold they made their stand, Gaining death in foreign land! “HIC FINIS BELLO… MANSVRI COMPOS DECORIS PER SAECVLA RECTOR, DEVICTAE REFERENS PRIMVS COGNOMINA TERRAE, SECVRVS SCEPTRI, REPETIT PER CAERULA ROMAM ET PATRIA INVEHITVR SVBLIMI TECTA TRIUMPHO.” – PVNICA, Book XVII, Lines 618, 625-628
5.
A life of service A life of leadership  A man who commanded the fates His destiny was his to make A life dominated by war A life on campaign A man who defied what is possible One whose actions would change everything  A triumphant hero Honored with glory and a new name Betrayed by his country Banished to live and die so far away from home Abandoned by Rome! Jupiter's son! Departing for lands that his own skill had won! Blessed by the gods! Condemned by the people! A general with no equal! Abandoned by Rome, Jupiter's son! No more gratitude for all he had done! Blessed by the gods, condemned by the people!  A man with no equal! “INGRATA PATRIA, NE OSSA QVIDEM HABEBIS”

about

Concept record about Roman general Scipio Africanus

credits

released November 17, 2018

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Steelsong Los Angeles, California

contact / help

Contact Steelsong

Streaming and
Download help

Report this album or account

If you like Steelsong, you may also like: