Grave Digger - 1998
"Knights Of The Cross"
Track List:
 1. Deus to vult
 2. Knight of the Cross 
 3. Monks of war
 4. Heroes of this time 
 5. Fanatic Assassins
 6. Lionheart
 7. Keeper of the Holy Grail
 8. Inquisition
 9. Baphomet
10. Over the sea
11. The curse of Jacques
12. Battle of Bannockburn

Line-up:
Chris Boltendahl - vocals
Uwe Lulis - guitars
Stefan Arnold - drums
Jens Becker - bass

1. Deus to vult
+++++++++++++++
This is the fascinating tale of the Templars, probably the most powerful
and mysterious organisation of the Middle Ages. The Order of the Poor
Knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon originate from a group of nine
aristocrats, whose sole aim was the protection of the Holy Land from the
Saracens.
So, let us undertake a journey into the past, back to the origin, rise
and fall of the Order of the Templars.
A journey, which will lead us to the legendary world of the Knights of the
Cross.


2. Knight of the Cross
++++++++++++++++++++++
It is the end, of the eleventh century
The Christians rule
Europian countries
The Pope is the head of church
Representing God on earth
His words are the law
His mind is set on war
In the name of God they kill
In the name of God they rape
Blood leads to glory - for God's sake
Knights, knights of the cross
Murder, murder
Fight to defend Jerusalem
From the unholy devils
Pope and priests cry out for holy war
God and Jesus they think to be fighting for
The Islam conquered Byzanz
Slaughter Christians everywhere
Knights of the Cross invade the East
Whrer the Islam dwells
Knights in the name of
God, stab women and men
Burning, raping, eating human flesh
Satanic bloodlust in their eyes
The first crusade is won
The knights realize too late
Their ankles are covered with Christian blood


3. Monks of war
+++++++++++++++
Knights of the Cross
Winners of the battle
The Christians rule the Holy land
In the East they settle Hugo de Payens
A frenchman and duke
Promises the King of Jerusalem
To escort the piligrim route
We are the monks
Protectors of God
A legend is born
Worship the Lord
Monks of war
Killers in the East
Monks of war
Killers or priests
The Order explands
Thousands prepare
To wearing the cross in red
To holy Warfare
The poor and the rich
Kings and queens
Giving money giving gold
Hugo de Payens means
Pope and priests
Patronize the Order
And they regard them
As heroes of this time


4. Heroes of this time
++++++++++++++++++++++
Now the time has come
The pagans are finally gone
Jerusalem in Christian hands
The Templars raise their banners
Innozenz gives them their benediction
Epic songs all over the land
Knights of the Cross die for religion
Death in action brings the Promised Land
Heroes of this time
In their honour
Church bells never
Cease to chime
Heroes of this time
Paradise comes
When blood flows
Like wine
Martyrs made of steel
Longing for God to reveal
Outremer deadly holy ground
Lives are lost, celestial bliss found
In the middle of the twelfth century
Their glamorous empire starts to crumble
Fanatic assassins are seeking victory
King Saladins army starts to rumble


5. Fanatic Assassins
++++++++++++++++++++
I'm the old man of the mountainsleader of
Muslim warriors
I hand them the revelating pipe
Then they know the after-life
Wherever I order suicide
You will sucrifice
Jump, jump off the wall
Allah will receive you all
Fanatic assassins
Fanatic assassins
You are my war machines
Your minds painted blood-red
I'll wash your souls so white
Invincible in any fight


6. Lionheart
++++++++++++
Fiery red curls cover his shoulder
He's the ruler, no one is bolder
His steel - blue eyes won't show no fear
Reflecting the suffering of war so clear
A knight, a leader, wearing England's crown
Richard the Lionheart wants to put the Moslems down
He sets the sail, heading Outremer
Defending the name he bears
A man like a Lion
With a generous heart
For his sake thousands die
Lionheart - England's Pride
Lionheart
Almighty king
Freedom you'll
Bring
Lionheart
Spread your wings
King pf the kings
King Philipp at his side and many knights
Overcome the Islam, souls painted white
He executes all prisoners, without regret
Corpses cover the ground as the sun sets
Akkon has fallen into Richard's hands
Still war on his mind, moving to France
In one fatal moment came the end of his quest
Breathing his last with an arrow in his chest


7. Keeper of the Holy Grail
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Grail is veiled in mystery
Ancient books of history
At Last Supper with his discipleship
Jesus raised it to his lips
And when Christ was crucified
A lance was stabbed in his side
The Grail collected the pouring blood
Thus blessed by the Son of God
A cup of gold a sacred stone heaven choose
The keeper of the Holy Grail magic force
Heaven chose the keeper of the Holy Grail
Someone knows who's the one
The keeper of the Holy Grail templar knights
Know the hide heaven chose
The keeper of thr Holy Grail

The Grail donates eternal life
Initiated are kept from strife
The sick are healed
A shelter and a shield
Youth will last forever
But there is no use to endeavour
To be one of the elected
Because only a few have been celected


8. Inquisition
++++++++++++++
A bloody Friday October 13th
Inquisition takes its course
King Philipp's armed force
Templars are blamed for conjuration
They are said to be heretics
And coursed by the catholics
Because they didn't save Jerusalem
Are you the one
Who's into blasphemy
You better run
Escape from agony
Are you the one
Believing in Baphomet
Make your confession
And you will be free
Seeking the hidden treasures
The Pope is taking measures
Persecution spreads all over Europe


9. Baphomet
+++++++++++
In the dark of the night
Behind the walls
They say that we worship an idol
Behind the walls
A devil in disguise
An unholy cat
But it's a secret
We keep until we are dead
We all believe in Baphomet
We believe in what we see
Your disciples,
Belong the thee
Building up our strength
Behind the walls
They accuse us of a bloody sacrilege
Behind the walls
We would never betray
The one we adore
Yours are our lives
We sacrifice it in war


10. Over the sea
++++++++++++++++
The Order's end is near
Templars flee filled with fear
Heretics, homosexuals and magicians
To be exterminated by the inquisition
The order of Pope and King
Lets them leave behind everything
The fleet is ready, ready to sail
No one knows its destination
Gathering all the victims
Victims of persecution
In quest of a better world without hate without deadly peril
Over the sea
And far, far away
Over the sea
Into the night they flee
Many Templars succeeded to escape from the Christian hate
They found their peace in Scotland
Since Robert the Bruce was banned
When he stabbed Comyn in a church
Giving the Order shelter in the Highlands


11. The curse of Jacques
++++++++++++++++++++++++
You say that we sold our soul to the devil, that we're out of control
Your torture my brothers, torture my sisters, kill all friends
You say that we worship a god, like a cat, a devil in disguise
You execute my family, steal their breath, and burn them till death
I'm burning, I'm dying,
I'm burning, I'm dying,
Oh Lord, won't you help me
I'm burning, I'm dying,
When I feel my end is near
When I feel the reaper's here
Crackling fire I can hear
When I feel my end is near
When I feel the reaper's here
I watch the demons
Dancing round my tears
I'm innocent - it's not true I never prayed
We will all be treated the same way at Doomsday
I curse Pope and King - you won't make it another year
The Last Judgement will decide who was wrong or who was right


12. Battle of Bannockburn
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
The wind lashed in our faces
The English found our traces
On moss-covered land
Scotland we defend
At Stirling bridge we try to last
But we fail to stand fast
Blood mingles with pouring rain
Writing tales of pain
Help - Else we will perish
Help - Else we will vanish
Look - Heaven's sign
Look - Ship's graceful lines
White knights appear
Silhouetted against the dark
In the battle of Bannockburn
The table turns
Few knights appear
But masters of the fight
In the battle of Bannockburn
The table turns
They draw their glaming swords
Two knights one horse
How they swing their flail
Ending the bloody tale
Just like a bad dream
English disappear in fog
Finally  - Victory
Highlanders' victory