Shiroyama

Shiroyama

This is a piano cover of “Shiroyama” by Sabaton, a song about the Battle of Shiroyama which took place on September 24, 1877 in Kagoshima, Japan. It was the final battle of the Satsuma Rebellion, where the heavily outnumbered samurai under Saigō Takamori made their last stand against Imperial Japanese Army troops, commanded by General Yamagata Aritomo and Admiral Kawamura Sumiyoshi. The battle culminated in the annihilation of Saigō and his army, marking the end of the Satsuma Rebellion. The Imperial Army’s victory consolidated their power, and the Satsuma Rebellion was the last instance of internal mutiny seen in the Empire of Japan.

Lyrics

It’s the nature of time
That the old ways must give in
It’s the nature of time
That the new ways comes in sin
When the new meets the old
It always end the ancient ways
And as history told
The old ways go out in a blaze
Encircled by a vulture
The end of ancient culture
The dawn of destiny draws near

Imperial force defied, facing 500 samurai
Surrounded and outnumbered
60 to 1, the sword face the gun
Bushido dignified
It’s the last stand of the samurai
Surrounded and outnumbered

As a new age begins
The way of the warrior comes to an end
As a new age begins
The ways of the old must apprehend
It’s the nature of time
That the old ways must give in
It’s the nature of time
That the new ways comes in sin
An offer of surrender
Saigo ignore contender
The dawn of destiny is here

Imperial force defied, facing 500 samurai
Surrounded and outnumbered
60 to 1, the sword face the gun
Bushido dignified
It’s the last stand of the samurai
Surrounded and outnumbered

Until the dawn they hold on
Only 40 are left at the end
None alive, none survive
Shiroyama

Imperial force defied, facing 500 samurai
Surrounded and outnumbered
60 to 1 the sword face the gun
Bushido dignified
It’s the last stand of the samurai
Surrounded and outnumbered
60 to 1, facing the gun
60 to 1, culture undone

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