This Metal Tuesday, I present the song that got me into power metal – Manowar’s Defender. A friend of mine had the Fighting the World cassette tape (yes, it was that long ago) and we wore it down listening to this song.

This was the first metal song I heard that had the fantasy elements that would help come to define the genre.

I’m no longer the fan of Manowar that I once was, but I still listen to some of their early stuff and remember fondly of a boy sitting around with his friends in rapt attention to the music coming out of the tape deck.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh48nWUQ_OY

Lyrics

When you are old enough to read this words
Their meaning will unfold
These words all that’s left
And though we’ve never meet, my only son
I hope you know
That I would have been there to watch you grow
But my call was heard and I had to go
Now your mission lies ahead of you
As it did mine, so long ago
To help the helpless ones, who all look up to you
And to defend them to the end
Defender
Ride like the wind
Fight proud, my son
You’re the Defender
God has sent

Father, father, father
I look up to you
I heed thy call

This letter ends my search
I’ll live your dream
Now passed on to me
And I now wait, to shake the hand of fate
Like the dusk awaiting dawn

So wizards cast your spell
With no heart to do me well
So it’s written,it shall be

Defender
Ride like the wind
Fight proud, my son
You’re the defender
God has sent