They were the plucky Warwickshire's from the borders of South Wales;
On the good ship H.M.S. Himalaya off to Africa set sail.
To fight for their queen and their country and a British plan
To spread their ever growing royal empire into Zululand.
They crossed over the Buffalo River, they were near 5,000 strong
Defeated chief Sihayo's warriors as they blazed along;
Pitched their tents at Isandlwana, all defenses down and open wide
Confident that they would overcome the rampant Zulu tide.
Isandlwana! Isandlwana! Your peak is standing in the sky
Like a lion crouching over the killing fields where soldiers
And mighty Zulu warriors came to die.
Thinking that the Zulu enemy from Ulundi they would come.
Chelmsford then took more than half his men
To seek them out and take them on.
That night looked like the enemy fires were glowing in the south;
Come morning 25,000 Zulus came down from the north.
They swept around Isandlwana at a rhythmic throbbing run
With feathered plumes and shields and spears a-shining in the sun.
Firing volley after volley, British bullets could not stem
The bravery and power of those Zulu Fighting men.
Isandlwana! Isandlwana! Your peak is standing in the sky
Like a lion crouching over the killing fields where soldiers
And mighty Zulu warriors came to die.
Side by side and shoulder to shoulder the British held their ground.
They fell and died where they were standing with carnage all around.
Running down the fugitive's trail, survivors they tried to go
Only to be slaughtered or to drown in the swirling river Buffalo.
More than thirteen hundred of the queen's fine men
Were killed that tragic morn.
Near a thousand valiant Zulu warriors perished in a swarm.
Some fleeing horsemen they escaped but the Zulu pride was won.
For many years the bones lay bleached and white out in the sun.
Isandlwana! Isandlwana! Your peak is standing in the sky
Like a lion crouching over the killing fields where soldiers
And mighty Zulu warriors came to die.