When I become a man, will the rivers know my name?
When I become a man, will ye love me just the same?
When the stars shine in yer bonnie eyes and I can’t look away
When I become a man, will ye remember me this way?

The battle din is over, see the drawbridge rolling down
The king stands in the turret, the queen and court surround
While the townsfolk wander worriedly and wonder
Who’ll return
In dying light with torches bright, the truth they soon
Will learn.

When I become a man, will the rivers know my name?
When I become a man, will ye love me just the same?
When the stars shine in yer bonnie eyes and I can’t look away
When I become a man, will ye remember me this way?

Finally in the distance faint horses hooves are heard
Bright torches light the hillside, the crier shouts the word
As one thousand men come marching home, their armor
Bloody-dull
The strong survive to keep alive the future for them all.

When I become a man, will the rivers know my name?
When I become a man, will ye love me just the same?
When the stars shine in yer bonnie eyes and I can’t look away
When I become a man, will ye remember me this way?

A boy looks to his father to help him be a man
But from his mother comes the love he cannot show the clan.
When at last one day he goes away with battles to be won
His warrior heart will not depart from her who calls him son.

When I become a man, will the rivers know my name?
When I become a man, will ye love me just the same?
When the stars shine in yer bonnie eyes and I can’t look away
When I become a man, will ye remember me this way?
When I become a man, will ye remember me today?