| He made his way back to the old town
|
| And everything looked just the same
|
| The shops and the schools and the factories were there
|
| But somehow the faces had changed
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| So he went for a walk in the high street
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| Took his coat off and rolled up his sleeves
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| He thought of his father and his father before him
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| And how he was the first one to leave
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| Well he didn’t come here for forgiveness
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| There isn’t a lot they can say
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| 'Cause I remember the reasons he first ran away
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| He’s a rebel
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| Just a rebel
|
| Got his back to the wall
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| Gonna fight 'til he falls
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| He’s a rebel
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| Don’t ever look back — don’t surrender
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| The old men say they’ve seen it before
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| Oh they drink their beer and they talk about friends
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| Who didn’t come back from the war
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| Don’t say he’s too young to remember
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| Don’t tell him what’s wrong or what’s right
|
| Just give him a chance to go out there and fight
|
| He’s a rebel
|
| Just a rebel
|
| All the battles are won
|
| But he’s still on the run
|
| He’s a rebel
|
| When it comes time for leavin'
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| Don’t stand in my way
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| There’s nothin' left for me here
|
| Gonna run, run away
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| In the morning he walks past the old house
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| In the rain under grey northern skies
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| There’s a new coat of paint on the front garden gate
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| But there’s more there than first meets the eye
|
| For a moment he stands undecided
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| Looking back on the days of his youth
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| As two worlds collide in a moment of truth
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| He’s a rebel |