Recruited in ancient Gallia, sole foreign legion Their status quite apart, remaining gauls at heart Legio quinta alaudae, named after the solitary Gallic lark And their crested gaulish helmets, their destiny oblivious and dark
Legio quinta alaudae named after the solitary Gallic lark And their crested gaulish helmets, their destiny oblivious and dark Oh legio quinta alaudae Thou ancient Gallic larks
Onwards into legend, then perished Into oblivion thou marched
Punished for their loyalty by a usurper, alaudae promptly revolted against Rome For in their Gallic minds, their oath sacred, regardless the old emperor's fall On their shields, a war elephant, a symbol of bravery, the 5th had won For fighting war elephants, first in line, under a burning, African sun
In the year of 86, the legion met their doom At the battle of tapae, 5000 went down in gloom
Their standard and all men perished, on the legion list so did their name Thus was the end of the larks, now only in legend they reign
Oh legio quinta alaudae Thou ancient Gallic larks
Onwards into legend, then perished Into oblivion thou marched Oh legio quinta gallica, in Colonia, a tombstone remains