Thermopylae Amidst the great deeds of Xerxes and his Greek foes All the valour of the second of the Persian wars Stands out a single battle as the most heroic The defence of a mountain pass by a Spartan force A strategic error left several hundred Spartan men Surrounded by an overwhelming Persian might For two days they managed to hold on to the pass Led by king Leonidas to the last man they did fight Thermopylae [4x] The Spartans were exceptional in their courage Whatever number their foe they would not retreat With hearts of steel and incredible battle prowess They managed to achieve such an amazing feat Even though the Spartans lost this great battle Time was gained for the Greek armies and fleet The progress of the vast Persian army was halted And the Greeks were prepared their foe to meet Thermopylae [4x] At Salamis the Persian fleet was largely sunk And at Plataea the Greek army proved the best It was the beginning of the empire's downfall Establishing the Greek dominance of the west