Alchemists' motto rings strong and true
To protect all of the people, just like you
Every circle and line drawn in the sand
Every snap of the fingers, every clap of the hand
We do it for you, we bow down, we salute
The patriots we are, strong, resolute
This would be right and pure and sincere
It all sounds so perfect, so sweet to the ear
But this world's not a paradise, not an Eden
It's rough 'round the edges, not straight or even
People keep fighting and no longer trying
To uphold the motto that keeps you from dying
The tension between us, though we'd united
Was strong, so strong, it kept us divided
Efforts to dampen, to avoid a fight
A losing battle, no use to your plight
The order was done, finished, already decided
Soldiers were sent, all supplies provided
Skirmishes got ugly, things were more heated
You were ready, you would not be defeated
But neither would we, our soldiers clad blue
More of us came, our strong forces grew
Blue versus red, it was long seen ahead
Things got worse after that, hundreds dead
They observed from afar, the mad brass
And saw you as crude, uncivilized, and crass
When all along it was they, top of the kingdom
Exterminate you, take all of your freedom
It was cruel, it was evil, and even morose
And the end of the horror was not even close
Even for the brass, things were too slow
They wanted an end, not some drawn-out show
So then they decided, bring in the big guns
Alchemists brought, the state's daughters and sons
Many protested, said enough was enough
It wasn't humane, just meaningless rebuff
The days were hot, and the flames were hotter
We took all the food, deprived you of water
All was extreme, no medium, no mild
Every snap of my gloves killed someone's child
People were dead and burned every degree
I always say that it should have been me
The days dragged on, but the war ended quickly
All damage was done, the sight made me sickly
Protect, serve the people, what we had done
Could never be forgiven, not by all or by one
My return from the war was one of great shame
The Hero of Ishval - it was my new name
It was long, so long, before I found something new
Someone who had morals that rang strong and true
A brand new State Alchemist, gold hair, gold eyes
They called him Fullmetal, the people's prize
He had his own goal, and I also had mine
But he was still the new era, the future's gold shine
Alchemists' motto rings strong and true
To protect all of the people, just like you
Every circle and line drawn in the sand
Every snap of the fingers, every clap of the hand
We'll do it for you, we'll bow down, we'll salute
The patriots we'll be, soon strong, resolute