Bittereinder, Bittereinder, my people are broken in three
Each one with his impression of the enemy's oppression
But a Bittereinder I will be

One burger was a joiner, a man of no possessions
Everything to gain but nothing to lose
Then he swore allegiance to the British legions
Riding with the Khakis was the life that he would choose

But another burger, he was a hensopper
Protection of his land was a promise from the crown
But the promise was in vain, he took up arms again
When they ravished his livestock and burnt his dwelling down

Bittereinder, Bittereinder, my nation's now scattered across the sea
Though we fought amongst each other
My brother's still my brother
So a Bittereinder I will be

Could not live beneath a standard on another shore I landed
It's a land across the ocean far away
But these hills are not my koppies, these folk are not my people
This plain is not my pasture and this swamp is not my vlei

But the years they have been flying, memories of the dead and dying
Are fixed in my mind but the bitterness is gone
Now my land is once more mine, it's really healer they call time
The winners have lost and the losers have now won

Bittereinder, Bittereinder, this nation is now made up of four
Reconciliation is what will build a nation
So Bittereinder no more

Bittereinder, Bittereinder, this nation is now made up of four
Reconciliation is what will build a nation
So Bittereinder no more