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 So he went for a walk in the high street

Took his coat off and rolled up his sleeves

He thought of his father and his father before him

And how he was the first one to leave Well, he didn't come here for forgiveness

There isn't a lot they can say

'Cause I remember the reasons he first ran away He's a rebel, just a rebel

Got his back to the wall

Gonna fight 'til he falls

He's a rebel Don't ever look back, don't surrender

The old men say they've seen it before

Oh, they drink their beer and they talk about friends

Who didn't come back from the war Don't say he's too young to remember

Don't tell him what's wrong or what's right

Just give him a chance to get 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'

Don't stand in my way

There's nothin' left for me here

Gonna run, run away In the morning he walks past the old house

In the rain under gray northern sky

There's a new coat of paint on the front garden gate

But there's more there than first meets the eye For a moment he stands undecided

Looking back on the days of his youth

As two worlds collide in a moment of truth He's a rebel