The river groaned, the ice was black
But still they marched, they won’t turn back
With frozen boots and rifles bare
They carried freedom’s final prayer

The Christmas night gave no reprieve
No firelight, no time to grieve
But Washington, with steel in breath
Wrote three sharp words: Victory or Death

Victory or death, no middle ground
No trumpet song, no glory sound
Just grit and frost and fading light
And one cold shot to win the fight

The Hessians slept, the town was still
But destiny had climbed the hill
They hit like ghosts through icy steam
A ragged line, a rebel dream

No polished boots, no polished plan
Just broken boys turned iron men
They struck before the dawn could rise
With fire burning in their eyes

Victory or death, no time to kneel
No crown to wear, just blood to feel
The flag was torn, the odds were wrong
But hope walked tall and hit like song

And in the clash of sword and scream
They carved a page, they sparked a dream
From Delaware to every street
The world would feel that heartbeat beat

Victory or death, the truth they chose
Through sleet and ash and winter’s blows
And when the morning cleared the breath
They lived those words: Victory — not death

Three words in ink… that changed the war
Written cold — but burned evermore