| Avenged Sevenfold – Shepherd of Fire Lyrics | 10 years ago |
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Let me preface this my saying I am not at all religious, but I find that the song is cleverly written and poetic, which is why I'm so intrigued by it. I think the song is very clearly about the stereotypical nature associated with Satan. That is that Satan is a cast out of Heaven, and that in his -pride- he assumes he knows a better way. He devalues the importance of moral integrity and instead places greater importance upon worldly concerns. The song, told from his perspective, makes it seem as if he isn't do anything but telling it how it is - hence his pride. Also, you aren't much of anything to him in the long run, he doesn't lead you astray to spite you, but to take another away from God. Anyway, quick look at the lyrics for backup: Let's take a moment to break the ice. So my intentions are known. - Two fold meaning. A) He wants to level, he's not that bad of a guy after all. B) Clever use of the word ice. Ice's antithesis? Fire, as in Shepherd of Fire. See I have pity in watching you suffer, I know the feeling of being damned alone. I have a storybook of my own. - He is justifying his offer and making himself seem more relate-able. He knows the feeling of being cast from Heaven, damned as the only traitor. The storybook of his own refers to a jibe about calling the Bible a storybook, making it seem as if he has his own side to the story. Don't you know I am your pride, agent of wealth, bearer of needs? - The "Don't you know" portion changes throughout the song, as his arguments slowly claim the listener (or he acts as if they do = pride). He is your pride, the part that won't bend knee and refuses to accept Heaven's dictates. Agent of wealth and bearer of needs refer to the sins and false glory he promises to fulfill. I am your war. - This is one of the most telling lines for me. "I am your war" refers to the war of moral choice. He offers you a counterpoint to good, forcing a decision. Arming the strong, aiding the weak. - A few different ways of looking at it. If it is one line the "aiding the weak" could be the method in which he "arms the strong." Which is to say he aids the weak by arming them, making them the strong. Could also refer to the idea that he arms the strong (war, strife) and "aids" or makes deals with those weak enough to accept the Devil's help. Know me by name, Shepherd of Fire. - Self explanatory. He is narcissistic. He is all the pride of the world, so in ways he IS vanity. He commands to know him by name, but then supplies not only a dramatic title, but a perversion of the "Shepherd" by which God/Christ are referred to. Misleading, too. Well I can promise you paradise No need to serve on your knees - He starts to make his offer now. He can promise you Paradise, unlike God who makes you earn it through moral service. Satan refers to this as serving on your knees which sounds demeaning. And when you're lost in the darkest of hours Take a moment and tell me who you see - God's tests of faith always come at your darkest hour. Faith demands acceptance without knowledge and the ability to accept what has happened without direct intervention. Satan plays on this, challenging that God does not directly offer aid, even though Satan does. Won't tell you who not to be. - Just a childish jab at God, really. The idea that God demands repentance and morality. Satan doesn't care, for as he later says, he's just a dealer of sinful choices. Now you know I am your pride. - I think the idea in the song at this point is that the person Satan is talking to is starting to fall under his sway here and he knows it. He tells them that now they know he is a part of them, whereas before it was "Don't you see." Disciple of the Cross and Champion in suffering, Immerse yourself in the Kingdom of Redemption. Pardon your mind from the chains of the divine Make way for the Shepherd of Fire - There seems to be some contention about the lyrics here. After listening closely I believe the above is correct. Here, Satan is specifically speaking to a "Disciple of the Cross and Champion in Suffering." Which is to say someone that believe in God/Christ. Satan actually refers to Hell as the kingdom of Redemption and says to "Pardon your mind FROM the chains of the Divine." He is telling the Disciple to let go of the hold God has over him and make way in his life for Satan. Through the ages of time, I've been known for my Hate. But I'm a dealer of sinful choices. For me it's never too late. - He knows he is known by his spite of God, but is trying to convince people he nothing more than a peddler of sinful goods. He downplays his relationship with God (and therefore the ramification of dealing with him), and then sweetens it by saying his offers have no timeline, you need only accept them. Anyway, that's what I get from it. I think the song meaning is pretty clear and cleverly executed. |
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| Tool – Schism Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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Alright, so while I agree with many I still have a few different opinions. I'll break it down lyrically as I go. First the title. Like people have said, one definition of the word is a split between people due to differing beliefs. This best applies. First off, the song is about a relationship. Probably relating to his ex-wife at the time or writing, but wrote vaguely enough that it applies to all struggling lovers - perhaps not even intimate lovers, such as siblings etc. He starts off by saying that he knows the pieces fit because he watched them fall away. The relationship couldn't fail if it didn't work in the first place. Mildewed and smoldering. Fundamental Differing. That is sheer poetry. In a few words he explains how parts of their connection to each other have either been burnt to cinders by their passion or left to neglect and rot. He recognizes that there is a primal difference between them now that causes this. Pure intention, or the desire to love one another, will set two lovers souls in motion and begin the relationship. The intention, that pure desire to be with the other regardless of pride or ego, disintegrates as time goes on, forcing lovers to cope and communicate their desires and arguments. The passion that brought the two lovers together now works against them, and burns a whole between them. They cannot see to reach an end [to their differences], which cripples their desire and will to communicate and heal. Then he begins to talk about the pride and ego that sets in when you've been with someone long enough. It becomes less about what's right, and more about WHO is right. He recognizes now there is no one to blame, but it doesn't mean that he didn't want to blame the other, and that their wasn't some trace amount of a destructive desire to topple the temple. He admits that even through the arguments and the desire to blame, it doesn't mean there wasn't the driving desire to fix it, why else argue and blame? Even the melody has begun to change. It becomes charged and you can feel the pump in it. The potential for motion. The next few lines are some of my favorite. The poetry that comes from the squaring off between, and the circling, is worth it. Finding beauty in the dissonance. Anyone who has had a serious fight would understand this. There is a weird desire to argue, its that misguided passion we feel. Passion is by its nature overwhelming, and there is beauty in that. Just as it set them in motion, it tosses them together violently, and they still feel the pull of it. Again, he comes back to how the relationship used to work but has fallen apart. This is the chorus, but its also the core of the song. He comes back to the fact that it used to work and doesn't again and again, and it begins to change near the end. He knows how dangerous it is to second guess what people are doing together. Second guessing introduces doubt, and the schism grows wider, hence the doomed to crumble unless we grow (mature) and strengthen their ability to communicate with each other. Obviously this is the not the case, because he go on to say that cold silence atrophies compassion. Imagine being angry with someone and not being able to reconcile it with them. Silent anger settles into bitterness, while you justify your actions and demonize theirs, thus killing your compassion for them. Finally, two lovers because "supposed lovers". This demonstrates that the split is finally complete, acknowledgment of a defeat. The song winds down in what sounds to be like bitter regret. "I know the pieces fit" but they don't anymore. |
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