And so you left us
Jaded and gaunt, some September
Wilted with the seasons
But hidden inside the delusion
I saw you eyes, somewhere

Devoid of death
The aura poises amidst (the storm)
In solid tears I linger
A parlor glade, moonlit sorrow

Lonely resting pools
Relics of the moon-dogged lake
Whisper: "All your words are misgiven"

Am I like them?
Those who mourn and turn away
Those who would give anything
To see you again
If only for another second

Your face was, like the photograph
Painted white
We did not speak very often about it
What does it matter now?

Cloak of autumn shroud
I gaze, dim ricochet of stars
I reckon it is time for me to leave

You sleep in the light
Yet the night and the silent water
Still so dark


Lyrics submitted by katharos

Night & The Silent Water Lyrics as written by Sven Peter Malcolm Lindgren Mikael Lars Akerfeldt

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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The Night and the Silent Water song meanings
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16 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment

    Not necessarily, It could be the "death" of a relationship that meant alot to the narrator, when i hear it, it reminds me of how your memory fades, and peoples images change, sadness overtakes and you start asking why.. or what if. There are 2 sides to this song though, the lyrics, and the guitars. most of this song the guitars are in harmony.... and ill tell u now, when u play along with em on the guitar, or even just listen carefully, there is as much if not more emotion in the guitar than the lyrics themselves, i believe its the lyrics that help to define a "verbal" landscape of what the song as a whole is tryin to achieve

    Opethfan19mon August 26, 2005   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    This song is about the death of Mikael Akerfeldt's grandfather.

    "And so you left us..."

    His Grandfather dies, and his Soul leaves. He is dead, and the people who cared about him (Mikael Akerfeldt, and, Family) will never see him again.

    "...Some September..."

    This may mean that his Grandfather died in September. I can't really figure out the "...Jaded and Gaunt..." lyrics, though.

    "...Wilted with the seasons..."

    Months, Seasons, and maybe even Years pass by after the loss of Mikael's grandfather.

    "...But hidden inside the delusion I saw your eyes, somewhere..."

    As the Days pass, Mikael starts to heal from the loss of his Grandfather, but he still remembers him.

    "...In solid tears I linger..."

    Self explanitory.

    The rest, I really, can't interpret, but the rest of the lyrics are most definetly still about the loss of Mikael's Grandfather.

    TOOLrule3on July 17, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Yeah, it's about visiting his grandfather's grave, I believe. And about his sorrow over the grandfather's death.

    I have to say, this song is the greatest tribute he could give to a dead relative. It's amazing. Ha, if only people wrote such great songs about me!

    6th_sadistic_sniperon May 12, 2004   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    This is about Mikael's grandfather, that is completely true.

    Sandrothecoolmanon December 06, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    8:36-10:30 kicks my ass every time.

    hellarack99on March 03, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Mikael said this song is about his grandfather.

    Supplanteron June 19, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Interesting..

    Jester24on August 17, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This is the song where Opeth reached their peak. 11 minutes of beauty.

    DrArabon March 03, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This is the song where Opeth reached their peak. 11 minutes of beauty.

    DrArabon March 03, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    About seeing somebody - a relative? - at their funeral. I'm pretty sure he's standing by a lake he used to visit with this person, who is possibly his father or grandfather, and remembering the person's death and their funeral, which happened when the narrator was still a child.

    6th_sadistic_sniperon September 27, 2004   Link

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