| In Flames – Moonshield Lyrics | 17 years ago |
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This song IMHO is the allusion to the battle between Paganism and Christianity,all in the mind of an ex-Viking berserker,now a doubtful Christian. *Tried of dull ages, I walk the same ground, collecting the tragedies still.* The dull ages are the years after the Christianization of Scandinavia,or the *Dark ages* in that Viking's thought. No more heroic sagas,no more tales of great deeds. The only things left are sorrowful and submissive bible pages of Christian martyrs. *Hollow ambitions in a hollow mind carried my cross to the hill* This refers to both his and Jesus' old ambition: to spread the voice of God (not Gods) across the land. Over time,the Viking character felt his doings were soulless,his passion for the new religion coming to an end,just like the death of Jesus. Do the *carried my cross to the hill* and the event at Golgotha ring you any bell? *And how I lust for the dance and the fire deep of the nectarine sunset to drink spill me the wind and its fire to steal of the colours - I´m the moonshield* Kind of obvious here. The man reflected on his past and yearned for his old glorious days,the days of fire,battles,the days of conquering the great sea. The moonshield could be the symbol of old hope as everyone has pointed out. But it could also be the image of the Round shield,the usual defense equipment of the Vikings. It symbolized his desire to take up arms and throw himself into heroic battle again. *Shattered hope became my guide and grief and pain my friends a brother pact in blood-ink penned declared my silent end Naked and dying under worlds of silent stone reaching for the moonshield that once upon us shone* But then he realized everything has passed away,leaving him grieving over the old time. Christianity has prevailed,and the old Viking stays there silent with his dead hopes. The instrument interlude of this song also sounds very *oceanic*,referring to the sailing days of Scandinavians. |
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| Amorphis – Black Winter Day Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| This song is about the christianization of Finland. *The lucky and blessed* refers to those who have converted to Christian side. The main character in the song remains in his ancestor's religion but still feels melancholic seeing the former myths/glories of his people fading away. Well you can't do anything in an age when wailing ass martyrs are taking the places of saga heroes. | |
| Tiamat – Do You Dream Of Me? Lyrics | 17 years ago |
| In my interpretation,the lyrics are from a knight carrying the corpse of his lady. The melody has a very medieval feeling to it,like a western castle in heavy snow. The knight promised to protect his lady with all his heart but he ultimately failed. Now he whispers to her cold body if she's forgiven/still dreaming about him in the next world. | |
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