The Raven

Another in a series of songs based on Edgar Allen Poe stories- or, in this case, poetry. This song certainly does the poem justice, it's great-- although the pace (of the lyrics at least) is a lot faster than that of the poem.

I absolutely love the voice effects in this song. They are the really really cool.

another tribute to the genius of Alan Parsons Project

I think that the Raven personifies Doubt. The way that it is ever-present in the background, yet always shrouded with nets of shadows, strengthens this claim. Doubt is also removed only by our own actions, thus the line, "no words can soothe him, no prayer remove him." When the Raven speaks of "Nevermore," he is saying that the opportunities to rectify past doubts are long-gone, and that there is nothing that can be said by any man to soothe the what-ifs of our past.

"The clock struck midnight And through my sleeping I heard a tapping at my door I looked but nothing lay in the darkness And so I turned inside once more"

The protagonist is still mourning for the loss of his wife, so while in solitude, he continues to hope he will see his wife again. Whenever he hears something, he rushes at the door, but he keeps getting disappointed (which he knows will happen, he's torturing himself because he is becoming insane).

"To my amazement There stood a raven Whose shadow hung above my door Then through the silence It spoke that one word that I shall hear forever more"

The raven is a metaphor for the protagonist's madness that is trying to devour him. Still mourning and nearly insane, he hopes the mystical raven that descended upon him is some sort of sage of god, so he asks the deity, the raven, if he will ever see his wife again. The raven is his last hope of recovering. Unfortunately, the answer he "shall hear forever more", because the answer is so painful for the protagonist and makes him insane.

"Nevermore Thus quoth the raven, nevermore

And still the raven remains in my room No matter how much I implore No words can soothe him No prayer remove him And I must hear for evermore"

The raven will not leave his room, whatever he tries to make him do so. In other words, his madness will not go away, he is forever lost.

"Quoth the raven, nevermore Thus quoth the raven Nevermore"

No doubt the climax of the song, the word 'nevermore' echoes through our ears, just like it does through his ears for eternity. It is too late, all is lost. This song is about loss and regret, not being able to deal with your inner demons. Truly a wonderful song.