I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
As grey traces of dawn tinge the eastern sky,|the three travelers, men of Willowdale,|emerge from the forest shadow.|Fording the River Dawn, they turn south, journeying|into the dark and forbidding lands of the Necromancer|Even now the intensity of his dread power can be felt,|weakening the body and saddening the heart|Ultimately they will become empty, mindless spectres...|stripped of will and soul, only|their thirst for freedom gives them hunger for vengeance...'||Silence shrouds the forest|As the birds announce the dawn|Three trav'llers ford the river|And southward journey on|The road is lined with peril|The air is charged with fear|The shadow of his nearness|Weighs like iron tears||[II. Under the Shadow]||'Shreds of black cloud loom in overcast skies.|The Necromancer keeps watch with his magic prism eyes.|He views all his lands and is already aware of the three helpless invaders|trapped in his lair...'||Brooding in the tower|Watching o'er his land|Holding ev'ry creature|Helplessly they stand|Gaze into his prisms|Knowing they are near|Lead them to the dungeons|Spectres numb with fear|They bow defeated||[III. Return Of the Prince]||'Enter the Champion|Prince By-Tor appears to battle for freedom from chains of long years|The spell has been broken...the Dark Lands are bright.|The Wraith of the Necromancer soars|away in the night.'||Stealthily attacking|By-Tor slays his foe|The men are free to run now|From labyrinths below|The Wraith of Necromancer|Shadows through the sky|Another land to darken|With evil prism eye|
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The Necromancer is about three travelers (from Willowdale, so obviously Geddy, Alex, and Neil) that approach a dark land ruled by the evil Necromancer. The Necromancer tries to capture them and bring them into his lair, like he does with everyone that intrudes onto his land. The Necromancer is meant to represent the record companies and media that urged them to change. In the song, they are going to be captured, but By-Tor saves them. This is meant to represent their music (by-tor and the snow dog). So, basically, their music and creativity saved them from being captured by evil. This was their way of saying "no" to the record companies when they pressured them to change.
i think it's kinda funny that once "the wraith of the Necromancer soars away in the night" the dark lands are then turned bright. in other words, if it wasn't for the media and record companies, music would be much better off!!
i want to see this and The Fountain of Lamneth performed live so badly. i know that will probably never happen, but as a 19 year old, one can only dream.