7 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A

Lightning's Hand Lyrics

Can you see me, do you know my position how quick is your eye?
I have no home, no reason to roam yet I travel the length of the sky
I stretch my fingers jagged icy white 'till my energy's all around
My clutch is swift, my force is fearful I convey it without a sound
I live to free the skies from everyone, watch me run - watch me

The north wind rises, old man's eyes wondering deeply as he locks his door
He knows the fear when I'm too near him, he's seen me angry before
The black intruding clouds approach as I release a destructive blow
All the crashing, all the flashing light brings terror upon my foe
I fight with force and power for my land
I command the lightning's hand!

Run for cover - Oh your life is in vain if you try to escape me
Don't look back - Oh your wealthy world cannot save you
'Cause I'm gonna break you
I hear them moan, I hear them weep because they feel I belong to the devil
They feel the pain, and will again 'till they stop reaching up for this level
No one will defeat me, no one can
I command the lightning's hand!
7 Meanings

Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.

Add your thoughts...
Cover art for Lightning's Hand lyrics by Kansas

That was my interpretation before, but this is what I think it real means: Nikola Tesla. When "Portrait (He Knew)" is about Albert Einstein and "Closet Chronicles" is about Howard Hughes, it would make sense that "Lightning's Hand" is about Nikola Tesla. I'd even be willing to bet that "Point of Know Return" is about Christopher Columbus or Leif Erikkson or the like.

Song Meaning
Cover art for Lightning's Hand lyrics by Kansas

I think it's about death. The lightning's hand is death that comes for all of us. No one can defeat it.Yet everyone tries to run from it.

Cover art for Lightning's Hand lyrics by Kansas

well actually guys, this song is about benjamin franklin playing with lightning ;)

Cover art for Lightning's Hand lyrics by Kansas

this song flat out ROCKS!

maybe it's about continual changes, revolutions, the sucession of world powers throughout history (the old man knowing from experiance what is going on and what to do about it, he just goes into home and lets it pass).

or this could just be about a really cool lightening storm.

Cover art for Lightning's Hand lyrics by Kansas

This song is about the power of God and how men try to reach His level, but He is all-powerful.

Cover art for Lightning's Hand lyrics by Kansas

The entire album is based in a historical fantasy context. From "Point of No Return" about sailing off the edge of the world to this one. "Lightning's Hand" is about a god (not the Christian God) of thunder and lightning. Quite possibly Zeus/Jupiter or Thor. I personally lean more towards Thor because of the line "North wind rises..." It leads one to imagine that it's a cold wind bringing in a powerful storm. And not many people know the cold like the Norse. Also the reason it's not the Christian God, is the line "I hear them weep because they feel I belong to the devil." Not one Christian feels that God belongs to the devil. But Christian Norsemen would certainly think that about Thor.

My Interpretation
Cover art for Lightning's Hand lyrics by Kansas

Perhaps there really is some deeper meaning, but...

It's about a modern military jet fighter/bomber (the pilot actually). In a war, the pilot is humming this in their head as they fly a mission - shooting down other aircraft, bombing targets, etc.

@JimmyJoeMeager I wouldn’t be so sure about that, sure lines like “I live to free the skies from everyone” or “I travel the length of the sky” do make it sound like that but other ones like “my clutch is swift” or “I convey it without a sound” make it seem more like it’s a person wielding some kind of melee weapon.

Not to mention how the “They feel the pain, and will again 'til they stop reaching up for this level” part would make no sense not only because they aren’t really reaching for anything (I can’t...

 
Questions and Answers

Ask specific questions and get answers to unlock more indepth meanings & facts.

Ask a question...