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The Great Gates of Kiev Lyrics
Come forth, from love's spire
Born in life's fire,
Born in life's fire.
Come forth, from love's spire
In the burning, all are [of our] yearning,
for life to be.
And in pain there will [must] be gain,
New Life!
Stirring in, salty streams
And dark hidden seams
Where the fossil sun gleams.
They were, sent from [to] the gates
Ride the tides of fate
Ride the tides of fate.
They were, sent from [to] the gates,
In the burning all are [of our] yearning,
For life to be.
There's no end to my life,
No beginning to my death:
Death is life.
Born in life's fire,
Born in life's fire.
Come forth, from love's spire
In the burning, all are [of our] yearning,
for life to be.
And in pain there will [must] be gain,
New Life!
And dark hidden seams
Where the fossil sun gleams.
Ride the tides of fate
Ride the tides of fate.
They were, sent from [to] the gates,
In the burning all are [of our] yearning,
For life to be.
No beginning to my death:
Death is life.
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How can there be no comments for this amazing song?
Obviously, this is a metaphor of sexual intercourse and its consequence. Something comes out of love's tower. Fluid stirrs and be poured into a gap, where old dried sun resides. Then, pushed out of the gate, with tide, and you are new born. By giving life to new born, you will live forever, even if your incarnation of body dies.
@mzwtjp another line also, when it says "and in pain there must be gain, new life" likely a reference to the pain of child birth, and the creation of a new life
@mzwtjp another line also, when it says "and in pain there must be gain, new life" likely a reference to the pain of child birth, and the creation of a new life
it's about the Partition of Poland which used to extend as far as Kiev, the love is the love of country of the Poles, forged in fire, the salty streams of blood and tears of patriots as their country is torn apart by three rapacious countries, mostly Russia. Riding the tide of fate, Poles kept a national identity, in the death of their country was the life of the identity of the Rzeczpospolita
Note that a precursor and possible inspiration to the beginning of this song was the short story called ‘Night Journey’ by John Barth, aligning with the interpretation by tmzw…
Also, the very last line of the song came under heavy criticism in the early days of the internet in a discussion of prog lyrics. (rec.music.progressive). Considered pretentious. On the contrary, it can be seen as a late 60s interest in reincarnation via hinduism, and it is also a statement on biology. All life requires a prior death for energy, or viewed more optimistically, all death transforms into anothers life . Death is life.
Weird coincidence with the war in the country of the mentioned Gates, I heard a Ukrainian soldier use the exact phrase ‘death is life’ to describe their motivation to fight and sacrifice if needed. In this case, the life means the life of their country and fellow citizens. I doubt the soldier ever heard the 50-year old song, but you never know.