Swift as the Wind

Incredible String Band

For my delight
Swift as the wind flies
His chariot and wings
Shine in the light of a thousand suns
For he comes from the land of no night
He comes from the land of no night

There is no land
The night is all around my child
You must stop imagining all this
You must stop imagining all this
For your own good
Why don't you go with the rest and play downstairs

Closing my eyes
I see him so clear
The blood on his sword
Flashes so bright as is
Falls to the skulls by his feet

But his eyes they know all things
His eyes they know all

There is no blood
No-one knows all my child
You must stop imagining all this
You must stop imagining all this
For your own good
Why don't you go with the rest and play downstairs

Swift as the wind
Stay if you will now
Seeing you again will be in your castle so fair
But I make take some time on the way
And I may have to spend some time downstairs


Lyrics submitted by hybrid_rainbow

Swift as the Wind Lyrics as written by Mike Heron

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Swift as the Wind song meanings
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6 Comments

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  • +1
    My InterpretationTo me this song is about a reclusive child who spends most of his time in his room creating stories and imagining worlds. the childs parents start to worry about their childs behavior so they force him to play with the other children down stairs. He is not happy about it and promises to return to his fantastic realm.
    megasamon February 11, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI read this as the child being aware of death, a figure from a land of no night, all-knowing, somewhat frightening, but ultimately simply divine. Death is swift as the wind and the child can see him. He's a powerful, glorious figure, bright and deadly at once.

    The adults encourage the child to "go downstairs" to play with others, to not dwell so much on the divine and to return to a more normal "reality".

    The last stanza is especially touching to me. I read it as the child saying that he will see his departed loved ones some time in the near future, as that is where he is inevitably headed, but in the meantime he will socialize, be part of the community, and not stray too far from the normal "reality".
    catskincatskinon January 21, 2014   Link
  • 0
    General CommentSpot on. Next to love and sorrow the ISB, and especially Robin, employ child experiences in their songs, as powerful drivers of who it is that we were, are and hope to be.
    benheideveldon August 05, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti originally thought Swift as the Wind was a flying horse like Pegasus, but having scrutinized the lyrics I don't see how a horse could wield a blade. Is he a warrior? In a flying chariot? Any thoughts?
    johnahoweon November 30, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI see it as somewhere between catskin's and megasam's interpretation.

    I think it is more than just the imagination of the child - it's too clearly described and the imagery is not childlike. However I don't really see the indication that the child is seeing death. I believe the child is seeing a reality that adults can't see or believe in. The last three lines describe how the child will see the sword-wielding figure again, but not for some time, not until s/he has spent 'some time downstairs' - a euphemism for becoming an adult who can no longer see such things. Perhaps the child will see him again after passing from this world.
    Phonophobeon May 24, 2014   Link
  • 0
    General CommentAlso seems to be a comment on how time, and one's own childhood specifically is/feels "Swift as the Wind".
    Tangledhangerson January 07, 2019   Link

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