Hand Of Sorrow

It strongly reminds me of the Assassin books by Robin Hobb. Fitz is the obvious 'child without a name', made into a royal assassin with his royal blood hidden, made to take an oath to the King when too young to comprehend, denied his true love for Molly, etc. Robin Hobb is thanked in the Silent Force booklet for 'inspiration'.

FOr some the reason, the song to me is about Severus Snape from Harry Potter..haha

The song is about Fitz from the 'Assasins Apprentice' and 'Tawny Man' books by Robin Hobb. Sharon said so in an interview. Its about Fitz who grew up as a Royal Bastard and became an assasin. And the whole powers part is about him having the wit bond.

Every time I listen to this song, I always thought this would be a good Nightwish cover (Pre Tarja, not with annette) it to me looks like something they would sing. it fits best with most of their stuff

“Hand Of Sorrow” is about the fact that sometimes you sacrifice your own dreams for a higher goal in life, something that is bigger than yourself or a main goal for more people, instead of living your own life - Sharon den Adel.

this song fits really well to star wars's main hero/antagonist: ANAKIN SKYWALKER!!!!

he was a child that nobody expected to realize his dream (become a jedi) 'cause he was a slave... until he was discovered by a jedi master (Qui-gon Jinn) who was amazed of his potential and for a "secret commended to his blood" (his virgin birth)

in his journey to become a jedi he met Obi-Wan (his master), Padme (the love of his life) and also Palpatine (darth sidious) who would be the one that turned him into his own HAND OF SORROW (darth vader)

when he became a jedi he had to make a choice: choose between his honor (the jedi code that forbided marrige) and the love of his life (padme), he choose both when he married padme in secret and they were about to have child... but was denied when he became Darth Vader (his dark part that consumed him).

He was tricked by "the crown" (palpatine) to do his will and made him believe that padme would die in childbirth and the only way to save her was achieving a dark power (that cursed him and tormented his life). His soul was cursed by love and pain 'cause the lose of the love of his life would hurt him the most. He knew that achieving the dark power wasn't correct, but the oath made him stay (he swore padme that he wouldnt let her die).

When Obi-Wan discovers this he faces him in a lightsaber duel, and it ends with anakin being dismembered and burned alive, but he survives... but Padme dies in childbirth (she gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl) because his new dark-numb-radical personality broke her heart and she lost the will to live... his "dreams were broken and so much was sacrified" (he betrayed and killed many jedi, from a liberator turned to a slaver, his wife died and his children were splitted up and given to other families, he was confined to a life supporting system armor) ...

more than 20 years pass, and he has trully became a hand of sorrow, his former-master Obi-Wan is killed by him in a second duel, the galaxy is under control by him and his new master (Darth Sidious), everything is chaos and darkness, and he stills carries the burden of the memories of his past... then a rebellion raises against his empire, and two of the key-figures of that rebellion were: Luke Skywalker and his lost twin sister Leia Organa (Skywalker)! HIS OFFSPRING!!

He faces Luke (who was trained in the jedi arts by Obi-Wan and other jedi master (Yoda)) in two lightsaber duels, in the first one he cuts off luke's hand and reveals him he is his father... then in the second and final shodown his son hurts him really bad, and then Palpatine tells Luke to end with his father's life, but Luke refuses and is attacked by an enraged emperor... then Anakin (the good part) arises watching his son being tortured, and vanishes Darth Vader, he probably thinked in Padme and this part fits well to Anakin's sacrifice: "Please forgive me for the sorrow For leaving you in fear For the dreams we had to silence That's all they'll ever be Still I'll be the hand that saves you Though you'll not see that it is me"

then still with his armor damaged he attacks and kills Palpatine and saved his son, and also destroyed the leaders of the empire: His dark part (Darth Vader) and Palpatine (Darth Sidious)... but he dies moments later, but he is redemed by his son, and then he joins the force (goes to heaven in therms of Earth).

pretty sure this is in reference to a song of ice and fire, and the "hand of the king" title

I Don't know what exactly the writers were inspired by , but for me it's about two main group of people: first the many child soldiers around the world forced into a state of slavery , not knowing what they are doing or why , and the fact that no one remembering them and that they don't matter to their masters in : "The child without a name grew up to be the hand To watch you, to shield you or kill on demand" also stating they're just some puppets to their masters , just pawns in some sick game the second is also similar to the first but generally mentioning any human being being played by propaganda or else without truly knowing what they're doing

The funny thing: I guessed the meaning of this song correctly. It was a major coincidence, but I had been rereading a couple of fantasy series when this song came out, making them fresh on my mind. When I was singing (cough "singing") along with the lyrics, coming to the refrain I immediately thought "Wow! This almost looks like they've written a song about Fitzchivalry Farseer's life (Robin Hobb - Assassin's Apprentice and the rest of the books)!

Turns out that's exactly what it is about. I only later read that somewhere in an interview with Sharon. Kinda cool though. They make awesome music (have been a fan since their very first concert for like 30 people when they were creating Enter. Yes I'm old ;).) and have good taste in books.

Explanation: Fitz, later Fitzchivalry Farseer is the bastard son of the future king. He didn't have a name for the longest time growing up in the stables after his grandfather from mother's side dumps him at the Palace doors. For years he's just "Boy" until he's 'recognised' by the reigning King and led into the palace to prevent further embarrassment for the throne. When growing up it turns out he has a special magical gift that's seen as abnormal and that could get him killed when people find out. Not practicing it though makes him feel like half a person.

Because he can't be in line for the throne, but can no longer be a stable boy either Fitz is trained as an assassin, protecting the throne. He's not allowed to say who he is, what he can do, making him lie and lose the love of his life in the process. And all the while he feels very uncomfortable (euphemism) in his forced role, since Fitz is a nurturer, not a killer. Worse: he also needs to protect people who are just noble in title, not in character and actions. Plus, in the books he plays an important role in a brutal, bloody war, where he needs to kill to prevent their adversaries to become successful, making him even more confused about what is right and wrong in the world. And obviously leading him further from the life he craves. Lyrics are obvious now, right?

I've tried to keep details to a minimum in case you like to read the books. Fair warning though: While Robin Hobb is an amazing writer, the Farseer Trilogy is definitely one of the more intellectual fantasy series. Not to mention a little on the heavy side. The 1st time I read it I was going through a particularly rough time and that was nót the ideal reading material - it made me bawl my eyes out even more.

Minor corrections to the chorus: So many dreams [were] broken and so much [was] sacrificed Was it worth the ones we loved and had to leave behind So many years have [passed] toward a noble land of lies Will all our sins be justified?

My favorite song from the album.