In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
A kite above a graveyard grey
At the end of the line far far away
A child holding on to the magic of birth and awe
Oh, how beautiful it used to be
Just you and me far beyond the sea
The waters, scarce in motion
Quivering still
At the end of the river the sundown beams
All the relics of a life long lived
Here, weary traveler rest your wand
Sleep the journey from your eyes
Good journey, love, time to go
I checked your teeth and warmed your toes
In the horizon I see them coming for you
The mermaid grace, the forever call
Beauty in spyglass on an old man's porch
The mermaids you turn loose brought back your tears
At the end of the river the sundown beams
All the relics of a life long lived
Here, weary traveler rest your wand
Sleep the journey from your eyes
At the end of the river the sundown beams
All the relics of a life long lived
Here, weary traveler rest your wand
Sleep the journey from your eyes
At the end of the river the sundown beams
All the relics of a life long lived
Here, weary traveler rest your wand
Sleep the journey from your eyes
At the end of the river the sundown beams
All the relics of a life long lived
Here, weary traveler rest your wand
Sleep the journey from your eyes
At the end of the line far far away
A child holding on to the magic of birth and awe
Oh, how beautiful it used to be
Just you and me far beyond the sea
The waters, scarce in motion
Quivering still
At the end of the river the sundown beams
All the relics of a life long lived
Here, weary traveler rest your wand
Sleep the journey from your eyes
Good journey, love, time to go
I checked your teeth and warmed your toes
In the horizon I see them coming for you
The mermaid grace, the forever call
Beauty in spyglass on an old man's porch
The mermaids you turn loose brought back your tears
At the end of the river the sundown beams
All the relics of a life long lived
Here, weary traveler rest your wand
Sleep the journey from your eyes
At the end of the river the sundown beams
All the relics of a life long lived
Here, weary traveler rest your wand
Sleep the journey from your eyes
At the end of the river the sundown beams
All the relics of a life long lived
Here, weary traveler rest your wand
Sleep the journey from your eyes
At the end of the river the sundown beams
All the relics of a life long lived
Here, weary traveler rest your wand
Sleep the journey from your eyes
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I agree that the song is about someone about to die but i think that the singer has had a long full life. I haven't seen anyone else with my interpretation.
The First verse is clearly about childhood imagination, wonder, and innocents, all are common Nightwish themes.
The Second verse strikes me as remembering his wife and how they fell in love
The Third is saying goodbye to said loved one.
The Forth verse is what really makes me think I'm onto something "the forever call" is likely Death, as other have said. "The mermaid grace," I think this "mermaid" represents his wife and "Beauty in spyglass on an old man's porch" is how he views her or the other "Mermaids"
but the last line is most importation "The mermaids you turn loose brought back your tears" Note the use of "Mermaids" rather then the singular "Mermaid" I think this line is referring to man's children rather then wife. That these people and memory's are the "Relics of a life long lived" mentioned in the chorus.
Thinking about the chorus like that didn't really add any new meaning to the chorus. "The end of the river" is death, and "The sundown beams" is the sun setting on his life for the last time.
All in all, the song is simple and lovely. This just shows that even Nightwish's more average songs still have a deeper meaning if you look.