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.
Once, in a land of darkness--long ago,
When all the Earth was covered in darkness and shadow
under a spell of an evil sorceress witch.
The people cried for deliverance,
And no child was born for many a long year.
Out of the mountains of Bothzak a hero did answer their call
Riding forth upon his stalwart steed
Brandishing the heirloom of his house:
the jewel encrusted Claymore.
Forth he rode into the night, slaying foes great and small
And all evil did flee before this valiant hero
And the might of the jewel-encrusted Claymore.
At last the hero came to the evil witch's realm
and lo He looked upon the barren wasteland: frozen and dry
where no life could take hold.
And with his claymore he smote the witch's minions
and at long last stood face to face with her.
And he did run her through with his claymore,
piercing the soft flesh beneath the witch's callous exterior.
She gave a cry of pain
yet it seemed to all that did witness--possibly a cry of ecstasy, as well.
And behold, impossibly he saw that she was unharmed
and fair now to look upon.
The skies of the land opened upon the Earth and life began to bloom anew.
She looked upon him and said,
"Oh, most valiant of heroes,
thou hast delivered me from a fate worse than death.
Verily I beseech you,
wilt thou pierce me with thy jewel-encrusted Claymore once more?"
And so he did and all the land rejoiced.
When all the Earth was covered in darkness and shadow
under a spell of an evil sorceress witch.
The people cried for deliverance,
And no child was born for many a long year.
Out of the mountains of Bothzak a hero did answer their call
Riding forth upon his stalwart steed
Brandishing the heirloom of his house:
the jewel encrusted Claymore.
Forth he rode into the night, slaying foes great and small
And all evil did flee before this valiant hero
And the might of the jewel-encrusted Claymore.
At last the hero came to the evil witch's realm
and lo He looked upon the barren wasteland: frozen and dry
where no life could take hold.
And with his claymore he smote the witch's minions
and at long last stood face to face with her.
And he did run her through with his claymore,
piercing the soft flesh beneath the witch's callous exterior.
She gave a cry of pain
yet it seemed to all that did witness--possibly a cry of ecstasy, as well.
And behold, impossibly he saw that she was unharmed
and fair now to look upon.
The skies of the land opened upon the Earth and life began to bloom anew.
She looked upon him and said,
"Oh, most valiant of heroes,
thou hast delivered me from a fate worse than death.
Verily I beseech you,
wilt thou pierce me with thy jewel-encrusted Claymore once more?"
And so he did and all the land rejoiced.
Lyrics submitted by willsouth
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