He gave to her, yet tenfold claim'd in return
She hath no life but the one he for her wrought;
Proffer'd to her his wauking heart, she turn'd it down,
Riposted with a tell-tale lore of lies and scorn.

Prophetess or fond?,
Tho' her parle of truth:
"I ken to-morrow, refell me if ye can!",
Yet the kiss and breath, Apollo's bane
Sëer of the future, not of twain,
"Sicker!", quoth Cassandra.

Still, is she lief and quaint in his eyne, a sight divine?
A mistress fuell'd by his prest haughtiness
If he did grant, wherefore then did he not foresee,
Belike egal as it to him might be?!

Prophetess or fond?,
Tho' her parle of truth:
"I ken to-morrow, refell me if ye can!",
Yet the kiss and breath, Apollo's bane
Sëer of the future, not of twain,
"Sicker!", quoth Cassandra.

'Or was he an eried being,
'Or was he weening - alack nay mo;
Her naysay' raught his heart,
Her daffing was the grave of all hope
She belied her own words,
He thought her life, save moreo'er scourge,
She held him august, yet wee;
He left her ne'er without his heart.


Lyrics submitted by Fistan

Cassandra Lyrics as written by Wycliffe Johnson Cleveland Browne

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Cassandra song meanings
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12 Comments

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  • +5
    General Comment
    some of these words are wrong >.< I corrected them as I defined the trouble words. Wrought-shaped Wauk-from walk, to toss about restlessly Riposte-to reply or retaliate, to answer Tell-tale – one who idly or maliciously discloses private or secret matters; a tale-bearer, a tattler Fond-crazy, dazed, mad Parle-speech Ken-to know, to see, to be aware of Refell-to refute Bane-that which causes ruin, poison Twain-two [used often in poetry for sole purpose of rhyme] Eyne-plural of eye Aegis-shield or defensive armor, applied in ancient mythology of Jupiter (Zeus) Prest-ready, active Egal-equal Belike-probably, perhaps Weening-arrogant, self-conceited Alack-lacking, wanting, missing Mo’-more Raught-to reach or snatch at or after Daffing-insanity Belie-to falsify Scourge-to chastise August-Inspiring mingled reverence and admiration; impressing the emotions or imagination as magnificent; majestic, stately, sublime, solemnly grand; venerable, revered. save-except, but quaint-clever lief-dear, beloved you're welcome :) and if you haven't noticed it should be "horrid" not "eried" you guys need to listen more attentively...
    dark ivoryon July 09, 2008   Link
  • +3
    General Comment
    Let me enlighten you:) The song is about Cassandra, a woman the Greek god Apollo fell in love with. He asked her to marry him but she denied. She told him that she would marry him only if he gave her the gift of foresight... Apollo was so in love that he agreed and gave her the gift. But Cassandra didn't keep her promise and denied him once again ("She belied her own words..."). Apollo asked her if he could at least kiss her and when they came close to kiss, Apollo spit in her mouth and cursed her so that even though she had the gift of foresight, noone would believe her words ("Yet the kiss and breath - Apollo's bane -"). Cassandra was the woman who tried to warn the people of Troy about the trojan horse, but of course noone believed her.:) I hope this helps!
    Vovinon January 30, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    This is one of my favorite songs by TOT not only is it's dark but it's meaning goes so deep...i def fell in luv with this song as well as Angelique the vocals are beautiful
    DarknesMyBrideon March 06, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    well im greek and recently checked the lyrics of this song,,i used dictionary to translate some archaic terms i didn't know and loved it.i would like to add another version of cassandra and appollo myth, cassandra kept her promise and made love with appollo but got dissappointed and left him.appollo got furious that a mortal girl turned him down but as a god was obliged to keep his word too and give her the gift of foresight.so he did but also enchanted her so noone would believe her words.cassandra was daugter of priamus,king of troy and everybody considered her insane.yet vovin ,your version is the most well-known :)
    cordelia87on May 03, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I love this song. It's so dark and passionate. Plus the lyrics are great. So mournful.
    Arianrhodon October 17, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    you have to love idiots like DarknesMyBride "this song has such a deep meaning" but then says NOTHING about what it means.
    ViciousMachineon September 23, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    No wonder no-one says nothing of what it means... At least to me the words in themselves are mysteries... I need my dictionnary for every second word. Though, I'm going to understand it, some day. Is it as hard to understand for a native English speaking person?
    Lynn-Lynnon October 01, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    It was a long time since i read it, but I'm pretty sure that some of the lines are direct quotes from The Iliad. Worthy reading for anyone with the slightest history/mythology interest. The song really captures her pitiful greed and regretful sorrow. Strong words, by a strong band.
    Strayliteon March 19, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Eee.. Vovin, you are amazing. Now I know the meaning. But certain lines make no sense to me. Even the ones with words I know. Eh.. help, someone?
    xxx_Rottenon November 14, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    She was also the one that said "Beware of the Ides of March" in Julius Caesar.
    musicmama888on August 09, 2008   Link

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