The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
In the name of desperation
I call your name
A lamentation I sigh
Again and again
Spiritual eclipse
The gateways are closed for me to seek
The night
A veil of stars, watching
My shadow is born from light
The light of the eye, in darkness
Over troubled waters memories soar
Endlessly, searching night and day
The moonlight caresses a lonely hill
With the calmness of a whisper
I wear a naked soul
A blank face in the streaming water
It is cold in here
Frost scar my coat with dust
Eyes attach to your mute portrait
We spoke only through thoughts
Together we gazed, awaited
Hours brought thirst and the rising sun
Sun birds leave their dark recesses
Shadows gild the archways
Do not turn your face towards me
Confronting me with my loneliness
You are in a forest unknown
The secret orchard
And your voice is vast and achromatic
But still so precious
Lullaby of the crescent moon took you
Mesmerized, its kaleidoscopic face
Granted you a hollow stare
Another soul within the divine herd
I have kept it
The amaranth symbol
Hidden inside the golden shrine
Until we rejoice in the meadow
Of the end
When we both walk the shadows
It will set ablaze and vanish
Black rose immortal
It is getting dark again
Dusk shuffle across the fields
The evening trees moan as if they knew
At night I always dream of you
I call your name
A lamentation I sigh
Again and again
Spiritual eclipse
The gateways are closed for me to seek
The night
A veil of stars, watching
My shadow is born from light
The light of the eye, in darkness
Over troubled waters memories soar
Endlessly, searching night and day
The moonlight caresses a lonely hill
With the calmness of a whisper
I wear a naked soul
A blank face in the streaming water
It is cold in here
Frost scar my coat with dust
Eyes attach to your mute portrait
We spoke only through thoughts
Together we gazed, awaited
Hours brought thirst and the rising sun
Sun birds leave their dark recesses
Shadows gild the archways
Do not turn your face towards me
Confronting me with my loneliness
You are in a forest unknown
The secret orchard
And your voice is vast and achromatic
But still so precious
Lullaby of the crescent moon took you
Mesmerized, its kaleidoscopic face
Granted you a hollow stare
Another soul within the divine herd
I have kept it
The amaranth symbol
Hidden inside the golden shrine
Until we rejoice in the meadow
Of the end
When we both walk the shadows
It will set ablaze and vanish
Black rose immortal
It is getting dark again
Dusk shuffle across the fields
The evening trees moan as if they knew
At night I always dream of you
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The Night And The Silent Water has the line, "Your face was like a photograph, painted white..."
Considering that:
"Eyes attach to your mute portrait We spoke only through thoughts Together we gazed, awaited Hours brought thirst and the rising sun"
The face of a dying loved one can be described as a portrait. These lines reflect waiting up all night with a loved one, awaiting her eventual death.
"Lullaby of the crescent moon took you Mesmerized, its kaleidoscopic face Granted you a hollow stare Another soul within the divine herd"
The moment of death.
The song itself isn't about that. I see that he's desperate to see this person again, and in fact does believe he communicates with her and wishes to be with her again in the afterlife. Amaranth is sybolic of immortality - by protecting the amaranth symbol he keeps her soul safe, symbolically. But everything about the song reflects the moment of death, it's a beautiful expression of grief and anguish.
I refer to 'her' because I think I heard a long time ago that certain songs were about his grandmother, but I might be completely wrong on that.
Also black could have the typical meaning - depression. He's unable to live for the overwhelming desire to die...