25 Meanings
Add Yours
Share
Q&A

The Temple Of The King Lyrics

One day in the year of the fox
Came a time remembered well
When the strong young man of the rising sun
Heard the tolling of the great black bell

One day in the year of the fox
When the bell began to ring
Meant the time had cometh
For one to go
To the temple of the king

There in the middle of the circle he stands
Searching, seeking
With just one touch of his trembling hand
The answer will be found

Daylight waits while the old man sings
Heaven help me
And then like the rush of a thousand wings
It shines upon the one
And the day had just begun

One day in the year of the fox
Came a time remembered well
When the strong young man of the rising sun
Heard the tolling of the great black bell

One day in the year of the fox
When the bell began to sing
It meant the time had cometh
For one to go
To the temple of the king

There in the middle of the people
He stands
Seeing, feeling
With just a wave of a strong right hand
He's gone
To the temple of the king

Far from the circle at the edge of the world
He's hoping, wondering
Thinking back from the stories he's heard
Of what he's going to see

There in middle of the circle it lies
Heaven help me
Then all could see by the shine in his eyes
The answer had been found

Back with the people in the circle
He stands
Giving, feeling
With just one touch of a strong right hand
They know
Of the temple and the king
Questions and Answers

Ask specific questions and get answers to unlock more indepth meanings & facts.

25 Meanings

Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.

Cover art for The Temple Of The King lyrics by Rainbow

The song is about death. My Dad used to sing this song when I was a kid, now that he's gone I finally understood the meaning.

When the strong young man of the rising sun Heard the tolling of the GREAT BLACK BELL. One day in the year of the fox, When the bell began to ring, It meant the time had come for one to go To the temple of the king.

That part meant he died and he's going to the temple of the King (God)

Far from the circle, at the edge of the world, He's hoping, wondering. Thinking back on the stories he's heard of What he's going to see.

This part is about him thinking about the stories he heard about afterlife and he's wondering about the things he will find out.

I think it's about death and afterlife. Just my two cents.

My Interpretation

I agree with you. Although the song's beauty and hopeful lyrics contrasts most people's idea of death. It's a different outlook on death for sure.

@boniknik Your theory makes the most sense for this music

@boniknik I never knew what this song meant, just now looking at your interpretation and it makes 100% sense. I think in one verse it is specifically his resurrection: There in the middle of the people he stands Seeing, feeling With just a wave of a strong right hand He's gone To the temple of the king

Beautiful song.

Cover art for The Temple Of The King lyrics by Rainbow

This song is crafted in a beautifully woven metaphorical style.

Here's what this song means to 'me'.

This song symbolizes the answering of our calling, one that changes the life of those who answer their beckoning. Medieval philosophy suggests that life truly begins when you answer your life's call and truly know the purpose of your life. (Present day presents us late bloomers who reckon life begins at 40, but in the erstwhile ages, Man was considered to be mature enough to understand his purpose by the time he was 20). So a boy born in the year of the fox would turn 20 in the next year of the fox.

Well, according to the book of Titanica (that explains the astrological calendar of the Titan) states that those born in the year of the fox are the curious sorts who crave to seek answers and spread them, usually through sermons (often even to those uninterested - with the power to turn them into disciples too).

Let's say, for now, that the central character of this song (Strong young man of the 'rising sun' - Lord Buddha visited Japan in his 20s, coincidence?) heard his calling (tolling of the great black black - the bell of time and truth in some mystical epics).

There in the middle of the circle he stands searching, seeking:

The fourth and final reason why Buddha left the material world and its pleasures to lead an ascetic life was when he saw an ailing old man bent with age, begging for his death. "Daylight waits while the old man sings "Heaven help me", And then like the rush of a thousand wings It shines upon "the one" And the day (of Buddha's new ascetic life) had just begun.

"With just one touch of his trembling hand The answer will be found." Symbolised the tapping of one's inner wisdom for answers to life's questions.

"There in the middle of the circle (of life ) he stands, seeing, feeling." - The 4 causes of Pain and suffering was what Buddha saw as spokes of the Karmic Cycle.

"With just one wave of the stong right hand He's gone" - Buddha's renunciation

I mean I could go on seeking the meaning of the song...But I guess you guys got the picture.

Think "Buddha" and the true and most convincing meaning of this song will emerge guys...Nothing religious here...Just follow the song with the life history of Buddha in mind.

Although most of it rings true, The Buddha was from India. So either he means someone else or he was mistaken about Gautama's (The Buddha) roots too. But interesting read. (just noticed you are an Indian!!!! You should know)

Not Valid

@tejasdatta This song was written 1975 or prior, so where did he get Year of the Fox from? The Titan Calendar didn't exist until the 80's. The Fox doesn't exist in any ancient zodiac calendars that I can find and the only other mention is in Primal Astrology, which is probably some other made up BS. I know, I know, its all made up BS.. But I'm curious because this song has significance to me. I'm 55 years old, I've been a Dio fan most of my life. My wife is 26 years younger than...

@ashiq Blackmore wanted the line "In the year of the fox" to be "In the year of the badger," but that would have been awkward to sing. So yeah, sometimes the lyrics have to be adapted.

Cover art for The Temple Of The King lyrics by Rainbow

I think the song is about a young man trying to make sense of death. The great black bell rings, warning of an impending death. He studies an old man begging for heaven as his life is coming to an end. The old man dies, and the young man touches him with a trembling hand, and day breaks, shining on him as he begins to understand that death is inevitable and not to be feared.

The next time he hears the bell, it symbolizes that he (the one) is near death himself. He's seeing and feeling how it felt to be that old man he witnessed dying. He accepts his death willingly and waves goodbye without fear as he's beginning to lose consciousness whilst thinking about what awaits him and all he's heard about the after life. Just then he espies the old man who begged for heaven and is comforted. He dies with a look of joy in his eyes, and those who follow after him in death, he gives welcome to, as the old man did for him, and then they too know of the temple and the king.

My Interpretation
Cover art for The Temple Of The King lyrics by Rainbow

There comes a time when the young man must face is destony and dethrone the king.

Cover art for The Temple Of The King lyrics by Rainbow

The problem with interpreting Ronnie James' songs is that he seems to start with a metaphorical story, and then puts it into lyrical form, so one has to decipher on two levels.

The story here is of the young man searching for the "answer", whatever the hell it is. And the answer seems to be in the middle of the circle, where he started of, suggesting the answer was in him all along. The saga concludes with him sharing it with the rest of the people.

The message of the song seems to be that rather than searching for Kings in the world around us, we should instead turn to the Kingly qualities within ourselves.

Cover art for The Temple Of The King lyrics by Rainbow

i see this as simply an adventure story. dio is a genius in painting imagery with his lyrics and singing style. he can tell a whole fantasy (dragon-genre) story in less than 5 mins

Cover art for The Temple Of The King lyrics by Rainbow

What an amazing song...So poetic and lyrical, it is like rock right from the medieval times! You guys have put it well:i think it is about the search for meaning,following youa ambitions and trying to be what you (think you) are made for.

Cover art for The Temple Of The King lyrics by Rainbow

This song is rather balladistic, clearly inspired by orienthal mythology. Naming years after signs of the zodiac is the Chinese way of timekeeping,(but there is no year of the fox in the Chinese calendar, so this must be a reference to the fantasy world of Titan.) and the song reflects a Zen-ish philosophy. In my interpretation this is a coming of age story:

"The strong young man" is a price, the phrase " of the rising sun" is he himself and the likes of him, and the change that is to be brought, as well as it serves to indicate that the story takes place somewhwere east.

The "Tolling of the great bleack bell" Signifies the death of a previous king, which calls the prince forth from exile/obscurity.

Because this is a "Time remembered well" it must have been a great catastrophy not only the death of the king, because according to Buddhist thinking in the great circle of life the death of a king is nothing notable. The prince must go to the Temple of the King, and in order to become King, he must prove himself to the acolytes of the temple by finding the answer.

"There in the middle of the circle he stands"He is afraid of the expectations, and wavers a bit, but he had known the answer all along."With just one touch of his trembling hands the answer will be found." He has proven hinself to be worthy to be King, and is initiated as such.

"Daylight waits while the oldman sings: Heaven Help me!" Signifies that the new light is brought by the King, and in perils of epic proprtion it is the young who bring change.

"Far from the circle at the edge of the world..."

The King retires form the wold to meditate and he is crucified by doubts but he is able to collect himself.,

"With just one touch of the strong right hand,they know of the temple and the King." The change from trembling to strong means that he is know fully reconciled with himself and his destiny, and he shares the "answer" with the people. The answer is that instead of looking for a king to follow they must all rise up to be kings and lead eachother out of peril.

My Interpretation

@drterrabyte great one

Cover art for The Temple Of The King lyrics by Rainbow

It's not flawless but I did some research and this is what I have:

Temple of the king – The Temple of God. Accesible (in this case) from the pattern held on the top of Croagh Patrick (St. Patrick). It ultimately means redemption/penitence/forgiveness or something of the sort.

The rising sun – See Garland Sunday

Great black bell - Great black bell from St. Patrick (Ireland)

The Circle – Ritual for penance (also rheumatism pain)

People - Pilgrims

The Year of the Fox - is the fifteenth in the twenty-year cycle of Titan, shared across all civilized cultures and many semi-civilized ones. It is said that a person born during the Year of the Fox delights in finding things out and telling others about them, regardless of whether or not those people are even interested, making them prime candidates for tutors. [As has been stated in other comments]

The black bell was used for various purposes: [See http://www.croagh-patrick.com/visitorcentre/black-bell]

-Legal issues -Penance (kiss it for a penny) -Superstitions as in healing Rheumatism pains (for 2 pence) by putting it 3 times around the body’s right hand towards the right, in the direction of the hands of a clock or of the apparent motion of the sun (Hence “The Circle”)

Garland Sunday

Garland Sunday is also sometimes referred to as "Domhnach Chrom Dubh" (Black Crom Sunday). Crom Dubh is often translated as the Dark Stooped One. In pre-Roman times, Crom Dubh seems to have been considered a despotic deity with evil powers. On the other hand, Lugh was personified as both young and strong. It is believed that he grasped harvest riches from the hands of fate each year by defeating the older god Crom Dubh. Each year the ritual involved cutting the first of the harvest and taking the head of Crom Dubh from its sanctuary and temporarily burying it in a high place. Locally in County Mayo the celebration is known as Domhnach Crom Dubh, but it is also known as Garland Sunday, Garlic Sunday, the last Sunday of Summer, and Domhnach na Cruaiche -- Reek Sunday. This is the Sunday on which traditionally many pilgrims climb Croagh Patrick in Murrisk near Westport, Co. Mayo.

So:

One day in the year of the fox (year where newborns receive the gift of seeking) Came a time remembered well (by the pious pilgrims) When the strong young man of the rising sun (One of the Geragthy family members who were in possession of the bell, for Rising Sun see Garland Sunday) Heard the tolling of the great black bell (literal)

One day in the year of the fox When the bell began to ring Meant the time had cometh for one to go (one of the pious pilgrims in penitence) To the temple of the king (redemption/penitence/forgiveness or something of the sort)

There in the middle of the circle he stands (ritual) Searching, seeking (for forgiveness) With just one touch of his trembling hand (it is said the bell could cure Rheumatism pain) The answer will be found (Success)

Daylight waits while the old man sings Heaven help me And then like the rush of a thousand wings (in various religions, winged deities where believed to protect besides other things) It shines upon the one (realization) And the day had just begun

One day in the year of the fox came a time remembered well When the strong young man of the rising sun Heard the tolling of the great black bell

One day in the year of the fox When the bell began to sing It meant the time had cometh for one to go To the temple of the king

There in the middle of the people he stands Seeing, feeling With just a wave of a strong right hand (Cured Rheumatism Pain) He's gone To the temple of the king (achieved penitence or forgiveness)

Far from the circle at the edge of the world (Home maybe somewhere in the border of the world map, some pilgrim who hasn’t started the journey yet) He's hoping, wondering (For the truth about the story) Thinking back from the stories he's heard Of what he's going to see (in St Patrick)

There in middle of the circle it lies Heaven help me Then all could see by the shine in his eyes (Cured pain or shrived sins) The answer had been found

Back with the people in the circle he stands (yet again) Giving, feeling With just one touch of a strong right hand They know Of the temple and the king

My Opinion
Cover art for The Temple Of The King lyrics by Rainbow

Long ago, in a time when the world was still shrouded in mystery, there was a young man from the rising sun. He was strong and full of vigor, with a heart that burned with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and adventure. And so, when the tolling of the great black bell echoed through the land, he knew that his time had come.

It was the day of the fox, a time of remembrance and reflection, and the young man knew that he had to go to the temple of the king. He had heard the stories of the temple, a place of great power and wisdom, and he knew that he had to go there if he ever wanted to find the answers that he sought.

And so he set out, walking for days through the dense forest and over the rugged hills, until he finally arrived at the temple. There, in the middle of a great circle, he stood, searching and seeking, his trembling hand reaching out for the answers that he so desperately craved.

And then, as if by magic, he found it. With just one touch of his hand, the answers he sought were revealed to him, and he was filled with a sense of wonder and awe that he had never felt before.

As he made his way back to the people in the circle, he felt different. He was filled with a newfound sense of purpose and understanding, and he knew that he had to share his knowledge with others. With just a wave of his strong right hand, he set out to teach others what he had learned, to spread the knowledge and understanding that he had gained from his journey to the temple of the king.

And so he spent his days traveling from village to village, teaching and sharing his newfound knowledge with anyone who would listen. And wherever he went, the people welcomed him with open arms, for they could see the shine in his eyes, the mark of one who had been to the temple of the king and had found the answers that they too sought.

But as time went by, the young man began to realize that the more he shared his knowledge, the more he seemed to learn. And so he continued to travel, always seeking and searching for new knowledge and understanding, and always sharing what he had learned with others.

And in the end, he realized that the journey to the temple of the king had taught him more than he ever could have imagined.

Song Meaning