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.
Close the door, put out the light
No, they won't be home tonight
The snow falls hard and don't you know?
The winds of Thor are blowing cold
They're wearing steel that's bright and true
They carry news that must get through, oh
They choose the path where no-one goes
They hold no quarter
They hold no quarter, oh
Walking side-by-side with death
The devil mocks their every step, ooh
The snow drives back the foot that's slow
The dogs of doom are howling more
They carry news that must get through
To build a dream for me and you, oh, oh, oh
They choose the path where no one goes
They hold no quarter
They ask no quarter
They hold no quarter
They ask no quarter
Yeah
Without quarter, quarter, yeah (without quarter)
Without quarter, quarter, quarter
Taking no quarter
Oh, oh, oh (hear the dogs of doom) (no, never quarter)
I hear the dogs of doom are howling more
No, they won't be home tonight
The snow falls hard and don't you know?
The winds of Thor are blowing cold
They're wearing steel that's bright and true
They carry news that must get through, oh
They choose the path where no-one goes
They hold no quarter
They hold no quarter, oh
Walking side-by-side with death
The devil mocks their every step, ooh
The snow drives back the foot that's slow
The dogs of doom are howling more
They carry news that must get through
To build a dream for me and you, oh, oh, oh
They choose the path where no one goes
They hold no quarter
They ask no quarter
They hold no quarter
They ask no quarter
Yeah
Without quarter, quarter, yeah (without quarter)
Without quarter, quarter, quarter
Taking no quarter
Oh, oh, oh (hear the dogs of doom) (no, never quarter)
I hear the dogs of doom are howling more
Lyrics submitted by kevin, edited by matthewktr
No Quarter Lyrics as written by Jimmy Page John Paul Jones
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Close the door, put out the light. (Make like no one’s home, the Vikings are coming) You know they won't be home tonight. (The men of the city have gone to fight them) The snow falls hard and don't you know? (It’s probably blizzard like conditions outside, Vikings often came in the winter) The winds of Thor are blowing cold. (Thor, the main Viking god, blowing some damned cold winds) They're wearing steel that's bright and true (Vikings didn’t wear steel, but popular culture says that they did, along with those horned hats) They carry news that must get through. (They have to tell the countryside the Vikings have landed) They choose the path where no-one goes. (If referring to the townspeople, it’s to stay away from the Viking armies, if to the Vikings, than it’s the armies of the countryside)
They hold no quarter. (Quarter means a sort of forced occupation, like; you demanded quarter of a house. So, it follows that the Vikings wouldn’t hold any quarter, they’d just slaughter and burn the hell out of the town)
Walking side by side with death, The devil mocks their every step (It’s cold outside, many die on the long trip) The snow drives back the foot that's slow, The dogs of doom are howling more (In snow, wearing armor, you have to run, or you sink. The dogs of doom are Icelandic sheepdogs, a dog the Vikings took with them because of it’s hearty sprit, willingness to chase, and allegiance to it’s master) They carry news that must get through, To build a dream for me and you (If the news doesn’t get through, then the town is destroyed by Vikings)
They choose the path where no-one goes. (See the last one, and the rest is self explanatory)
They hold no quarter. They ask no quarter. The pain, the pain without quarter. They ask no quarter. The dogs of doom are howling more!
When they say they hold no quarter i believe that means they have no special considerations or will play no favorites with their enemys. When they ask no quarter it means they want no special consideration from their enemys in other words they are some bad motherfuckers JR
Oden is the main viking god, thor is his son and often liked by norse beleivers better because he didn't require sacrifice.
he is right about "no quarter" it is "quarter" as in "living quarters" or a dwelling. i think the explanation makes sense, they are just pillaging and moving on. they don't stay in the town they ransack. their dogs are howling because they know it's time to move on again.
@Clemth I do not want to believe that this great song is only based on a sstale story about some vikings. And all you Thor and Odin lovers: The nordic gods have nothing to do with the Nazis – or doooo they?<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> the text above is meant ironically – Well, at least some of it.
@Clemth when an army announces no quarter against their enemies they are saying “everyone dies” plain and simple. No mercy will be given. So I’m the opening close the door put out the lights they not telling able bodied people to hide as if not home, they’re telling the wives that your men dead. Don’t wait up