oh - my dearest; the sweet music in the ear -
albeit, daresay I, the lullaby of an everso dark sleep.

my precious,
likest thou what emergeth yon the distant?
the throbbing and breathing of life's machinery!

wanion its oh so damndest soul!
with the devil-instrument it we shall reap,
after the banquet obscur'd in our thole,
its blood so lovingly across our faces smear

lord of carnagel,

lady of carnagel,

one funeral maketh many,

swarm god's acres;

two indeed more:
blest treat of delight -

give praise for the blood it bled,
grant a rose for the dead!
grant a rose for the dead!

enraptur'd by the timeless beauty of the
shadowsphere,
we two abide the overlook'd time of the watch.

make this cherish'd feast last
but until the new dawn ascendeth.

be still - harken the lure of night!
bale in each its damndest shadow,
cloth me in night, ne'er fell rue,
in its face, behold! naught save grue.

pray, ne'er come hither daylight!
wane to dust the wight,
velvet darkness, thee we ourselves bestow!
misery it in velvet fright


Lyrics submitted by stacibug

A Rose For The Dead song meanings
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12 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment
    No idea what it means, but I love it so much. Her voice is just outstanding, she's very, very talented.
    Arianrhodon October 17, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    yeah, this one is awesome, I think this was the first song I heard by ToT, and then I was hooked!
    HungerForMoreon March 17, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    purfect xample ov how doom metal shud sound lyke..try out anathema,novembers doom,opeth,dream theatre,within temptation....doom metal kicks raps ugly cracksmellin arse
    metal_messiahon July 01, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    uhh metal_messiah within temptation would be considered goth metal. ToT would be a cross between the two genres. Liv has an amazing voice, one of the best, but honestly she has nothing on Epica's Simone Simons. though i have to admit, she does give her a run for her money :D
    inuyoukesson February 25, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Metal Messiah, TOT is gothic, opeth (death metal) Dream theatre (progressive/power). inuyoukess I disagree, i think Liv has a better voice that Simone Simons.. it sux that she's not in TOT no more...
    Lizzaon February 27, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    The song is very vampyric. "my precious, likest thou what emergeth yon the distant? the throbbing and breathing of life's machinery!" Thier prey emerges "with the devil-instrument it we shall reap, after the banquet obscur'd in our thole, its blood so lovingly across our faces smear" Dracula made a deal with the devil to gain immortality and I assume the "banquet" they reap is the blood of the living "one funeral maketh many, swarm god's acres;" If someone is killed by being made a vampyre they dwell on the earth and kill more to feast "we two abide the overlook'd time of the watch." Most people overlook the time but most abide by it "make this cherish'd feast last but until the new dawn ascendeth. be still - harken the lure of night! bale in each its damndest shadow, cloth me in night, ne'er fell rue, in its face, behold! naught save grue. pray, ne'er come hither daylight! wane to dust the wight, velvet darkness, thee we ourselves bestow! misery it in velvet fright " They're trying to feast as much as possable before the sun comes up, they don't want daylight to come. Meh, that's what I take from it. if I'm wrong ah, well
    chi-chion March 08, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I meant to say this: People can overlook the time but those two must abide by it.
    chi-chion March 08, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    *please* dont spell vampire "vampyre", unless you mean it sarcastically. this has nothing to do with anne rice groupie skin goth wannabees. also, isnt the lyrics rather "lord/lady of carnage"? without the l? i would however agree this song does have s certain vampiric twist. its as good a explanation as any, i suppose.
    Feytaliston May 24, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    chi-chi is on point.
    baetaon May 25, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    btw, two words: leaves' eyes. liv kristine's new band, along with her husband. its along the same lines as ToT, only its got liv... long live liv. she's got the ultimate goth metal voice, with simone simons a *very* close second. although vibeke stene from tristania also comes quite close.
    Feytaliston September 26, 2007   Link

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