Precious Jerusalem

I agree with a few points of view here. There are blatant references to Jesus such as: "Son of man (You truly are mine)...

Father stop it now We must stop it now"

But it also is talking about the peace that Jerusalem can never seem to attain and how Jesus was supposed to be a means to create just that.

When I first heard the part: "I've been caught in wilderness in wilderness I've get out well I found myself in desert lands in desert lands But you've been on my mind"

I thought of Moses when he was in the desert for 40 years trying to find Canaan. Not sure if this would make sense or not.

Though there are references to Jesus, it seems to be mainly about the region and it's distance from God. To Jerusalem, Jesus was just another unheeded messenger. It seems to suggest God is saddened by this rather than angry or wrathful.

Though I am not religious, this makes sense to me in the song and I find it very beautiful and tragic.

Going from the title "Precious Jerusalem," we are at least hinted that it has some connection with Jerusalem. Now, Jerusalem was the holy city of the Jews, God's chosen people, and tradition held it to be the location of the mountain where God spoke to Abraham, where David built his city, and where Solomon built his temple. In Christian belief, Jerusalem is also representative of the Church, whose doors are open by extension to the whole world.

OK. So, what about Jerusalem? The adjective used in the title and throughout the song is "precious"; but precious to whom? Well, that is the question. I would submit--and I don't think I am alone in this--that this song is from the perspective of Jesus, and it is about his longing for his love for "Jerusalem" to be reciprocated, and his undertaking of the task he set out to complete as told in the Gospels: Redemption. That seems to be the main thrust of the chorus, and of the whole song:

"I turn to you oh my precious Jerusalem Deny your prophets their passion and treat them like fools I turn to you oh my poor old Jerusalem Deny my love but you can't change fate"

This echoes, as has already been pointed out: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!" (Lk 13:34)

Further, the following is actually a pretty handy distillation of Christian theology:

"Words will heal it Love will conquer the Hearts of the hopeless The almighty is still alive"

"Words will heal it" - Words will heal what? What is there to heal? Human wickedness, and unfaithfulness to God. Thats pretty much the whole thread of drama throughout the old testament: the Jews repeatedly straying from God. And "words" will heal this? Sounds about right: "The truth shall set you free" = the Gospel (literally "good news").

"Love will conquer the hearts of the hopeless" - Amen. Not really much to add to that. Thats pretty much the heart of Christianity.

"The almighty is still alive" - "I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. God is not the God of the dead, but of the living." (Mt 22:35)

"I've gone beyond but there's no life And there is nothing how it seems I've gone beyond but there's no life There is no healing rain in Eden The empty barren wasted paradise Let's celebrate the dawning of the Sun"

This is pretty much consistent with the whole idea of the world being full of human iniquity and needing to be healed. After the fall, humans must suffer the consequences of sin, primarily death. They are banished from Eden and barred from eternal life, and the consequences of the fall spread over all of creation - the "empty barren wasted paradise". There is no "healing rain" or redemption for man in the fallen paradise. That's what Jesus came to do, hence: "Let's celebrate the dawning of the Sun" which is an analogy for the coming of Jesus who will bring light and life to the world.

In light of this, the following from later in the song makes perfect sense:

"Rise up and follow me cause I will bring the light Rise up and follow me wake up and clear your mind I try to bring it back the seed of life I try to bring it back the seal of light"

Also,

"I've been caught in wilderness in wilderness I've get out well I found myself in desert lands in desert lands But you've been on my mind"

This seems to be a reference to Jesus's fasting for 40 days in the wilderness.

These are just a few comments in passing, and not a complete analysis of the lyrics. Still, the meaning of the song seems pretty clear to me. It's about Jesus coming to redeem mankind after ages of living under the shadow of evil seemingly without hope of deliverance. the center stage for this is Jerusalem, the holy city of the Jews, where he goes to proclaim his teaching, and ultimately to die on the cross and be resurrected. Maybe you believe that, maybe you do not. But if one sees the narrative thread it is certainly an incredible story, and makes for the powerful song. I think BG did a brilliant job with this.

I'm also think that is about Jesus, not Juwes (I don't think, that Hansi or some one of BG are Juwe, so I can't see reason to write song about them).

There words of Fallen angel: "You really think you are half way up I would not mind if you were right (It's not sure) I'd rather say you are half way down So I am going to help you if I can"

and some other things, that directs us to Bible and Jesus, his misery and mission, burden of sins of mankind. And as you do remember - he ended his mortal life in Jerusalem

And also 'I rise and fall again' Everytime we (the Jewish people) escape the horrors and such and our numbers are diminished and then within a few hundred or a thousand years we build up our numbers only to be pushed down again.

So if you say there's no faith in man You better keep in mind That I can read between the lines MY HEAVY BURDEN BRINGS EYESIGHT TO THE BLIND

I think this has to do with Jesus, actually- his burden being that he's a prophet and can do all these great things- he brings eyesiht to the blind.

I've been caught in wilderness in wilderness I've get out well I found myself in desert lands in desert lands But you've been on my mind

I think this is self explanitory I turn to you oh my precious Jerusalem Deny your prophets their passion and treat them like fools I turn to you oh my poor old Jerusalem Deny my love but you can't change me

A recurring theme being prophets and mistreating them- something that happened...obviously.

Rise up and follow me cause I will bring the light Rise up and follow me wake up and clear your mind I try to bring it back the seed of life I try to bring it back the seal of light

I think this is rather self explanitory too: a 'speech' (for lack of a better word) to Jesus' followers.

I'm not saying that I'm positive that this song is from Jesus' point of view before his execution, but it's an idea I thought I'd throw in there.

Actually given Blind Guardian's penchant for the Middle ages and Fantasy....and by the heading out for Jerusalem part, this could (and more than likely is) about Richard Cor Leonis (The Lionhearted.) The whole part about the fact that he's heading out for Jerusalem, and finds himself in desert lands, and defended the Kingdom of Jerusalem, this makes more sense than Jesus (though one can see with the whole eyesight to the blind part.)

Father stop it now We must stop it now

Jesus :P

Lionhearth didn't ever made it to Jerusalem. The song could make sens with the crusades thougt.

You're right, it was Geraard van Ruddervoorde, not Richard the Lion-Hearted.

This is Biblical-themed song about Jesus and his crucifiction. A common theme for BG, since there's Martyr, Sadly Sings Destiny and Another Holy War, but this one is the best.

I think it's about the crusades.

Btw. A wonderfull song. BG Rocks