Battlefield

According to blind Guardian, it's based on the old scandanavian legend of Hildebrandslied. Here is the story as said from Wikipedia Hildebrand fights his own son Hadubrand. In fact Hildebrand became Dietrich's (Theoderich's) armourer, because he had to leave his home, he left his wife and his son. 30 years later, Hildebrand returns. His son Hadubrand is now ruling over his land, he is leading his army against the supposed invasion. As is customary, the two leaders meet between the armies. They start to list their family tree, in order to prevent themselves from killing a relative. Hadubrand says that he is "Hadubrand Hildebrand's son", but he was told that Hildebrand died, and he thinks that the fighter before him is using Hildebrand's name to deceive him. In fact in the original text with the end of the song is lost, but the legends and the third song tell the end of the story. Hildebrand has to kill his son otherwise he would be killed by him; he has pictures of all the warriors he killed on his red shield, and his son's picture is added to the others.

Why is this always attributed to the crusades? Sure, there are biblical references and a reference to Richard the Lionhearted, who slaughtered thousands of innocents in the name of God, but this could also be attributed to many other conflicts past and present, such as the Thirty Years' War or the Allied or Axis side of World War II. The song is a group of people repetitively singing their chorus - we should follow religion, we are right by God's will, we should follow our leaders, because we're the ones that are right. People die, but people always die, and this is a glorious cause to die for. A second voice is sick and tired and complaining about the conflict - less repetitive, indicating a greater disillusionment about the situation. But he is continually drowned out by the primary group, indicating that he is also the less commonly believed speaker.

In the Thirty Years' War, both Protestants and Catholics believed that God was on their side. In the end, a third of Germany at the time (even bigger than it is today) ended up being destroyed, and 8 million people ended up dead, not including disease that wracked the famished warring states. A ridiculous percentage of the able-bodied young men had been killed as well, because they were Godless if they didn't join the fight.

In World War II, the Axis and the Allies used terribly nationalist propaganda to enlist soldiers to fight. Both sides spread lies about the other in order to garner a greater moral support and make that "you're on the right side!" feeling. Even though the Germans carried out the Holocaust, the majority of civilians and soldiers alike were unaware of this except for rumors that they didn't believe their "glorious leader" was possible of.

I actually think this song is partly about Nargothrond and Turin Turambar. Maybe Hansi thought the other meaning actually resembled this story and decided to place some hints to it. Surely the term "god" is 180 degrees away from anything lotr but there are a few hints.

"(a dark) seed reigns in me (like a) storm rules over the sea i challenge thee, do not cross this bridge alone"

Dark seed is obviously the curse of morgoth. The bridge is the bridge of nargothrond which Turin counseled to build. Yet, you would not expect Turin to think something like "storm over a sea".

"open your eyes, wake up my dear young friend and hate shall fade away i will not move yet i'll stand still, instead"

It seems like it represents the charm of Glaurung and the optimism of Turin afterwards.

"there on the battlefield he stands down on the battlefield he's lost and on the battlefield it ends"

Turin is charmed after the battle of Tumhalad (where, in silmarillion, it's strangly emphasized that Battle of Tumhalad took place in a "battlefield".) Hence it's a bit confusing.

"war and anger shall reign the clash of iron can be heard by blindness you're driven insane i'm lost in anguish and grief sorrow won't wane till you die a shattered body deeply hurt and darkness will cover the light it's gone forevermore (it's gone forevermore!)"

Turin is emphasized to have a long and a black sword.(Gurthang) It might be the most emphasized sword in Silmarillion. So this can explain the clash of iron which i think it's not lotr related. A shattered body? Findiulas?

"the field's been left in sorrow the father and the son they are gone the sun shines bright, and anger rises lorn and lonely, torn apart don't you think it's time to stop now we were charmed and fooled by the old serpent's kiss"

Father and son.. It could be a hint to Hurin and Turin because they share a similar fate. (This is a long shot)

Old serpent is obviously Glaurung. Tumhalad is a plain and it can explain the green references in the song.

This all is a long shot but it worths a try :p

AMAZING SONG !

I read that it's about a European story myth thing...that's all I have to contribute. Awesome song.

It's an amazing song and I guess it's about Wars of the Cross and Richard the Lion Heart 'cause somewhere it says "Renowned be the lion-hearted"

Hmmm, I've read Das Hildebrandslied a few times but I didn't catch that it was the subject of this song. Blech, Blind Guardian's lyrics are a little to non-specific sometimes.

Wow, this is one power metal song that conveys meaning. Honestly, Through the Fire and Flames and Emerald Sword, two other power metal songs I like, aren't that meaningful. This one is. It tells about how so much is lost during war; people are blinded by hate, anger, death. Loyalties are unquestioningly kept, slayings are unquestionably performed. The world loses all civility on the battlefield.

I can't decide specifics, but I think it has something to do with Richard the Lionhearted:

"That's what the minstrel sing Join in the horrible screams Take part in murderous deeds Renowned be the lion-hearted "

It could just be a reference to courage, but I'm not so sure.

Its about the Crusades... Someone who was there telling the story... He initially was interested in the religious fight, but now he only sees carnage and unnecessary death... So in other words "Renowned be the lion-hearted" IS Richard the Lionhearted of England.

"The field's been left in sorrow, The father and the son they're gone"

I think implies that the battle no longer is a religious battle (father/son=god/jesus) and is now just for the sake of killing the enemy.

"Don't you think it's time to stop now, We were charmed and fooled by the old serpent's kiss"

and this part the Snake refers to Satan