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.
.... and after years in dark tunnels
he came to silence
there was nothing...
he realised that the cheering cries of worship
were but echoes of his harsh outspoken word
reflecting back at him from cold and naked walls
in hollow circles fled illusions of wisdom he had heard
"From nothing came all I ever knew"
and he beheld the ruins
of an empire torn apart
yet, no grief nor rage did bind him
just silent and bewildered
by the emptiness
he stumbled off his throne
suddenly, the walls around him cracked wide open
and an endless void appeared in flickering, grey light
"What force, but silence, has deprived me of my coil?
No trail to guide me. No point of reference in sight."
"By nothing, resurrection will be pure."
and he beheld the ruins
of an empire torn apart
wiping dust off his shoulders
just silent now
in this emptiness
leaving all behind
step by step
past all past
slowly he approached the surface
nothing left
to sacrifice
the mirrors mocked him on the way
he came to silence
there was nothing...
he realised that the cheering cries of worship
were but echoes of his harsh outspoken word
reflecting back at him from cold and naked walls
in hollow circles fled illusions of wisdom he had heard
"From nothing came all I ever knew"
and he beheld the ruins
of an empire torn apart
yet, no grief nor rage did bind him
just silent and bewildered
by the emptiness
he stumbled off his throne
suddenly, the walls around him cracked wide open
and an endless void appeared in flickering, grey light
"What force, but silence, has deprived me of my coil?
No trail to guide me. No point of reference in sight."
"By nothing, resurrection will be pure."
and he beheld the ruins
of an empire torn apart
wiping dust off his shoulders
just silent now
in this emptiness
leaving all behind
step by step
past all past
slowly he approached the surface
nothing left
to sacrifice
the mirrors mocked him on the way
Lyrics submitted by Psychedeliasmith
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Since my first reading, lyrics of this song are about the time you realise that your belief system is wrong. You might be into some philosophy, religion or ideology ("dark tunnels") for a period of your life, but later you come across arguments, books, scholars, scientific evidence or just your own experiences proving your past beliefs wrong or deeply flawed (the eureka moment "suddenly, the walls around him cracked wide open and an endless void appeared in flickering, grey light"). It takes a strong will and character to accept that, and it may involve feelings of shame ("the mirrors mocked him on the way"), but you come out of it stronger and better ("wiping dust off his shoulders").
The lyrics don't seem to fit in with the song, its about a king who lost his empire, and hes just walking around moping, the band play extremly fast as if they are emulating the sounds of a battle. Still my fave emperor song though.
THis song isnt just about a king who lost his empire - its part of the story of the cd prometheus.
This song isnt just about a king who lost his empire - its the first part of the story of th cd.
crazy
READ THE LYRICS!! its obvious that its about the fall of an empire iamsquirrel is right... maybe the start of the story is that...
all you have to do is read black metal lyrics to find the meaning, its served to you on a plate... i love that.
If you look at the lyrics to their other albums, this could be a continuation of stuff from Anthems to the Welkin & In the Nightside Eclipse; the fall of the empire of the narrator from those album's lyrics.
If you look at them as one story, In the Nightside Eclipse sets up an exposition for the story, Anthems tells of the rise of the narrator's empire, and Prometheus tells of his downfall and death.
damn, good observation!
Duh, all of their music has a common meaning, They're all about an emperor Rising up committing himself to darkness raging terror then dieing...
What about IX Equilibrium, then?