Doberman Pharaoh tells the story of the Exodus, second book of the Bible. The first section, "To and fro, though freeze and thaw...", states that over the passing of time, the Promised Land of the Hebrews was divided and the tribles of Israel led into slavery to Egypt. "Where death wed something else" may be a reference to mummification.
The "desert son" - and later, the "Hebrew in a jackal's mask" - is Moses. He is rescued from his basket on river ("Wretched destiny arrive") and, when grown, attempts to free his people from the Pharoah.
The Pharaoh is, in a sense, little more than a puppet to Satan (from whose perspective the song is told). We are told this by the name of the song, by the fact Satan does not yield to Moses' threats, and by Satan's "twining with fate." Clearly, Satan possesses some power over the man.
The plagues come into affect, but they are not caused by nature ("But these miracles, feared / Were all but reared / By nature, whose law alone / Stood that revered") - they are caused by God.
Before the final plague is unleashed, I got the sense Satan may have been tiring of his battle against God ("but with time / Bored sore of clawing what was mine"), and prepares to let the war slip away. The final plague changes this ("The prophet's curse / Far worse had worked / To wrest the war in me from sleep").
Michael is unleashed to kill firstborn children in all houses without the mark of Yahveh (God) above the door. Finally, the Pharoah relents.
Doberman Pharaoh tells the story of the Exodus, second book of the Bible. The first section, "To and fro, though freeze and thaw...", states that over the passing of time, the Promised Land of the Hebrews was divided and the tribles of Israel led into slavery to Egypt. "Where death wed something else" may be a reference to mummification.
The "desert son" - and later, the "Hebrew in a jackal's mask" - is Moses. He is rescued from his basket on river ("Wretched destiny arrive") and, when grown, attempts to free his people from the Pharoah.
The Pharaoh is, in a sense, little more than a puppet to Satan (from whose perspective the song is told). We are told this by the name of the song, by the fact Satan does not yield to Moses' threats, and by Satan's "twining with fate." Clearly, Satan possesses some power over the man.
The plagues come into affect, but they are not caused by nature ("But these miracles, feared / Were all but reared / By nature, whose law alone / Stood that revered") - they are caused by God.
Before the final plague is unleashed, I got the sense Satan may have been tiring of his battle against God ("but with time / Bored sore of clawing what was mine"), and prepares to let the war slip away. The final plague changes this ("The prophet's curse / Far worse had worked / To wrest the war in me from sleep").
Michael is unleashed to kill firstborn children in all houses without the mark of Yahveh (God) above the door. Finally, the Pharoah relents.