I think that the forst passage:
"The hero of the gods
The crossing of the threshold
The Belly of the wale
Refusal of Return"
actually referer to the story of Jonah in the old testament. Jonah was chosen by god to be a prophet, but Jonah refuse. He is then swallowed by a whale. He get vomited by the fish when he finally accept his faith, wich is god wish. This story is about accepting god signs, and what happen if we don't; that it's up to us to make benefit from that.
When, the song say "The hero of the gods" it means that the "hero" is chosen by gods, that he is not there by himself.
"The crossing of the threshold / The Belly of the wale" actually referer to is trip inside the whale.
"Refusal of Return" means that he can't return home, that he is forced to accept this mission.
"Language of the signs
Symbols to our sight
Guardian to thy throne
take on form"
This passage is like the contempoary interpretation of the story of Jonah. It means that when god send a sign to us, it is up to us to accept it, and use it to our benefit.
"Language of the signs / Symbols to our sight". This means that we have to see the sign, to recognise it as to what it really is.
"Guardian to thy throne / take on form". The guardian is the adventure, the expedition, the challenge of obtaining a gain from the mission the gods have given to the hero. "Take on form" is probably about the blood moutain, wich is the form the challenge has taken.
The rest of the song needs another kind of interpretation, and I think the previous guys here have have done a pretty good job. The two side of the song merge together to mean more together than they mean separated.
Overall, this song is really an intro to the album! It explain a bit why and who is doing what in the story.
I think that the forst passage: "The hero of the gods The crossing of the threshold The Belly of the wale Refusal of Return"
actually referer to the story of Jonah in the old testament. Jonah was chosen by god to be a prophet, but Jonah refuse. He is then swallowed by a whale. He get vomited by the fish when he finally accept his faith, wich is god wish. This story is about accepting god signs, and what happen if we don't; that it's up to us to make benefit from that.
When, the song say "The hero of the gods" it means that the "hero" is chosen by gods, that he is not there by himself.
"The crossing of the threshold / The Belly of the wale" actually referer to is trip inside the whale.
"Refusal of Return" means that he can't return home, that he is forced to accept this mission.
"Language of the signs Symbols to our sight Guardian to thy throne take on form"
This passage is like the contempoary interpretation of the story of Jonah. It means that when god send a sign to us, it is up to us to accept it, and use it to our benefit.
"Language of the signs / Symbols to our sight". This means that we have to see the sign, to recognise it as to what it really is.
"Guardian to thy throne / take on form". The guardian is the adventure, the expedition, the challenge of obtaining a gain from the mission the gods have given to the hero. "Take on form" is probably about the blood moutain, wich is the form the challenge has taken.
The rest of the song needs another kind of interpretation, and I think the previous guys here have have done a pretty good job. The two side of the song merge together to mean more together than they mean separated.
Overall, this song is really an intro to the album! It explain a bit why and who is doing what in the story.