Kristaps is almost right. It is based on the concept album story in Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. I know the story very well, as I bought this—tape—when it first came out. I was a teen at the time and very into it. It's still one of the greatest albums ever, iMHO. Anyhow, the concept is about a boy who is born with certain mystical powers—clairvoyance being the most prominent one. For reasons that are not clear, both God and Satan want him for their own, so to speak. Initially, Satan wants him killed in the womb (see "Moonchild"): "Be the mother of a birth-strangled babe." Apparently God sees potential for good in him, and Satan wants that stopped. When the "hero's" mother turns down Lucifer's request and the boy is born, it becomes a sort of cosmic struggle for the child's life on earth, and ultimately his eternity. One way the devil seeks to accomplish is goal is for his beautiful daughter to seduce the boy (who at this point is a young man): "Slept in the dust with his daughter, her eyes red with the slaughter of innocents." (above lyrics inaccurately say "innocence." The plan works double, because she more than seduces him; he falls in love with her. Hence, the actually pretty touching lyrics: "I will pray for her; I will call her name out loud." It seems he believes that even the devil's daughter is not beyond redemption. The song concludes intentionally ambiguous (Bruce Dickinson confirms this intent). The seventh lamb who is slain is the "hero" himself. For reasons that are unclear, it appears the "hero" has been murdered (perhaps in a trap set by Satan's daughter), and he is standing before God, as the Book of Life (a Biblical image confirmation of one's redemption or lack thereof by God) opens before him. He states that he will pray for—someone. The devil's daughter, perhaps? Again, maybe he hopes that she can still shed the ways of her father. He states, "Beyond is where I learn." This is the closest to suggesting that he overcame the tricks of the devil and will move on to Heaven, which is where he will learn, and perhaps he may even return from someday. If it were hell, neither would be an option.
But all in all, it is a song about his falling in love with the devil's daughter, his agony over the effects of the evil schemes against him as well as his own failings, and his quest for redemption and the road that remains ahead after his death.
I completely agree with this.
However since I'm somewhat of an optimist I have a slightly different interpretation.
I completely agree with this.
However since I'm somewhat of an optimist I have a slightly different interpretation.
I think that in the second verse:
"Don't you cry for me
Beyond is where I learn"
I think that in the second verse:
"Don't you cry for me
Beyond is where I learn"
Is kind of telling her that she shouldn't feel any regret(indicating that she may have fallen in love with him too).
Is kind of telling her that she shouldn't feel any regret(indicating that she may have fallen in love with him too).
Also I think each of the bridges:
"Living on a razors edge
Balancing on a ledge
Living on a razors edge"
Represents each of the characters feelings, and how they are torn between them.
The first bridge is how the "hero" is torn between God and...
Also I think each of the bridges:
"Living on a razors edge
Balancing on a ledge
Living on a razors edge"
Represents each of the characters feelings, and how they are torn between them.
The first bridge is how the "hero" is torn between God and his love for her, not knowing which is right or wrong.
The second bridge represents how the daughter is torn between her father and how she has fallen in love, questioning why she did it.
The chorus is essentially both of the characters being angry at God and the Devil(the hero being angry with God and the daughter being angry with her father(the Devil).
I do think that an underlying theme here questions whether some aspects of faith/religion are correct and that you should still do what you think is right.
Kristaps is almost right. It is based on the concept album story in Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. I know the story very well, as I bought this—tape—when it first came out. I was a teen at the time and very into it. It's still one of the greatest albums ever, iMHO. Anyhow, the concept is about a boy who is born with certain mystical powers—clairvoyance being the most prominent one. For reasons that are not clear, both God and Satan want him for their own, so to speak. Initially, Satan wants him killed in the womb (see "Moonchild"): "Be the mother of a birth-strangled babe." Apparently God sees potential for good in him, and Satan wants that stopped. When the "hero's" mother turns down Lucifer's request and the boy is born, it becomes a sort of cosmic struggle for the child's life on earth, and ultimately his eternity. One way the devil seeks to accomplish is goal is for his beautiful daughter to seduce the boy (who at this point is a young man): "Slept in the dust with his daughter, her eyes red with the slaughter of innocents." (above lyrics inaccurately say "innocence." The plan works double, because she more than seduces him; he falls in love with her. Hence, the actually pretty touching lyrics: "I will pray for her; I will call her name out loud." It seems he believes that even the devil's daughter is not beyond redemption. The song concludes intentionally ambiguous (Bruce Dickinson confirms this intent). The seventh lamb who is slain is the "hero" himself. For reasons that are unclear, it appears the "hero" has been murdered (perhaps in a trap set by Satan's daughter), and he is standing before God, as the Book of Life (a Biblical image confirmation of one's redemption or lack thereof by God) opens before him. He states that he will pray for—someone. The devil's daughter, perhaps? Again, maybe he hopes that she can still shed the ways of her father. He states, "Beyond is where I learn." This is the closest to suggesting that he overcame the tricks of the devil and will move on to Heaven, which is where he will learn, and perhaps he may even return from someday. If it were hell, neither would be an option. But all in all, it is a song about his falling in love with the devil's daughter, his agony over the effects of the evil schemes against him as well as his own failings, and his quest for redemption and the road that remains ahead after his death.
I completely agree with this. However since I'm somewhat of an optimist I have a slightly different interpretation.
I completely agree with this. However since I'm somewhat of an optimist I have a slightly different interpretation.
I think that in the second verse: "Don't you cry for me Beyond is where I learn"
I think that in the second verse: "Don't you cry for me Beyond is where I learn"
Is kind of telling her that she shouldn't feel any regret(indicating that she may have fallen in love with him too).
Is kind of telling her that she shouldn't feel any regret(indicating that she may have fallen in love with him too).
Also I think each of the bridges: "Living on a razors edge Balancing on a ledge Living on a razors edge" Represents each of the characters feelings, and how they are torn between them. The first bridge is how the "hero" is torn between God and...
Also I think each of the bridges: "Living on a razors edge Balancing on a ledge Living on a razors edge" Represents each of the characters feelings, and how they are torn between them. The first bridge is how the "hero" is torn between God and his love for her, not knowing which is right or wrong. The second bridge represents how the daughter is torn between her father and how she has fallen in love, questioning why she did it.
The chorus is essentially both of the characters being angry at God and the Devil(the hero being angry with God and the daughter being angry with her father(the Devil).
I do think that an underlying theme here questions whether some aspects of faith/religion are correct and that you should still do what you think is right.
Well thats my take on it :) Its an amazing song