"Pale Horse," the title, is a reference to a line in the bible, describing one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse (pestilence.)
And, from the poem... here are some lines very similar to the song:
"From the haunts of daily life
Where is waged the daily strife
With common wants and common cares
Which sows the human heart with tares"
...
"Be your strong and simple words
Keen to wound as sharpened swords,
And wide as targes let them be,
With their shade to cover ye.
Let the tyrants pour around
With a quick and startling sound,
Like the loosening of a sea,
Troops of armed emblazonry.
Let the charged artillery drive
Till the dead air seems alive
With the clash of clanging wheels,
And the tramp of horses' heels."
...
"On those who first should violate
Such sacred heralds in their state
Rest the blood that must ensue,
And it will not rest on you."
...
"Rise like Lions after slumber
In unvanquishable number -
Shake your chains to earth like dew
Which in sleep had fallen on you -
Ye are many - they are few."
"Pale Horse," the title, is a reference to a line in the bible, describing one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse (pestilence.)
And, from the poem... here are some lines very similar to the song:
"From the haunts of daily life Where is waged the daily strife With common wants and common cares Which sows the human heart with tares"
...
"Be your strong and simple words Keen to wound as sharpened swords, And wide as targes let them be, With their shade to cover ye.
Let the tyrants pour around With a quick and startling sound, Like the loosening of a sea, Troops of armed emblazonry.
Let the charged artillery drive Till the dead air seems alive With the clash of clanging wheels, And the tramp of horses' heels."
...
"On those who first should violate Such sacred heralds in their state Rest the blood that must ensue, And it will not rest on you."
...
"Rise like Lions after slumber In unvanquishable number - Shake your chains to earth like dew Which in sleep had fallen on you - Ye are many - they are few."