Fedallah is correct about everything.
I would add that the song is basically a proverbial confrontation between a (Christian) child and Satan, under the veil of a Knight.
The Knight is continually challenging the child, and the child responds by holding steady both in his position on the road, and in his willpower.
I believe that the "strong staff" is actually a walking stick, that the child will use to aid him on his journey.
The rest pretty much speaks for itself.
Fedallah is correct about everything. I would add that the song is basically a proverbial confrontation between a (Christian) child and Satan, under the veil of a Knight. The Knight is continually challenging the child, and the child responds by holding steady both in his position on the road, and in his willpower. I believe that the "strong staff" is actually a walking stick, that the child will use to aid him on his journey. The rest pretty much speaks for itself.