When I listened to the song I thought in some way that this was the Virgin Mary, because I am a Christian, how this guy is shattered from his war experiences but she comes to encourage him again.
Another explanation is, I was talking with my boyfriend awhile ago about how I liked this song (which I do!) and he said he never heard it, so I recited some lyrics and commented on how I always wondered who she really is. He told me he thought she was Death, and if you listen the Lady in Black could be death:
"Oh Lady lend your hand outright/Oh let me rest here at your side"/"Have faith and trust in me" she said/And filled my heart with life."/"There is no strength in numbers/Have no such misconception/But when you need me be assured I won't be far away."
That's kind of like how he feels like he cannot go on and begs her to take his life (notice how he says "REST HERE AT YOUR SIDE"), but she tells him that he has the chance to live and stop the war. Then she tells him that he needs to die sometime, though, and his death is both needed--and not far away.
Then, at the end -
"And if one day she comes to you/Drink deeply from her words so wise/Take courage from her as your prize/And say hello for me."
That might be saying, if Death ever comes to YOU, accept that it is your time and die with courage rather than fear. And it implies that the singer died, too, because when the random person dies he will see the singer in the next life--and say hello to Death as well.
It's very creepy I thought but very fascinating as well.
When I listened to the song I thought in some way that this was the Virgin Mary, because I am a Christian, how this guy is shattered from his war experiences but she comes to encourage him again.
Another explanation is, I was talking with my boyfriend awhile ago about how I liked this song (which I do!) and he said he never heard it, so I recited some lyrics and commented on how I always wondered who she really is. He told me he thought she was Death, and if you listen the Lady in Black could be death:
"Oh Lady lend your hand outright/Oh let me rest here at your side"/"Have faith and trust in me" she said/And filled my heart with life."/"There is no strength in numbers/Have no such misconception/But when you need me be assured I won't be far away."
That's kind of like how he feels like he cannot go on and begs her to take his life (notice how he says "REST HERE AT YOUR SIDE"), but she tells him that he has the chance to live and stop the war. Then she tells him that he needs to die sometime, though, and his death is both needed--and not far away.
Then, at the end -
"And if one day she comes to you/Drink deeply from her words so wise/Take courage from her as your prize/And say hello for me."
That might be saying, if Death ever comes to YOU, accept that it is your time and die with courage rather than fear. And it implies that the singer died, too, because when the random person dies he will see the singer in the next life--and say hello to Death as well.
It's very creepy I thought but very fascinating as well.