This is how I interpret this song. Yes, the four hell riders are the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, as Bruce himself stated in the album sleeve. The four horsemen stand for the corruption of the human spirit (fascism, lying leaders, greed, war, etc.) The Wheel of Dharma running out of time seems to signify the dampening of the human spirit of dignity and bravery, the setting sun, and the coming of the dark age, which is marked by suffering and death. Turning the wheel of Dharma literally means teaching the Dharma, or the teachings of the Buddha, which put an end to suffering and bring the return of dignity, bravery, and wisdom, and illuminate the basic goodness of humanity. Turning the wheel of Dharma, keeping the wheel turning, therefore seems to stave off the apocalypse and quell the darkness that the hell riders are bringing. The Silver Surfer is a superhero who keeps the wheel turning, despite all odds, but we must keep turning the wheel as well, and bring about a society based on human dignity and basic goodness.
This is how I interpret this song. Yes, the four hell riders are the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, as Bruce himself stated in the album sleeve. The four horsemen stand for the corruption of the human spirit (fascism, lying leaders, greed, war, etc.) The Wheel of Dharma running out of time seems to signify the dampening of the human spirit of dignity and bravery, the setting sun, and the coming of the dark age, which is marked by suffering and death. Turning the wheel of Dharma literally means teaching the Dharma, or the teachings of the Buddha, which put an end to suffering and bring the return of dignity, bravery, and wisdom, and illuminate the basic goodness of humanity. Turning the wheel of Dharma, keeping the wheel turning, therefore seems to stave off the apocalypse and quell the darkness that the hell riders are bringing. The Silver Surfer is a superhero who keeps the wheel turning, despite all odds, but we must keep turning the wheel as well, and bring about a society based on human dignity and basic goodness.