This is a very personal song. At this time in the singer/songwriter, Roy Khan's life, he was struggling with issues of religious belief. I think this song has to do with grappling with such beliefs.
"In the shadow of my doubt
This life is dust on naked walls"
In his worldview, there is no ultimate meaning or purpose.
"In the ruins of defeat
The spotlights fade
There's a clown without a crowd
His sorrow smiles relentlessly
Welcome winter, bittersweet
Of final fall"
He feels as if he is defeated when he loses joy from his passion, music. The clown, being the singer, fears whether or not people appreciate what he does. Despite this fear, he welcomes the end if it may come.
"My train of thoughts keep on hauling me over a low again
Easy to see for a someone whose soul can bleed"
The singer believes his sense of self-righteousness and gathered knowledge regarding life are just barely getting him through places where he questions religion might give him fulfillment. Religious people, those who have souls which are able to bleed, are able to visibly see this struggle in his life.
"So far astray
When all comes to all
You'll never be satisfied
You might as well let go"
The singer doesn't believe religion can truly give him fulfillment, so he just suggests giving up on trying to find true fulfillment and meaning. Regardless, he will count on what he knows to allow him to endure the coming storms in his life.
This is a very personal song. At this time in the singer/songwriter, Roy Khan's life, he was struggling with issues of religious belief. I think this song has to do with grappling with such beliefs.
"In the shadow of my doubt This life is dust on naked walls"
In his worldview, there is no ultimate meaning or purpose.
"In the ruins of defeat The spotlights fade There's a clown without a crowd His sorrow smiles relentlessly Welcome winter, bittersweet Of final fall"
He feels as if he is defeated when he loses joy from his passion, music. The clown, being the singer, fears whether or not people appreciate what he does. Despite this fear, he welcomes the end if it may come.
"My train of thoughts keep on hauling me over a low again Easy to see for a someone whose soul can bleed"
The singer believes his sense of self-righteousness and gathered knowledge regarding life are just barely getting him through places where he questions religion might give him fulfillment. Religious people, those who have souls which are able to bleed, are able to visibly see this struggle in his life.
"So far astray When all comes to all You'll never be satisfied You might as well let go"
The singer doesn't believe religion can truly give him fulfillment, so he just suggests giving up on trying to find true fulfillment and meaning. Regardless, he will count on what he knows to allow him to endure the coming storms in his life.