Fifty thousand men were sent to do the will of one
His claim was phrased quite simply
Though He never voiced it loud
I am He, the chosen one

In His name they could slaughter
For His name they could die
Though many there were believed in Him
Still more were sure He lied
But they'll fight the battle on

Then one whose faith had died
Fled back up the mountainside
But before the top was made
A misplaced footfall made Him stray
From the path prepared for Him
Off of the mountain on to a wilderness of ice

This unexpected vision
Made them stand and shake with fear
But nothing was His fright compared
With those who saw him appear
Terror filled their minds with awe

Simple were the folk who lived
Upon this frozen wave
So not surprising was their thought
This is He, Gods chosen one

Who's come to save us from
All our oppressors
We shall be kings on this world

"Follow me
I'll play the game you want me
Until I find a way back home"

"Follow me
I give you strength inside you
Courage to win your battles"

No, no, no, this can't go on
This will be all that I fled from
Let me rest for a while

He walked into a valley
All alone
There He talked with water
And then with the vine

They leave me no choice
I must lead them to glory
Or most likely to death

They traveled cross the plateau
Of ice up to its edge
Then they crossed a mountain range
And saw the final plain
Still He urged the people on

Then, on a distant slope
He observed one without hope
Flee back up the mountainside
He thought He recognized Him by His walk

And by the way He fell
And by the way He stood up
And vanished into air


Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae, edited by musictomyear

One For The Vine Lyrics as written by Anthony George Banks

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

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One For The Vine song meanings
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  • +2
    General Comment

    What is very interesting about this song is the story is tranferable to any time period, as it operates as a metaphor. It is a story that applies in the present, where replacing governments can have behaviour more questionable than that of the replaced. The King is Dead, Long Live the King. It certainly has a circle of life aspect, and has the underpinning that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

    The one who initially questions the leader ends up by a twist of fate to be a potential leader, himself. When alone "...he talked with water, and then with the vine" can have many meanings. It has religious connotations for me as much of Genesis' earlier work does. He steels himself so that he can make the decision to lead, initially by the drinking of water, then by the drinking of wine, which has always been referred to as the product of the vine. It is left to the reader / listener to decide whether he himself turns that water into wine or convinces himself that he does or just finds both. In any event he reaches a point where he has gained the courage or delusion to lead. It is arguable that he does not see himself completely as a god, as he realises that he may be leading his people "more likely to death" than "to glory". However, he certainly reaches a point where he is prepared to be the adored leader, without qualifications.

    When he views another who "Stood up, and vanished into air" at the end of the song this again is a metaphor for the selling of one's soul for personal gain. It is the soul that vanishes, in the person he witnesses, just as it vanished in him.

    OneForTheVineon March 27, 2011   Link

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