After the discussion the other day with Kent of The Kentroversy Papers about occult symbolism in rock music, I couldn't resist posting the lyrics (and video) of this song by the 80's metal powerhouse, Iron Maiden. Nothing subliminal here at all - this particular piece is so overflowing with occult symbolism that it is over-the-top.
"O God of earth and altar
Bow down and hear our cry
Our earthly rulers falter
Our peolple drift and die
The walls of gold entomb us
The swords of scorn divide
Take not thy thunder from us
But take away our pride"
(excerpt from an English hymnal written by G. K. Chesterton)
Just a babe in a black abyss
No reason for a place like this
The walls are cold and souls cry out in pain
An easy way for the Blind to go
A clever Path for the Fools who know
The Secret of the Hanged Man - the smile on his lips
The Light of the Blind you'll see
The venom that tears my spine
The Eyes of the Nile are opening - you'll see
She came to me with a Serpent's kiss
As the Eye of the Sun rose on her lips
Moonlight catches silver tears I cry
So we lay in a black embrace
And the seed is sown in a holy place
And I watched and I waited for the Dawn
The Light of the Blind you'll see
The venom that tears my spine
The Eyes of the Nile are opening - you'll see
Bind all of us together
Ablaze of hope and free
No storm or heavy weather
Will rock the boat you'll see
The time has come to close your eyes
And still the wind and rain
For the one who will be king
The Watcher in the Ring
It is you
I used to love Iron Maiden as a young teenager. They kind of became stale to me though. I never really thought of them as demonic though. At most i thought of them as story tellers who told stories about demons.
Posted by: Yabasta Lennon | Tuesday, March 13, 2007 at 11:43 PM
I did as well ;-)
I don't think of Iron Maiden as demonic at all and agree with you about being storytellers - good call. I think that their lyrics display a keen understanding of occult concepts. And a they had a good business sense of how to use that as part of their image. They use symbolism, both imagery and lyrical, very effectively.
Posted by: Occult of Personality | Wednesday, March 14, 2007 at 12:24 AM