Their lyrical themes have traditionally pertained to Satanism and anti-Christianity. Certain past and present members including Blackmoon, Ahriman, Caligula and Chaq Mol have each declared an affinity for Satanism, with Ahriman and Caligula notably being practitioners of LaVeyan Satanism. In their earlier years, their lyrical themes usually revolved specifically around depictions of Hell and Satan. After Emperor Magus Caligula joined the band, their lyrics came to focus more on blasphemy and anti-Christian rhetoric, although there have been several exceptions to this.
The group have released seven full-length albums and are one of the most prominent acts in the Swedish black metal scene.
Dark Funeral was founded by guitarists Blackmoon (David Parland) and Lord Ahriman in 1993. Shortly afterwards drummer Draugen and bassist and vocalist Themgoroth joined the band. Their self-titled and self-financed EP, Dark Funeral, was recorded in 1994 at Dan Swanö's Unisound studio in January. It was released on May 4, the same day the band performed their first gig at Luse Lottes Pub in Oslo, Norway, alongside bands such as fellow live debut band Gorgoroth and Marduk (who performed their first show abroad). After the recording sessions, Draugen left the band and was replaced by Equimanthorn.
My Funeral
Dark Funeral Lyrics
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All misery will be gone"
Down this long and twining road
I walk with heavy feet
My head sunk down below
I have made up my mind
It's time to end this life
Then peace I will find
Walking down to my funeral
The mortal sin...
Some might be sad
I'll die with a grin
Walking down to my funeral
It's time to die
When I leave this pathetic world
I will hold my head high
Angels are watching from above
As so does the evil ones
That lurks down below...
I am almost there - at my funeral
I reach the end of the twining road
I put a bullet in my gun, don't need to reload
Feel the cold steel to my head
It's time to pull the trigger
Soon I'll be dead
Now when I'm at my funeral
I feel so free
Some might be sad
I'll die with a grin
Now I'm at my funeral
I feel so free
The mortal sin...
Sin...
Angels and demons
Reach out for me
Kingdom's wide open,
But I walk away from - thee
As I walk away...
"For eternal in twilight I dwell"
Walking down to my funeral
The mortal sin...
Some might be sad
I'll die with a grin
Walking down to my funeral
It's time to die
When I leave this pathetic world
I will hold my head high
Hold my head high...
The lyrics of the song "My Funeral" by Dark Funeral express the thoughts of a person who has decided to take their own life. The opening lines, "At the end of this long and lonely path, all misery will be gone," suggest that the singer has been struggling with intense suffering and is now seeking an end to it all. They describe themselves as walking down a "long and twining road" with "heavy feet," indicating that their journey through life has been difficult and exhausting.
As the song progresses, the singer reaches the point where they are about to take their own life. They describe feeling a sense of freedom and peace as they contemplate their own death, and express a desire to "hold [their] head high" as they leave the world behind. The mention of both angels and demons watching over them suggests a belief in the afterlife and a recognition that their choice will have consequences.
The final lines of the song, "For eternal in twilight I dwell," suggest that the singer believes they will find a place of rest and peace after death, even if it is not a conventional afterlife. Overall, the lyrics of "My Funeral" convey a sense of despair and hopelessness, as well as a belief in the power of death to bring release from suffering.
Line by Line Meaning
At the end of this long and lonely path,
All misery will be gone
Walking down this winding path of life,
Burdened by sadness and despair
I reached a decision, it's time to let go
Of this life of misery that I bear
Angels are watching from above
As so does the evil ones
That lurks down below...
In my final moments, I feel I'm being watched,
By heavenly guardians and earthly demons alike
All waiting patiently to see
What becomes of the soul that I'm about to release
I am almost there - at my funeral
As I make my way down this path of no return,
I arrive at the destination I had planned
Ready to lay myself to rest,
To be mourned by those whom I'll never see again
Now when I'm at my funeral
I feel so free
Some might be sad
I'll die with a grin
Now I'm at my funeral
I feel so free
The mortal sin...
Sin...
As the funeral procession ends and I’m laid to rest,
I feel the freedom that comes with departing this earth
Some may grieve, but I leave with a smile,
Finally free from the burden of life's trials.
Angels and demons
Reach out for me
Kingdom's wide open,
But I walk away from - thee
As I walk away...
As I leave behind all that I've ever known,
The promise of eternal life awaits,
With both angels and demons beckoning to me
But I choose to reject them all and fade into nothingness
For eternal in twilight I dwell
And so, in the afterlife, I find myself
Forever suspended in a world of perpetual twilight,
Neither fully alive nor truly dead,
Simply existing, adrift in the void.
Hold my head high...
As I take my final breaths, I do not falter,
But hold my head high as a sign of dignity and strength,
For even in death, I refuse to be broken,
And face my fate with composure and pride.
Contributed by Elena C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.