The Poet
Aleister Crowley Lyrics


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Bury me in a nameless grave!
I came from God the world to save.
I brought them wisdom from above:
Worship, and liberty, and love.
They slew me for I did disparage
Therefore Religion, Law and Marriage.
So be my grave without a name
That earth may swallow up my shame!




Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Aleister Crowley's song "The Poet" can be interpreted in different ways, but they seem to speak of a person who was sent by God to bring wisdom, worship, liberty, and love to the world. However, the person was not accepted by society and was instead killed for criticizing religion, law, and marriage. The singer then requests to be buried in a nameless grave so that the shame of being rejected and slain by society may be swallowed up by the earth.


The lyrics can be interpreted as a criticism of society and its norms, as well as a commentary on the price that some people may pay for speaking out against those norms. The repetition of the phrase "nameless grave" emphasizes the singer's desire for anonymity and the idea that their legacy and contributions to the world may not be acknowledged or even remembered. The reference to being "sent by God" may also be interpreted as a reflection of Crowley's beliefs in the supernatural and his status as a spiritual leader.


Line by Line Meaning

Bury me in a nameless grave!
When I am gone, do not give me a grand burial, but rather bury me in a simple, unmarked grave.


I came from God the world to save.
As a poet, I believe that I have been sent by God to share my message of enlightenment with the world.


I brought them wisdom from above:
Through my poetic works, I have shared my insights and knowledge with others, helping them to gain a greater understanding of the world and themselves.


Worship, and liberty, and love.
The message that I have shared through my poetry is one of devotion, freedom, and affection for all beings.


They slew me for I did disparage
My ideas and beliefs went against the religious, legal, and societal norms of my time, leading to my persecution and even death.


Therefore Religion, Law and Marriage.
I criticized and challenged the traditional values and structures of religion, law, and marriage, which led to my downfall.


So be my grave without a name
Let my final resting place remain anonymous and unremarkable, as a way to symbolize the rejection and suppression of my unconventional ideas.


That earth may swallow up my shame!
Through the anonymity of my burial, my shame and guilt for my beliefs and actions will be buried along with me, leaving only my message of truth and enlightenment behind.




Contributed by Nicholas C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@cameronjohnson3529

That voice is angelic!

@astrix1014

The four elements earth air fire water. Very clever. He’s saying if you master all four you can become a god too!

@pedrotorres7149

Beautiful voice and accent.. great job!

@codymcbride2612

please,more from Crowley.

@andrewbiggins9404

Beautiful, and beautifully read

@lorenzohernandez9281

Beautiful.

@MASKROSE8

Beautifully and well written I couldn't have done better myself. This is truly one of his greatest works.

@josephtucker8913

I just want to say that I think Crowley would be very satisfied with the progress Sumerologists have made in deciphering the ancient culture, and maybe he'd agree with me when I say that Man has indeed entered a new awakening to his religious freedom, i.e. his Lordship over his own Spirit. Blessed Be!

@gavhinds8190

excellent. ..

@Brandon33akahk

Very beautiful ❤

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