Loreley
Blackmore's Night Lyrics
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Though the waves were plenty strong
Down the twisting river Rhine
Following a song...
Legend's faded storyline
Tried to warn us all
Oh, they called her Loreley
Oh, the stories we were told
Quite a vision to behold
Mysteries of the seas in her eyes of gold...
Laying on the silver stone, such a lonely sight
Barnacles become a throne, my poor Loreley...
And the winds would cry, and many men would die
And all the waves would bow down to the Loreley...
And the winds would cry, and many men would die
And all the waves would bow down to the Loreley...
You would not believe your eyes, how a voice could hypnotize
Promises are only lies from Loreley
In a shade of mossy green, seashell in her hand
She was born the river queen, ne'er to grace the land...
And the winds would cry, and many men would die
And all the waves would bow down to the Loreley...
And the winds would cry, and many men would die
And all the waves would bow down to the Loreley...
Oh, the song of Loreley
Charms the moon right from the sky...
She will get inside your mind, lovely Loreley...
When she cries "Be with me until the end of time"
You know you will ever be with your Loreley...
And the winds would cry, and many men would die
And all the waves would bow down to the Loreley...
And the winds would cry, and many men would die
And all the waves would bow down to the Loreley...
And the winds would cry, and many men would die
And all the waves would bow down to the Loreley...
Blackmore's Night's "Loreley" is a haunting ballad recounting the tale of the Loreley, a mythical siren who resides on a rock high above the Rhine River. The song is a tribute to German folklore, particularly the legend of the Loreley, which tells a story of a beautiful woman with long blonde hair who sits atop a rock and sings, luring sailors to their death with her enchanting voice.
The lyrics of the song evoke a feeling of mystery and awe. The opening lines describe a journey down the twisting Rhine River, a journey that is not without danger, as the waves are described as being "plenty strong." The stern warning of legend's faded storyline, advising care around the Loreley, sets the eerie, cautionary tone of the narrative. The refrain, "And the winds would cry, and many men would die, And all the waves would bow down to the Loreley," reinforces the dangers of heeding the calls of the Loreley, who is seen as a harbinger of death.
The verses describing the Loreley's beauty and enchanting voice are hauntingly beautiful yet deeply unsettling. The singer describes how the Loreley's "mysteries of the seas in her eyes of gold" and her "voice could hypnotize," but warns that her promises are "only lies." The final verse, where the Loreley beckons "Be with me until the end of time" is particularly powerful, drawing the listener into the Loreley's trap.
Overall, "Loreley" is a haunting, beautiful song that evokes a sense of awe and unease, painting a vivid picture of the river Rhine and the mythical siren who lured sailors to their doom.
Line by Line Meaning
Merrily we sailed along
Though the waves were plenty strong
Down the twisting river Rhine
Following a song...
We joyfully sailed through the strong waves of the Rhine river while following a mesmerizing song.
Legend's faded storyline
Tried to warn us all
Oh, they called her Loreley
Careful or you'll fall...
An old legend warned us about the danger of Loreley, cautioning us not to fall for her charms.
Oh, the stories we were told
Quite a vision to behold
Mysteries of the seas in her eyes of gold...
The stories about Loreley were captivating, and her eyes had a mesmerizing quality that hinted at the secrets of the sea.
Laying on the silver stone, such a lonely sight
Barnacles become a throne, my poor Loreley...
In a sad and lonely state, Loreley sits on a silver rock that has been taken over by barnacles.
And the winds would cry, and many men would die
And all the waves would bow down to the Loreley...
The powerful winds and the waves both pay homage to Loreley's enchantment, resulting in the death of many men.
You would not believe your eyes, how a voice could hypnotize
Promises are only lies from Loreley
In a shade of mossy green, seashell in her hand
She was born the river queen, ne'er to grace the land...
Loreley's hypnotic voice can hardly be believed, and her promises are false. She is the river queen, never to set foot on land, holding a seashell in a mossy green shade.
Oh, the song of Loreley
Charms the moon right from the sky...
She will get inside your mind, lovely Loreley...
Loreley's song can charm the moon out of the sky and penetrate your mind, making it impossible to resist her spell.
When she cries "Be with me until the end of time"
You know you will ever be with your Loreley...
When Loreley beckons you to be with her forever, you know you will always be at her side.
And the winds would cry, and many men would die
And all the waves would bow down to the Loreley...
Once again, the winds and waves pay tribute to the power of Loreley, resulting in many men's deaths.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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