Blind Guardian is a part of the German heavy metal scene that emerged in the mid-1980s. The band was formed in 1984 as Lucifer's Heritage by Kürsch (then also bassist), Olbrich, other guitarist Markus Dörk, and drummer Thomas Stauch. Dörk and Stauch both left the following year and were replaced by Christof Theißen and Hans-Peter Frey, respectively, who left as well before the end of the year. In 1987, Siepen joined, and Stauch returned; under this lineup, which lasted 18 years (the longest in the band's history), the band changed their name to Blind Guardian and released their first album, Battalions of Fear, in 1988. They have since released ten more studio albums, including an orchestral album that was released under the name Blind Guardian Twilight Orchestra.
Over the releases, Blind Guardian established themselves as a notably successful band and as pioneers of the power metal movement. In 1996, Kürsch stopped acting as the band's bassist to focus on vocals. Various session members replaced him, mainly Oliver Holzwarth. However, in 2005, Stauch left the band, disapproving of Blind Guardian's transition into a more complex progressive sound with a heavy use of backing vocals, and was replaced by Ehmke.
Most of Blind Guardian's albums were well received by fans and critics alike: Somewhere Far Beyond (1992), Imaginations from the Other Side (1995), and Nightfall in Middle-Earth (1998), are especially seen as influential works. The music is mostly composed by Kürsch and Olbrich together, and the lyrics, written by Kürsch, are mostly inspired by the fiction of fantasy authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien, Michael Moorcock, Stephen King, George R. R. Martin, and Robert Jordan, as well as traditional legends and epics. Over the years, a theme has developed which personifies the band members as traveling storytellers, leading fans to refer to the band affectionately as "The Bards." Blind Guardian has been referred to in one article as one of power metal "big four" bands, along with Helloween, Sabaton, and DragonForce.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_Guardian
Discography
Battalions of Fear (1988)
Follow the Blind (1989)
Tales from the Twilight World (1990)
Somewhere Far Beyond (1992)
Imaginations from the Other Side (1995)
Nightfall in Middle-Earth (1998)
A Night at the Opera (2002)
A Twist in the Myth (2006)
At the Edge of Time (2010)
Beyond the Red Mirror (2015)
Legacy of the Dark Lands (2019)
The God Machine (2022)
Thorn
Blind Guardian Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is born that night
The misty pond
(Has) got a new king
Got a new king
So what can we do
With our lives
When it all begins
It's cruel
Will grace die in pain?
Will light ever rise again?
I'm trapped in darkness
Still I reach out for the stars
I'm moving in silence
I leave it all far behind
Oh at dawn
I'll face the edge of thorns
Oh at dawn
I'll pray at the edge of thorns
Oh at dawn
I'll face the edge of thorns
Let us march on
To the fields of sacrifice
(I'm) wondering why
I'll carry on
Will I betray myself
To rise
In the silence
It's time to explain
(And)
Search for truth in lies
Useful lies
Needless love's damned
What can we do with our lives
When it all begins
Oh at dawn
I'll face the edge of thorns
Oh at dawn
I'll pray at the edge of thorns
Oh at dawn
I'll face the edge of thorns
Come follow me
And you will see
How it will be
When all the pain is gone away
Oh at dawn
I'll face the edge of thorns
Oh at dawn
I'll pray at the edge of thorns
Oh at dawn
I'll face the edge of thorns
Let us march on
Though there's no hope at our side
Let us be brave
Though by glory we are denied
But
Don't you think
It's time for us
To bring to an end
Come play the song of death
The wisdom in us both
Will make it
Special guaranteed
Play the song of death
I'm lost in the depths of his eyes
I can't flee
Inner pain caused insanity
It's deep within
The fear and the hunger
Enslaved and denied
By my love and my enemies
I'm the ill gotten son
The lyrics to Blind Guardian's song Thorn are open to interpretation, but appear to be exploring themes of darkness and struggle, with a sense of hope embedded throughout. The opening lines describe a "black swan" being born, representing something rare and unexpected. The misty pond "has got a new king", which could symbolize a power shift or a new way of thinking. The questions posed in the following lines suggest a sense of uncertainty in the face of change, as the singer wonders what can be done with our lives when everything seems hard and cruel. The final lines of the verse ask whether grace will die in pain, and whether light will ever rise again.
The second verse speaks more directly about the personal struggle of the singer, who feels trapped in darkness but still reaches out for the stars. They are moving in silence, trying to leave everything behind. The chorus returns, repeating the idea of facing the edge of thorns at dawn, and praying for strength to carry on. The singer wonders if they will betray themselves to rise, suggesting that the struggle may require compromise or sacrifice.
The final parts of the lyrics bring the listener on a journey towards hope. The singer encourages us to follow and join them in facing the edge of thorns, even though there may be no hope at our side. They urge bravery, even though glory may be denied. The repetition of "let us" highlights a communal sense of strength and purpose. The final lines suggest that it is time to "bring to an end" and play the song of death, which may sound morbid but could be interpreted as a call to let go of what is holding us back and embrace change. The wisdom in us both will make it special, suggesting that the struggle is worth it.
Line by Line Meaning
A black swan
Something unexpected and rare has occurred, like the birth of a black swan.
Is born that night
This rare occurrence happens during the night.
The misty pond
The setting where this happens is a foggy pond.
(Has) got a new king
This event is the start of a new era or a new leader rising.
Got a new king
This line is repeated to emphasize the significance of the new leader rising.
So what can we do
In response to this change, what can anyone do?
With our lives
What can be done to make an impact in one's own life during this time of change?
When it all begins
This is the start of something significant that changes the course of events.
It's hard and
This change will not be easy.
It's cruel
This change will be harsh and unforgiving.
Will grace die in pain?
Amidst all this change, will goodness disappear and suffer?
Will light ever rise again?
Is there hope for the future? Will a new dawn arrive?
I'm trapped in darkness
The singer feels confined and oppressed in their current situation.
Still I reach out for the stars
Despite being in a dark place, the singer still has hope and strives for something better.
I'm moving in silence
The singer is taking action and making progress, but quietly.
I leave it all far behind
The artist is moving on from their previous situation and leaving it all in the past.
Oh at dawn
At the start of a new day, a significant event will occur.
I'll face the edge of thorns
The singer recognizes that they will face challenges and adversity.
Oh at dawn
Repeated to emphasize the importance of the next line.
I'll pray at the edge of thorns
Despite expecting hardships, the artist turns to faith or hope to pull through.
Let us march on
The artist urges others to join them in their journey.
To the fields of sacrifice
This journey will require giving up or sacrificing something.
(I'm) wondering why
The singer has doubts and questions about their journey.
I'll carry on
Despite doubts, the artist is determined to continue their journey.
Will I betray myself
The singer is concerned about making choices that go against their own beliefs or morals.
To rise
The singer may be tempted to make compromises in order to succeed.
In the silence
During a quiet moment of reflection.
It's time to explain
The artist feels the need to make something clear or to justify their actions.
(And)
Inserting the word 'and' to add on to the previous line.
Search for truth in lies
The singer is trying to find the truth or authenticity in a situation despite there being deceit or falsehoods involved.
Useful lies
Lies or deception that may be necessary or helpful to achieve a goal.
Needless love's damned
Love, which can be viewed as unnecessary or inconvenient, is cursed.
Come follow me
The artist invites others to join them on their journey.
And you will see
By joining the artist, others will gain new insights and experiences.
How it will be
The singer has a vision or plan for their journey.
When all the pain is gone away
The end goal is to reach a place where there is no more suffering or hardship.
Let us march on
Repeating the invitation to join the singer's journey and stay determined despite obstacles.
Though there's no hope at our side
Despite feeling hopeless, the singer urges everyone to keep going.
Let us be brave
The singer urges everyone to face their fears and be courageous.
Though by glory we are denied
Although success and recognition may not come, it's still important to keep going.
But
Inserting the word 'but' to introduce a contrasting idea.
Don't you think
The singer asks for consideration and reflection on this idea.
It's time for us
The singer feels that it's time for action or change.
To bring to an end
It's time to finish something or stop a cycle.
Come play the song of death
The artist suggests ending something with a melancholic, final gesture.
The wisdom in us both
Together, the artist and their companions have knowledge and insight that can help guide their actions.
Will make it
Their combined knowledge and insight will lead to success.
Special guaranteed
Success will not just happen, but it will be significant and meaningful.
Play the song of death
Repeating the suggestion to have a melancholic, final gesture to bring something to an end.
I'm lost in the depths of his eyes
The singer is entranced or captivated by someone's gaze or stare.
I can't flee
The singer is unable to escape the situation or the gaze of the other person.
Inner pain caused insanity
Being in this situation is causing the artist emotional turmoil and could drive them to having a mental breakdown.
It's deep within
The source of the emotional turmoil is within the artist themselves.
The fear and the hunger
The emotions that are causing turmoil involve both fear and a desperate desire or craving for something.
Enslaved and denied
The singer feels trapped and prevented from obtaining what they crave.
By my love and my enemies
The source of this emotional turmoil might involve both someone or something that the artist loves and some kind of obstacle or opposition (enemies).
I'm the ill gotten son
The artist identifies themselves as being unwanted, unloved or illegitimate in some way.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Boris Blank, Dieter Meier
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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