The Kingdom
Caedmon's Call Lyrics


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I was a pilgrim in early life
I traveled at night
Bound for Jordan just ten miles north
Of a civil war

Immersed in mercy and Holy flood
That mingled with blood
My sextant headed for homebound lands
Through twilight sands

But I grew weary and too far gone
To carry on
At first my home and my empire soon
Would there assume

I'm watching my kingdom tumbling down
You're flooding my refuge underground
My kingdom for angels, mighty surround
To take me away from here

A sea of sand came through fiery pass
A sea of glass
An ivory fortress and turret's steel
Would swift reveal

The gods of beast and of sun and sky
With banners high
Were worshipped in their six temples' fold
Of desert gold

I'm watching my kingdom tumbling down
You're flooding my refuge underground
My kingdom for angels, mighty surround
To take me away from here

In summer's sting as the sages say
The sand gave way
My empire capsized at vanity's cost
And all were lost

I'm watching my kingdom tumbling down
You're flooding my refuge underground
My kingdom for angels, mighty surround
To take me away from here

I'm watching my kingdom crumble and fall
You're building your kingdom over all




I'm cursing my wisdom while the angels I call
To take me away, to take me away from here

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Caedmon's Call's "The Kingdom" tell the story of a pilgrim who is on a journey to find refuge in Jordan during a civil war. The opening lines of the lyrics describe the singer as a "pilgrim in early life" who is traveling at night. The journey is something that the pilgrim sees as a necessary escape from the chaos that surrounds him. The journey is also marked by religious imagery like "mercy and Holy flood" that are "mingled with blood."


As the journey progresses, the singer becomes increasingly weary and begins to long for home. At the same time, a worldly "empire" representing the kingdom of the singer begins to take shape. However, this kingdom is not immune to the conflict that plagues the wider world and it too begins to "tumble down."


The singer watches helplessly as their kingdom crumbles due to the "vanity" of their own actions. In contrast, a new "kingdom" is built by unseen forces that are beyond their control. The kingdom is built with "angels" and it represents a sense of hope for the singer who is now pleading to be taken away.


Overall, the lyrics of "The Kingdom" are a poetic reflection on the transience of human effort and ambition. It highlights the need for a deeper sense of purpose and meaning that goes beyond the temporal realities of life.


Line by Line Meaning

I was a pilgrim in early life
In my early years, I was someone seeking religious or spiritual enlightenment and guidance


I traveled at night
I journeyed to fulfill my quest during the night, when it was dark and obscure


Bound for Jordan just ten miles north of a civil war
I was headed to a place near a zone of conflict and strife, specifically 10 miles north of the Jordan River


Immersed in mercy and Holy flood that mingled with blood
I was deeply absorbed in an experience of divine grace and compassion that mixed with the suffering and pain of humanity


My sextant headed for homebound lands through twilight sands
I used a navigation tool to guide me towards my homeland, passing through sandy terrain during dusk


But I grew weary and too far gone to carry on
However, I became exhausted and unable to continue my journey due to physical and emotional exhaustion


At first my home and my empire soon would there assume
Initially, I believed that I would find a new home and kingdom in that place, but later realized that it was not the case


I'm watching my kingdom tumbling down
I am witnessing the disintegration and collapse of my personal domain and authority


You're flooding my refuge underground
You are inundating my place of shelter and protection with a deluge that submerges me completely


My kingdom for angels, mighty surround, to take me away from here
I am wishing for celestial messengers with great power to surround me and transport me to a better place, away from my current situation


A sea of sand came through fiery pass, a sea of glass
A large expanse of sand came through a fiery opening, like a sea of molten glass


An ivory fortress and turret's steel, would swift reveal
A magnificent structure made of ivory and steel would suddenly appear in front of me


The gods of beast and of sun and sky, with banners high
The deities worshipped by the people of that land were those of animals, the sun, and the sky, portrayed with colorful insignias


Were worshipped in their six temples' fold, of desert gold
They were venerated in six grandiose temples decorated with precious metals, situated in the middle of the desert


In summer's sting as the sages say, the sand gave way
During the hottest season, as wise men say, the sand crumbled and gave in to the elements


My empire capsized at vanity's cost, and all were lost
My realm turned upside down as a result of my own foolishness and egotism, leading to the loss of all my possessions, people, and ideals


You're building your kingdom over all
You are constructing your own realm and power structure, occupying and colonizing all the available space


I'm cursing my wisdom while the angels I call, to take me away, to take me away from here
I am regretting the choices I made based on what I thought was wise and discerning, and I am appealing to divine messengers to come and rescue me from my current predicament




Lyrics © MUSIC SERVICES, INC.
Written by: JOSHUA MOORE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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