The original goal of the band was to forge the different musical styles of both Iced Earth's dark melodies and Blind Guardian's powerful vocals into one sound. In fact, according to the musicians, the band name is meant to describe the two styles: the self-proclaimed demon-like themes and sounds of Iced Earth and wizard-like themes and sounds of Blind Guardian (the moniker "Demons & Wizards" was inspired by Schaffer's wife always referring to him and Hansi as "Demons and Angels". Hansi always corrected her, since he claims to "not be at all angelic", and that it is more properly stated "Demons and Wizards", in reference to Uriah Heep's album of the same name). The band met with a fair deal of commercial success, though not as much as either of their individual bands.
The idea for the band arose in the spring of 1997 when Kürsch and Schaffer wanted to make music together, after being friends for several years
Disbandment
On January 6, 2021, guitarist Jon Schaffer was photographed among the protesters who stormed the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. After appearing on the Most Wanted section of the FBI's website, Schaffer turned himself in on January 17 and is currently being held on six felony charges. Century Media dropped the band from their roster two days after Jon Schaffer turned himself in. On February 1, 2021, it was announced that vocalist Hansi Kürsch had left the band, stating his collaboration with Jon Schaffer is over.
Fiddler on the Green
Demons & Wizards Lyrics
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Our precious girl she can't be gone
How bitter this morning
When daddy's darling
Went out and started her day
Wasn't there a dream last night
Like a spring never ending
Through my mind
On the field I can see a fiddler
The fiddler on the green and the sad boy
I took him too early
Would you mind
Would you mind
Would you mind
If I take you
To be with you
To be with you
To be with you
To be with you
The sun seemed bright
The air was clear
The air was clear
A trick of light
Turned red into green
She saw the light
Her face was pale
Her body smashed
Her beauty's gone
Isn't it a shame
The reaper said
He is quite alone here
And still waiting for you
Oh I really did fail for the first time
Spoke the fiddler, poor old fiddler
The fiddler on the green
The fiddler on the green
It would be niceâ?¦
Take my hand
Just hold my hand
I'll take you there
Your pain will go away
The lyrics to Demons & Wizards' "Fiddler on the Green" are a poignant reflection on the tragic loss of a young girl. The song follows the sorrow of a father whose "daddy's darling" daughter goes out to start her day, only to never return. The singer recalls a dream he had the night before of a "spring never ending" and "clear water" flowing through his mind. However, his thoughts are interrupted by the sight of a fiddler on the green who is playing his mournful tune for a young boy who was taken too early. The singer asks the fiddler if he minds if he takes him to be with his daughter, hoping that he can finally be reunited with her in death.
The second half of the song describes the girl's death in more detail, and the reaper's remorse over taking her too soon. The fiddler, who is also a victim of tragedy, expresses his own sorrow at being unable to save the young boy he was playing for. The song ends with an invitation to take the singer's hand and be taken away from their pain.
The lyrics of "Fiddler on the Green" are powerful and emotive, expressing the deep sadness and regret that can come with the loss of a loved one. Through its imagery and use of musical motifs, the song creates a haunting and melancholic atmosphere that is sure to linger with the listener long after it ends.
Line by Line Meaning
Sad voices they're calling
The people who loved the girl who passed away are grieving and calling out in sadness.
Our precious girl she can't be gone
The girl who passed away was very valuable to those who loved her and they cannot accept that she is gone.
How bitter this morning
The morning after the girl's passing is filled with grief and sorrow.
When daddy's darling
The girl was dearly loved by her father and her passing has left him devastated.
Went out and started her day
The girl went out to start her day as she normally would have, not knowing that it would be her last.
Wasn't there a dream last night
The singer is questioning whether they had a dream last night or not.
Like a spring never ending
The dream, if it happened, felt like a refreshing, never-ending spring.
Still the water runs clear
The memory of the dream, whether it happened or not, is crystal clear in the artist's mind.
Through my mind
The memory of the dream, if it happened, is running clearly and repeatedly through the artist's mind.
On the field I can see a fiddler
The artist sees a fiddler playing on a field in their mind's eye.
The fiddler on the green and the sad boy
The fiddler is playing on the green with a sad boy nearby, adding to the sorrowful atmosphere.
I took him too early
The artist is the one responsible for taking the boy's life too soon.
Would you mind
The singer is asking for forgiveness for taking the boy's life too soon.
If I take you
The singer is asking if the fiddler would like to join the boy and forgive the singer for taking his life too soon.
To be with you
The singer wants to be joined with those who have passed away, including the fiddler and the sad boy.
The sun seemed bright
The day was bright and sunny, but that only makes the sadness of the girl's passing feel more stark in contrast.
The air was clear
The weather was clear, but the grief in the air is palpable.
A trick of light
The change from bright to dark can be so sudden and unexpected that it feels like it happens as if by magic.
Turned red into green
The illusion or trick of light turned the color red into green.
She saw the light
In her final moments, the girl saw something before passing away.
Her face was pale
After seeing the light, the girl's face became unnaturally pale.
Her body smashed
Something tragic happened to the girl physically, causing her body to be broken and smashed.
Her beauty's gone
The girl's passing robbed the world of her beauty and potential.
Isn't it a shame
The artist comments on the tragedy of the girl's passing.
The reaper said
Death personified, the reaper, spoke about the girl's passing.
He is quite alone here
The reaper is the only one present to carry away the girl's soul, emphasizing the loneliness of death.
And still waiting for you
Death is waiting for everyone eventually, casting a somber tone over the song.
Oh I really did fail for the first time
The artist feels like they failed by taking the boy's life too early and wishes they could make things right.
Spoke the fiddler, poor old fiddler
The fiddler speaks to the artist, acknowledging their pain and sadness.
The fiddler on the green
The fiddler on the green is a symbol of the tragedy and grief surrounding death.
It would be nice...
The singer is wistfully imagining what it would be like to join the fiddler and others who have passed away.
Take my hand
The artist is offering their hand to the fiddler and other lost souls, wanting to join them in death.
Just hold my hand
The artist wants to connect with the fiddler and others who have passed away, offering support in their final journey.
I'll take you there
The artist wants to take the fiddler and others to the afterlife together.
Your pain will go away
The singer is promising the fiddler and others who have passed away that their pain will end once they join them in the afterlife.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: HANS JUERGEN KUERSCH, JON SCHAFFER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind