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.
The Whistler
Demons & Wizards Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There is no guilt
In what I have done
It's far too late
To turn it back
To turn it back
Slowly they move
One by one
Your kingdom will come
Slowly they're marching
One by one
Follow my magic tune
It is so easy
Her eyes
Her pale cold eyes
Are watching over me
I've never felt alone
All the children
For her glory
A fair price set
The deal was fixed
I did my part
And they betrayed
I cleared their problem well
But I trusted lies
All your children went astray
Pay the price for ignorance
Praise and glory to the clan
Watch your step I'll bring the end
Rats repeat their feast
Queen will be quite pleased
All your children went astray
Pay the price for ignorance
Praise the glorious race of rats
One by one they'll join their dance
Hungry souls they shall be fed
Praise the wisdom of the rats
All the children went astray
Pay the price for ignorance
Now you know fear
Face the unknown
Dwell in tears
The story's told
You may have learned
Dare not to betray
The whistler
You should consider
You might fail
You should consider
You might fail
All your children went astray
Pay the price for ignorance
Praise the glorious race of rats
One by one they'll
Join their dance
All your children went astray
Pay the price for ignorance
All your children went astray
Pay the price for ignorance
Food for the clan
Praise to the rats
Food for the clan
Praise to the rats
Food for the clan
Praise to the rats
Food for the clan
Praise to the rats
"The Whistler" by Demons & Wizards is a song with dark and eerie undertones. The first verse is about a character who has done something wrong and feels guilt. However, the character believes it is too late to turn back. The second verse portrays a scene of rats being fed by a person who uses a magical tune to lure them. The rats eat and the "queen" is pleased, implying that the rats may represent a higher power that is pleased with his actions.
The chorus repeats the lines "all your children went astray, pay the price for ignorance". This could mean that the person had to do something that they didn't want to do for the sake of their children. The song continues to develop this theme, implying that the character was betrayed but still managed to clear his problem. The ending chorus is repeated twice more, along with a final line that talks about how the character should consider that they might fail.
The song is full of symbolism and metaphors, making it difficult to interpret. The lyrics may be about how humans can be like rats in the sense that they can be controlled and manipulated. The "queen" could represent a deity or the government that controls society. The "whistler" could represent a person who leads others down the wrong path, or just the character's guilty conscience.
Line by Line Meaning
Beloved mother
Addressing a higher power, perhaps symbolic of a moral compass or authority figure
There is no guilt
The singer is not burdened by feelings of wrongdoing
In what I have done
Referring to a past action or decision, likely with negative consequences
It's far too late
The artist cannot change the past
To turn it back
Undo the effects of their actions
Slowly they move
An ominous sense of foreboding, hinting at a creeping danger
One by one
Emphasizing the slow but steady progress of the danger
Food for the clan
The impending threat is somehow feeding off of or relying on others
Your kingdom will come
A twisted promise of power or victory for the danger
Follow my magic tune
A warning to beware of deceitful words, which may have dangerous consequences
Her eyes
The eyes of the danger, watching and waiting
Her pale cold eyes
Describes the danger as cold and unfeeling
Are watching over me
The singer feels constantly observed and threatened
I've never felt alone
The danger has been present for some time, perhaps for the singer's entire life
All the children
Referring to all people, implying that everyone is vulnerable to the danger
For her glory
The danger is working towards a selfish goal, likely at the cost of others
A fair price set
Referring to a bargain or agreement made in the past
The deal was fixed
The terms of the agreement were agreed upon
I did my part
The singer fulfilled their end of the deal
And they betrayed
The other party did not fulfill their end of the deal, leading to negative consequences
I cleared their problem well
The artist solved a problem, presumably for the other party as part of the agreement
But I trusted lies
The artist realizes they were deceived and made a mistake in trusting others
Pay the price for ignorance
A warning to be aware of potential danger, or else face negative consequences
Watch your step I'll bring the end
A direct threat from the danger, that they will bring about destruction
Rats repeat their feast
Metaphor for the dangers of complacency or repeating past mistakes
Queen will be quite pleased
The danger is working for someone or something else, perhaps a higher power or authority figure
Hungry souls they shall be fed
The danger is able to feed on the weaknesses or vulnerabilities of others
Praise the wisdom of the rats
A twisted form of admiration or respect for the danger
Now you know fear
A realization of the imminent danger and the negative consequences that may result
Face the unknown
The singer must confront the danger despite not knowing what the outcome may be
Dwell in tears
The singer is resigned to grief, sadness, or regret
You may have learned
A final warning to take away a lesson from the experience of the danger
Dare not to betray
Implying that the actions of the danger may be influenced by others not fulfilling their end of an agreement
The whistler
Referring to the artist, perhaps a warning not to cross them
You should consider
An advice to others to be careful of their actions
You might fail
A warning that not succeeding may lead to negative consequences
Food for the clan
Reinforcing the idea that the danger is feeding off of or relying on others
Praise to the rats
Continuing to glorify the danger as some kind of twisted power or authority figure
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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