The Raven
Gun Barrel Lyrics


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(G. Feldhausen)

When the raven's in the sky
Black wings let him fly
The raven brought the pain
And many of us will die

In the fear of death
There's nothing left to regret
In the dawn we have to fight, yeah
And the rats come out at night

A cry in the still of the night
Will we ever see the light
I say free us from our chains
We are the broken men
When the raven brought the pain

Like a fallen angel always on the run
One hand for the Bible the other slings the gun
The priest blessed you he's calling us to pray
We'll follow the raven on his bloody way

We're riding down the hill battle's raging high
In the sign of the cross we're all gonna die
The reaper comes to sing his deadly song
That's the fate where we all belong

A cry in the still of the night
Will we ever see the light
I say free us from our chains
We are the broken men

When the raven brought the pain, oh yeah
Break the iron chains
Will you free us from the pain
We are the broken men
When the raven brought the pain

When the raven brought the pain, oh yeah
Break the iron chains
Will you free us from the pain
We are the broken men

When the raven brought the pain




In the night
When the raven brought the pain

Overall Meaning

The song "The Raven" by Gun Barrel tells the story of a group of soldiers who are ready to battle despite the fear of death. The lyrics describe the raven as a symbol of death, and the pain it brings to those who encounter it. The lyrics also allude to the fact that the soldiers have been held captive, as they plead to be freed from their chains. The soldiers are fighting for their survival in the midst of their fear, and they are coming to terms with the possibility that they may not make it out alive.


The song describes the soldiers' journey, as they ride down the hill into battle. They are facing a deadly fate, and the reaper has come to sing his deadly song. Despite the chaos around them, the soldiers hold onto their faith, and one of them carries a bible. They are praying for salvation and hoping to see the light at the end of the tunnel. "The Raven" is a gripping tale of courage and faith in the face of certain peril.


Overall, the song seems to be a commentary on the theme of mortality. The soldiers in the song are coming face to face with their own mortality, and they are looking for a way to transcend it. The raven, the biblical references, and the themes of freedom and brokenness all tie together to create a powerful message about what it means to be human.


Line by Line Meaning

When the raven's in the sky
The arrival of the bird is a harbinger of bad luck and evil.


Black wings let him fly
The color black signifies darkness and evil, allowing the bird to take flight into the gloom.


The raven brought the pain
The bird is the bringer of death, suffering, and sorrow.


And many of us will die
The aftermath of the bird's arrival will lead to the loss of human life.


In the fear of death
The overwhelming anxiety of imminent mortality.


There's nothing left to regret
With the inevitability of death looming, there is no use in dwelling on what could have been.


In the dawn we have to fight, yeah
We must face our fate with bravery and acceptance, even in seemingly hopeless situations.


And the rats come out at night
Amidst the darkness, the most wretched and desperate creatures emerge, scurrying for survival.


A cry in the still of the night
Desperate pleas for help echo in the silence, hopeless to reach those who might save them.


Will we ever see the light
Is there any hope for salvation, or will we forever be engulfed in darkness and despair?


I say free us from our chains
Let us be released from our torment and suffering, whether in this life or the next.


We are the broken men
Those who have suffered and been defeated by life's challenges, left to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives.


Like a fallen angel always on the run
A figure of divine nobility, cast down to earthly realms and pursued by malevolent forces.


One hand for the Bible the other slings the gun
A seemingly righteous man becomes a force of violence and destruction, caught between his faith and his need for vengeance.


The priest blessed you he's calling us to pray
Even in the midst of violence and chaos, there are still those who seek guidance and hope from a higher power.


We'll follow the raven on his bloody way
Amidst the chaos and pain of life, we must find our own path and purpose, even if it is guided by darkness and death.


We're riding down the hill battle's raging high
In the heat of conflict, there is no time for hesitation or consideration of the consequences, only the immediate need to survive.


In the sign of the cross we're all gonna die
Even faith, which promises eternal life and salvation, cannot fully protect us from the ravages of mortality.


The reaper comes to sing his deadly song
The grim specter of death looms over all, inevitable and inescapable.


That's the fate where we all belong
Eventually, death will claim us all, and our fates are out of our control.


Break the iron chains
Find a way to break free from the cycle of suffering and pain.


Will you free us from the pain
Can anything release us from the agony of our existence, or will it follow us to the grave?


When the raven brought the pain
The arrival of the bird signified the start of a period of great suffering and misery.


In the night
When the only light comes from the moon and stars, leaving most of the world shrouded in darkness.




Contributed by Madelyn E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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