After releasing the demo EP Enter the Realm (1989) and signing to Century Media Records, the band released two full-length studio albums – Iced Earth (1990) and Night of the Stormrider (1991) – before taking a two-year hiatus from 1992 to 1994, after which the band returned with new lead vocalist Matt Barlow. Iced Earth went on to release four studio albums with him in over half a decade: Burnt Offerings (1995), The Dark Saga (1996), Something Wicked This Way Comes (1998) and Horror Show (2001).
After Horror Show, Barlow quit the band and joined the police force, while Iced Earth continued on with Tim "Ripper" Owens, formerly of Judas Priest, on vocals. With Owens, the band released two studio albums (2004's The Glorious Burden and 2007's Framing Armageddon: Something Wicked Part 1). In late 2007, Barlow rejoined the band, and they recorded one more album with him: The Crucible of Man: Something Wicked Part 2 (2008). In 2011, Barlow once again left Iced Earth, and was replaced by Into Eternity frontman Stu Block. Dystopia, Block's first album with the group, was released that October; the album received a positive response, while some critics called it one of Iced Earth's best albums. The group recorded two more albums with Block: Plagues of Babylon (2014) and Incorruptible (2017).
Before arriving at their current lineup, Iced Earth has had numerous line-up changes, with founder Jon Schaffer as the only founding member remaining. As of 2021, there have been over thirty musicians in and out of Iced Earth since its formation in 1984.
The band is composed solely of Schaffer and drummer Brent Smedley, with all other band members having departed following Schaffer's January 2021 arrest by the FBI for his involvement in the Capitol riots. Schaffer is in FBI custody on felony charges, which has generated new publicity for Iced Earth and has resulted in the band being dropped from their longtime label Century Media.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iced_Earth
Studio albums
Iced Earth (1990)
Night of the Stormrider (1991)
Burnt Offerings (1995)
The Dark Saga (1996)
Something Wicked This Way Comes (1998)
Horror Show (2001)
The Glorious Burden (2004)
Framing Armageddon: Something Wicked Part 1 (2007)
The Crucible of Man: Something Wicked Part 2 (2008)
Dystopia (2011)
Plagues of Babylon (2014)
Incorruptible (2017)
A Narrative Soundscape (2022)
Dragon's Child
Iced Earth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Forgotten son, testing all our fears
Nature's mistake, he sees no end
The dragon's child, walks among man
For centuries past, many tribes know the tales
Of men not returning, when they've gone there
And those who've returned, can't describe what they've seen
Oh, beware the blackened water
The creature has come to take you away
Oh, beware unholy water
On this dying day
The song "Dragons Child" by Iced Earth depicts the existence of a mysterious creature in the world. The first verse refers to this creature, who has been around since the beginning of time and is labeled as the "dragon's child." There is the suggestion that the creature is a test of human fears and is not meant to exist in nature. The second verse references the folk legends and myths surrounding this creature - stories of tribesmen not returning from their expeditions and others returning, but with their hair turned white and having gone insane. The chorus serves as a warning to all, cautioning them to "beware the blackened water" and "unholy water" on their "dying day."
The lyrics in "Dragons Child" can be interpreted as urban legends and folk tales passed down through the generations, cautioning people of the dangers and unknowns that exist in the world. However, the real meaning can be taken as a metaphor for the dangers faced by society and the constant unknown threats that exist in life. The creature represents the uncertainty of the future and the potential risks that can come from any direction. The warnings of "blackened water" and "unholy water" are symbolic of the possible harm that lurks amidst people and things.
Line by Line Meaning
Since the dawn of time, he's been here
The dragon's child has existed for an immeasurable amount of time
Forgotten son, testing all our fears
The dragon's child is a feared and misunderstood entity
Nature's mistake, he sees no end
The dragon's child considers itself a product of nature and is immortal
The dragon's child, walks among man
The dragon's child is a part of human society, but not accepted by it
For centuries past, many tribes know the tales
The legend of the dragon's child has been around for centuries and is known by many cultures
Of men not returning, when they've gone there
Men who venture into the dragon's child's territory do not return
And those who've returned, can't describe what they've seen
Any man who survives an encounter with the dragon's child cannot articulate what they encountered
Their hair has turned white, and they've gone insane
Survivors of an encounter with the dragon's child are scarred for life, physically and mentally
Oh, beware the blackened water
The dragon's child is associated with contaminated water
The creature has come to take you away
The dragon's child is a hostile force that can cause harm to humans
Oh, beware unholy water
The dragon's child is considered evil and unholy
On this dying day
The dragon's child is a factor in the end of humanity
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
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