prologue
Legend Lyrics


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Life is just a constant illusion, carpeted dreams of man's confusion
Expertly stripped of reasons why, dissected clean and barely alive

Freedom is a dream of the dead, a martyrs cry deep within your head
Where air is not a worthy cause, to destroy the land with mindless wars

England, your children die in vain, for reasons of political gain
And fathers weep into the past, where once they wanted life to last




Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Legend's Prologue are a poignant reflection on the nature of life and existence. The constant illusion referred to is the idea that we live in a world of superficiality and materialism. The 'carpeted dreams of man's confusion' is a metaphor for the way in which we are all trapped in a system of consumer capitalism which erodes our sense of self and our connection to the natural world. The second line, 'Expertly stripped of reasons why' suggests that this process has been carried out intentionally - that we have been brainwashed by clever marketing strategies and a push towards conformity. The final line, 'dissected clean and barely alive' is the ultimate consequence of this process - we are left atomised, disconnected and without any sense of meaning or purpose.


The second verse turns towards the political realm, with a reference to the idea of freedom being a dream of the dead. This is a powerful idea which suggests that the desire for freedom is often only realised when it is too late - when our lives have already been sacrificed. The mention of 'mindless wars' reinforces this idea - the notion that we are caught in cycles of violence which only serve to perpetuate suffering and destruction. The final lines of the verse shift towards a more personal perspective, with a reference to the pain of losing loved ones for the sake of political gain. The phrase 'where once they wanted life to last' encapsulates the sadness and grief of those who have suffered as a result of war and conflict.


Overall, Legend's Prologue is a deeply moving reflection on the state of the world in which we live. From the existential angst of the opening lines to the political commentary of the second verse, it is a song that speaks to our shared experience of uncertainty, disillusionment and loss.


Line by Line Meaning

Life is just a constant illusion, carpeted dreams of man's confusion
Life is not what it seems, it is a constant deception, full of misunderstandings and delusions


Expertly stripped of reasons why, dissected clean and barely alive
All the reasons and justifications for our existence have been systematically removed, leaving us with a lifeless and meaningless existence


Freedom is a dream of the dead, a martyrs cry deep within your head
The idea of freedom is only a fantasy for those who have died fighting for it, and the longing for it remains within the minds of those still living


Where air is not a worthy cause, to destroy the land with mindless wars
Wars destroy the very air we breathe, but they are often fought for shallow and insignificant reasons


England, your children die in vain, for reasons of political gain
The young people of England are dying for no true reason, other than to serve the political agendas of those in power


And fathers weep into the past, where once they wanted life to last
Parents mourn for the past, when they hoped for a lasting and meaningful life for their children, who are now dying senselessly




Contributed by Eva O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@4u21nder

Once long ago, before there was such
a thing as time, the world was shrouded
in darkness.
  Then came the splendor of light,
bringing life and love into the Universe,
and the Lord of Darkness retreated deep
into the shadows of the earth, plotting
his return to power... by banishing light
forever.
  But precious light is protected,
harbored in the souls of Unicorns, the
most mystical of all creatures.
  Unicorns are safe from the Lord of
Darkness, they can only be found by
the purest of mortals... Such a mortal
is Jack, who lives in solitude with the
animals of the forest.
  A beautiful girl named Lily loves Jack
with all her heart. In their innocence, they
believe only goodness exists in the world.
  Together they will learn there can be
no good without evil... No love without
hate... No heaven without hell... No light
without darkness.
  The harmony of the Universe
depends upon an eternal balance. Out
of the struggle to maintain this balance
comes the birth of Legends.



All comments from YouTube:

@4u21nder

Once long ago, before there was such
a thing as time, the world was shrouded
in darkness.
  Then came the splendor of light,
bringing life and love into the Universe,
and the Lord of Darkness retreated deep
into the shadows of the earth, plotting
his return to power... by banishing light
forever.
  But precious light is protected,
harbored in the souls of Unicorns, the
most mystical of all creatures.
  Unicorns are safe from the Lord of
Darkness, they can only be found by
the purest of mortals... Such a mortal
is Jack, who lives in solitude with the
animals of the forest.
  A beautiful girl named Lily loves Jack
with all her heart. In their innocence, they
believe only goodness exists in the world.
  Together they will learn there can be
no good without evil... No love without
hate... No heaven without hell... No light
without darkness.
  The harmony of the Universe
depends upon an eternal balance. Out
of the struggle to maintain this balance
comes the birth of Legends.

@allymitchell9858

Amazing song. It has the best fantasy feel to it.

@JohnFrancisVillines

Mysterious and foreboding... what a great track and a great movie.

@Mitchal13579

Listening to this as Tim Curry's chinballs hang from the top of the video screen.

@jeremyjealousy

I wish someone would make an extended version of this!!!

@savagem74

If you come across it let me know. I love it

@garljoens

ok ok I'll do it

@birdbones7869

So there’s multiple videos of this song. I took three of them and just made a playlist on YouTube and then I put it on repeat.

@Heliosphan15

you just KNOW something awesome is coming

@Sugar.skies.

Aww yeah, gotta love the opening.

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