The Challenger
Leslie Fish Lyrics


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When i was a child i dreamed, but the weren't dreams at all
Of far off lands, of far off times watching kingdoms rise and fall
Other bodies and names i had, but always the same work to do
Always artisan, warrior, witch. I never thought the dreams were true

Slowly through the years i learned hands that ached to hold a pen
A rebel soul, no orders held, and visions into minds of men
At last i read in an ancient book and saw what i had always known
Then i knew that the dreams were true the tale it told was once my own

Why do i come circling back? slowly did the memories clear
Of ancient wars, of friends and foes, but never of my purpose here
Still i sharpened my threefold skills for use in some unknown game
Only knowing that age upon age my enemy was still the same

Patterns that repeat i see faster through the world they skew
The stars come right,
The fates take flight, and all the myths and dreams come true
Whatever battle the gods prepare
For artistry, for weapons, or for mind
There i haste for the answer waits the purpose i was born to find

Then i saw the armies march saw him raise his power high
He preached obey, he practiced rule and fattened on the ancient lie
His wheedling words, his mystic might, his ultimately iron hand
His promised hell, i know them well finally i understand

Master of the secret dark are you so surprised to see
The ancient foe you should well know come to spoil your victory
Is your memory worse than mine or




Wouldn't you believe that it was true
But i have hunted the ages down fated to come after you

Overall Meaning

Leslie Fish's "The Challenger" is a song that explores the journey of a warrior who has gone through different lives fighting the same enemy. As a child, the singer dreams of far-off lands and times, but their dreams were more like memories that they did not understand. The singer has had many different bodies and names, but always with the same purpose, whether it be artisan, warrior, or witch. They did not think that the dreams were true until they read an ancient book that told their tale. From that moment on, they knew that their dreams were true, and their purpose was to fight the same enemy that they had fought in previous lives.


Throughout the song, the singer reflects on their past lives and experiences. They have sharpened their skills in each life for an unknown game, only knowing that their enemy remains the same. As they see patterns that repeat themselves through time, they understand that they have a purpose to fulfill. In the end, the singer sees their enemy raising their power high, preaching obedience, practicing rule, and fattening on the ancient lie. They finally understand their purpose, which is to come after their enemy and spoil their victory.


Line by Line Meaning

When i was a child i dreamed, but the weren't dreams at all
As a child, I had visions of kingdoms rising and falling. They felt real and not like a daydream.


Of far off lands, of far off times watching kingdoms rise and fall
I saw distant places and times, fascinated by the rise and fall of different kingdoms.


Other bodies and names i had, but always the same work to do
I had visions that included being a craftsman, a warrior, and a witch, but the same quest was always present.


Always artisan, warrior, witch. I never thought the dreams were true
I always saw myself as an artisan, a warrior, and a witch in my visions, but I never thought they were actually real.


Slowly through the years i learned hands that ached to hold a pen
As I grew older, I realized my calling was to write and influence others with my words.


A rebel soul, no orders held, and visions into minds of men
I had a restless spirit and refused to follow anyone else's rules, using my visions to inspire others.


At last i read in an ancient book and saw what i had always known
Finally, I read an old book and realized it spoke of my life's visions, something I had always sensed deep down.


Then i knew that the dreams were true the tale it told was once my own
I understood that my visions were real, and that I was the artist in this ancient tale I read.


Why do i come circling back? slowly did the memories clear
I wondered why these visions kept resurfacing in my life, but as time passed, I remembered them more clearly.


Of ancient wars, of friends and foes, but never of my purpose here
I had memories of battles, allies, and enemies, but couldn't recall why I was given these visions in the first place.


Still i sharpened my threefold skills for use in some unknown game
Despite the uncertainty, I honed my craftsman, warrior, and witch abilities, suspecting they would serve a purpose soon.


Only knowing that age upon age my enemy was still the same
My foe, though undefined, seemed to persist throughout history, threatening kingdoms and people in each era.


Patterns that repeat i see faster through the world they skew
I noticed repeated motifs throughout history and saw them occur more quickly and intensely as time went on.


The stars come right, The fates take flight, and all the myths and dreams come true
When the planets align, destiny's hand becomes apparent, and ancient legends and visions all prove to be true.


Whatever battle the gods prepare
I sensed that a divine battle was forthcoming.


For artistry, for weapons, or for mind
And that it would involve creativity, fighting, or mental prowess, though I didn't know which one.


There i haste for the answer waits the purpose i was born to find
So, I prepared for this battle, knowing that my life's purpose, which had always eluded me, would be revealed in it.


Then i saw the armies march saw him raise his power high
Soon after, I witnessed a powerful leader amassing armies and gaining strength.


He preached obey, he practiced rule and fattened on the ancient lie
But he preached obedience, established tyrannical rule, and became corrupt, feeding off of an archaic deception.


His wheedling words, his mystic might, his ultimately iron hand
This leader used misleading language, mystic strength, and eventually resorted to a forceful approach.


His promised hell, i know them well finally i understand
The leader promised a devastating fate, but I understood his true intentions very well.


Master of the secret dark are you so surprised to see
I challenged the leader, mocking his supposed control over the unknown and his shock that someone knew his secret.


The ancient foe you should well know come to spoil your victory
I reminded him that the enemy he'd faced before had returned to ruin his plans.


Is your memory worse than mine or
I questioned the leader's memory and understanding of history.


Wouldn't you believe that it was true
I urged him to accept the truth of what was happening.


But i have hunted the ages down fated to come after you
I revealed to him that I was destined to come after him and bring justice, having spent my life searching through the ages for this moment.




Writer(s): leslie fish

Contributed by Lauren S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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W. Reid Ripley


on The Undertaker's Horse

A friend introduced Fish's music to me by saying, "Kiipling was a Gilbert who never found his Sullivan." Until Leslie Fish.

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