In 1984, Bobby Frankl… Read Full Bio ↴Heavy Metal band from Memphis, Tennessee (USA)
In 1984, Bobby Franklin (vocals), John Ruth (guitar), Chuck Jones (guitar), Jeff Boydston (bass) and Bill Jones (drums) recorder their self-titled EP. Nowadays, "Medieval Steel" EP is a legendary release, mentioned as a great influence by many Heavy Metal bands.
After that, and with the same line-up, Medieval Steel dominated the stages from Memphis to New York, but after a while, when they were dealing with Megaforce Records, the band changed the name to Fire Choir and followed a different music direction. Even if there were recording sessions, nothing was official released and Bobby Franklin left Fire Choir to reform again Medieval Steel with Scott Jones on guitars. Songs like "Eyes Of Fire", "To Kill A King" and "Tears In The Rain", were composed that time (1985). During 1986, the band part ways with Megaforce because the development stage was very slow. After that, the line-up changed and Steve Crocker became the new bassist and Chris Cook the new drummer. With this line-up, the band stayed together until 1992 when they dissolved. All that time they kept playing live but the beginning of the 90s was a very difficult period for Heavy Metal bands in United States and Medieval Steel separate Ways.
In 2004 (20 years after the debut EP) while the band found about their underground status overseas, decided to move on again. "The Dungeon Tapes" CD was released by the band in 2005 and consists of the 1984 EP plus "Tears In The Rain" and "Lost In The City" from a demo session recorded in 1987 and new recordings of the songs "To Kill A King", "Ghost From The Battlefield", "Eyes Of Fire" from 2004. After that, silence. Until the end of 2011, when Bobby Franklin reformed Medieval Steel and in 2013 they recorded the album "Dark Castle"...
Ghost From The Battlefield
Medieval Steel Lyrics
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And I have fought a thousand fights
From the machine gun to the sword and shield
For every man, woman and child
Although it lights the world
I don"t see the light
I"m not ready to cross the other side
I am a ghost from the battlefield
Ghost from the battlefield
Through the misty valley flows the river of life
On a ship of fools, the dogs of war they ride
They will enter your darkest dreams
Searching for souls to feed the war machine
Bridge
Sometimes I see their faces
Hear their pain and see the agony
Through the doorway of empty spaces
Where my soul should be
The song "Ghost from the Battlefield" by Medieval Steel describes the experience of a soldier who has died in battle and become a ghost that remains in the battlefield. The soldier has fought tirelessly, from using a machine gun to a sword and shield, for the sake of every man, woman, and child. Although he has fought his battles with valor, he has not yet found a way to move on to the "other side."
The soldier expresses feelings of detachment in his state as a ghost. Although there is light around him, he is unable to see it. He is not yet prepared to cross over to the afterlife, and so he remains a ghost. The song also mentions the river of life flowing through the misty valley, which represents the cycle of life and death. The dogs of war, which represents the military leaders, are riding a ship of fools and are seeking souls to feed their war machine. The ghost soldier, although he is wandering through empty spaces where his soul should be, still sees the faces of his fellow soldiers and hears their pain and agony.
"Ghost from the Battlefield" is a powerful song that touches on the trauma and anguish of war. It reminds us that although soldiers may die, their spirits remain, and the scars of war remain present long after the fighting has ended. The song draws attention to the cost of war and the damage that it can inflict not only on those who fight but also on those who are left behind.
Line by Line Meaning
I am a ghost from the battlefield
I am a deceased soldier, haunting the war zone where my life ended
And I have fought a thousand fights
I have engaged in multiple battles and endured the horrors of war many times over
From the machine gun to the sword and shield
I fought with any weapon that was available to us, from modern firearms to traditional weaponry
For every man, woman and child
I fought for the safety and freedom of all people, regardless of age or gender
Although it lights the world
Even though there is light all around me now,
I don't see the light
I can't move on from this place to the afterlife,
I'm not ready to cross the other side
I'm not prepared to leave the world of the living behind and move into the unknown
Through the misty valley flows the river of life
In the distance, there is a river that symbolizes the journey of life itself,
On a ship of fools, the dogs of war they ride
The war machine is like a vessel that carries the foolish and violent individuals who perpetuate conflict and destruction
They will enter your darkest dreams
The warriors will infiltrate and haunt your subconscious with their cruel deeds and bloody victories
Searching for souls to feed the war machine
They crave more victims to fuel the never-ending cycle of combat and chaos
Sometimes I see their faces
Occasionally, I can visualize the ghosts of my fellow soldiers
Hear their pain and see the agony
I remember their despair and distress during the most brutal battles we fought together
Through the doorway of empty spaces
In my current state, my soul is absent and my existence is hollow,
Where my soul should be
Where my soul ought to reside, there is only emptiness and despair
Contributed by Caleb K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.