Moonlight Shadow
Mike Oldfield Lyrics


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The last that ever she saw him
Carried away by a moonlight shadow
He passed on worried and warning
Carried away by a moonlight shadow
Lost in a riddle that Saturday night
Far away on the other side
He was caught in the middle of a desperate fight
And she couldn't find how to push through

The trees that whisper in the evening
Carried away by a moonlight shadow
Sing a song of sorrow and grieving
Carried away by a moonlight shadow
All she saw was a silhouette of a gun
Far away on the other side
He was shot six times by a man on the run
And she couldn't find how to push through

I stay, I pray
See you in Heaven, far away
I stay, I pray
See you in Heaven one day

Four A.M. in the morning
Carried away by a moonlight shadow
I watched your vision forming
Carried away by a moonlight shadow
Stars move slowly in a silvery night
Far away on the other side
Will you come to terms with me this night?
But she couldn't find how to push through

I stay, I pray
See you in Heaven, far away
I stay, I pray
See you in Heaven one day

Far away on the other side

Caught in the middle of a hundred and five
The night was heavy and the air was alive
But she couldn't find how to push through

Carried away by a moonlight shadow
Carried away by a moonlight shadow




Far away on the other side
But she couldn't find how to push through

Overall Meaning

The song Moonlight Shadow by Mike Oldfield tells a story of a woman who loses her partner to a sudden, violent incident. The opening lines, "The last that ever she saw him / Carried away by a moonlight shadow," suggest that the man has died or disappeared, and that the woman is left to mourn him. The next lines provide some details about what happened – the man was "caught in the middle of a desperate fight" and "shot six times by a man on the run."


The chorus, "I stay, I pray / See you in heaven far away / I stay, I pray / See you in heaven one day," shows the woman's hope and longing for reunion with her beloved, despite them being separated by death. The repetition of the phrase "far away" adds to the sense of distance and yearning.


The imagery of the moonlight shadow and the whispering trees creates a haunting, dreamlike atmosphere that captures the melancholy and bittersweet nature of the song's themes. Overall, Moonlight Shadow is a touching tribute to lost love and the power of hope in the face of tragedy.


Line by Line Meaning

The last that ever she saw him
She saw him for the last time


Carried away by a moonlight shadow
He disappeared suddenly like a ghost as if he was taken by a moonlight shadow


He passed on worried and warning
He was anxious and cautioning her as he left her


Lost in a riddle that Saturday night
He was perplexed and involved in a difficult situation on that particular evening


Far away on the other side
He was at a distant place not within her reach


He was caught in the middle of a desperate fight
He was involved in a critical struggle


And she couldn't find how to push through
She was helpless and couldn't overcome the situation


The trees that whisper in the evening
The trees which peacefully communicate during the nightfall


Sing a song of sorrow and grieving
In a melancholic tone, they express sadness and lament


All she saw was a silhouette of a gun
She only saw the outline of a firearm


He was shot six times by a man on the run
He was mercilessly fired six times by a fugitive


I stay, I pray See you in heaven far away I stay, I pray See you in heaven one day
Even though he is gone, she wishes to meet him in heaven someday


Four A.M. in the morning
Very early in the morning at four o'clock


I watched your vision forming
She observed his image come into view


Stars roll slowly in a silvery night
The stars move leisurely in the shimmering night sky


Will you come to terms with me this night
She desires reconciliation with him on that night


Caught in the middle of a hundred and five The night was heavy and the air was alive But she couldn't find how to push through
She was trapped and uncertain in the midst of the situation


Far away on the other side But she couldn't find how to push through
He was too distant to assist her in the difficult moment


Carried away by a moonlight shadow
He vanished like a shadow carried by the moonlight


Carried away by a moonlight shadow
He disappeared without a trace like a shadow carried by the moonlight


Far away on the other side But she couldn't find how to push through
He was remote and inaccessible, and she was powerless to proceed




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Michael Oldfield

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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