Heir Apparent
Opeth? Lyrics
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Slow waste
Sew lies
Sow hate
So many years to clean the slate
Endless despair within its wake
His touch soiling what used to be clean
No more
Cold pace
Slow days (?)
And again he rides in
It's September and he covets the gullible
Skeletal wish, hunter
A thousand lies
Cast from the throne of secrecy
Hear him spewing forth a meaning to miserables lies
See the twisted hand of doubt seal the affair
The insect trust, believer
Your body a vehicle to
Pearls before swine they are nothing but blind
Submit to nothing and swallow my spit of scorn
Invisible king, dying
Procession of woe, struck down by sorrow
A burden so great
Weighs heavy on old and withered beliefs
The swift solution crumbles
Beneath the mock notes of a masterpiece
Death in his eyes, waiting
Spiraling judgement, provoked in the rains
This futile test drowned in the levee of deception
In the year of his sovereign
Rid us of your judgement
Heir apparent
The lyrics to Opeth's song "Heir Apparent" delve into themes of deception, oppression, and the destructive power of a malevolent ruler. The opening lines set a dark tone, describing a world contaminated by lies and hate, with the weight of past wrongs still lingering heavily on those caught in its grasp. The mention of cleaning the slate hints at a desire for redemption and renewal, but the pervasive despair and corruption seem insurmountable.
As the song progresses, the focus shifts to the arrival of the titular "Heir Apparent" in September, symbolizing a time of reckoning and manipulation. The imagery of a skeletal wish and a hunter evokes a predatory force preying on the vulnerable, with lies and secrecy shrouding his rule. The lyrics paint a picture of a despot imposing his will on the masses, distorting truth and exploiting trust for his own gain.
The imagery becomes even more chilling as the lyrics describe the followers of the Heir Apparent as blind believers, blindly submitting to his authority even as he spews forth more lies and scorn. The references to an invisible king and a procession of woe convey a sense of impending doom and suffering inflicted upon those under his reign. The weight of oppressive belief systems and the decay of old ways of thinking are depicted as a burden that crushes the spirit of the people.
The song builds towards a climax as the Heir Apparent's judgment and reign are called into question, with a plea for liberation from his tyranny. The imagery of death in his eyes and spiraling judgment suggests a descent into chaos and destruction, as the false promises and deceptions of his rule are exposed. The lyrics poignantly capture the futility of resistance against a tyrant and the inevitable downfall of a ruler whose power is built on lies and oppression."Heir Apparent" serves as a powerful commentary on the corrupting influence of unchecked authority and the enduring struggle for freedom in the face of oppression.
Line by Line Meaning
Long days
Endless periods of time
Slow waste
Gradual loss or destruction
Sew lies
Crafting deceitful stories
Sow hate
Planting seeds of animosity
So many years to clean the slate
Numerous years to start anew
Endless despair within its wake
Continuous hopelessness left behind
His touch soiling what used to be clean
His influence tarnishing purity
His gaze burning on the edge of our dreams
His intense stare threatening our aspirations
No more
No longer
Cold pace
Lack of speed or urgency
Slow days (?)
Days that pass slowly
And again he rides in
He returns once more
It's September and he covets the gullible
In the fall, he desires the easily influenced
Skeletal wish, hunter
Thin desire, seeking out prey
A thousand lies
Numerous false statements
Cast from the throne of secrecy
Thrown out from a hidden position of power
Hear him spewing forth a meaning to miserables lies
Listen to him forcefully inventing meanings for pitiful untruths
See the twisted hand of doubt seal the affair
Observe skepticism solidifying the matter
The insect trust, believer
The fragile faith of a follower
Your body a vehicle to
Your physical form used as a means for
Pearls before swine they are nothing but blind
Valuable offerings wasted on those who cannot appreciate
Submit to nothing and swallow my spit of scorn
Refuse to yield and endure my contempt
Invisible king, dying
Powerful ruler unseen, perishing
Procession of woe, struck down by sorrow
March of misery, affected by sadness
A burden so great
An overwhelming load
Weighs heavy on old and withered beliefs
Bears down on aged and weakened convictions
The swift solution crumbles
The quick fix falls apart
Beneath the mock notes of a masterpiece
Under the false tones of a great creation
Death in his eyes, waiting
The presence of death in his gaze, anticipating
Spiraling judgement, provoked in the rains
Descending criticism, instigated by the downpour
This futile test drowned in the levee of deception
This useless trial overwhelmed by the barrier of deceit
In the year of his sovereign
During the time of his rule
Rid us of your judgement
Relieve us from your criticism
Heir apparent
Next in line for the throne
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MIKAEL LARS AKERFELDT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
TheTribalist
My favorite folk band of all time.
Josué Morán
Opeth Is Death Metal! Swedish Death Metal from Orchid to Ghost Reveries which are the best albums
You’re Okay Boah
@Josué Morán
Very much so,
Progressive death metal.
Saad MAFiA
if you are a musician, look into the music notes and see the amazing mastery of Opeth; they put notes that hate each other together and force them to make love.. i keep falling in love with opeth over and over
Saad MAFiA
nice words past me
Bithon
God, that's the most beautiful description of Opeth I read thus far.
Toprak
What's great about Mikael's writing is that he always uses some "nicer" chords right after dissonant chords so it resolves nicely and you wait for the next attack of dissonance at the end of the musical phrase. This song goes crazier with the dissonance though.
Rob Smeaton
Yeah, there's a transition in Baying of the Hounds that really comes to mind when you say that - with 2 guitars playing in unison, but a minor 2nd apart.
X Y
There’s no such thing as notes that hate each other, there are resonance and dissonance, Opeth knows how to use dissonance, that’s all there is to it.
tiKi
Mikael Åkerfeldt mastered every genre he ever touched, death metal, prog metal, prog rock, folk, etc. He is the ONE