Circle of the Tyrant
Opeth Lyrics


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After the battle is over
And the sands drunken the blood
All what there remains
Is the bitterness of delusion

The immortality of the gods
Sits at their side
As they leave the walls behind
To reach the jewels gleam

The days have come
When the steel will rule
And upon his head
A crown of gold

Your hand wields the might
The tyrant's the precursor
You carry the will
As the morning is near

I sing the ballads
Of victory and defeat
I hear the tales
Of frozen mystery

The new kingdoms rise
By the circle of the tyrants
In the land of darkness
The warrior, that was me
Grotesque glory
None will ever see them fall
And hunts and war
Are like everlasting shadows

Where the winds cannot reach
The tyrant's might was born
And often I look back
With tears in my eyes
Grotesque glory




None will ever see them fall
And hunts and wars

Overall Meaning

"Circle of the Tyrants" by Opeth is a song about the aftermath of a great battle. The lyrics describe the emptiness and regret that follows a conflict that has claimed countless lives. The singer talks about the bitterness and delusion left behind after the bloodshed. He talks about the gods who have watched over the battle passively, and the warriors who have fought for greed and power. The song also includes a reflection on the rise of new kingdoms and the ongoing war between them. The chorus of the song, "Grotesque glory, none will ever see them fall and hunts and war are like everlasting shadows," speaks to the cyclical nature of war and how it seems to never truly end.


One interpretation of these lyrics is that the song is a criticism of the glorification of war and the leaders who perpetuate it. The idea that none will ever see the grotesque glory of the tyrants fall suggests that these leaders will continue to wage war and cause destruction, without ever being held accountable for their actions. The final lines, "Where the winds cannot reach the tyrant's might was born, and often I look back with tears in my eyes," suggest a mournful reflection on the devastating consequences of war.


Line by Line Meaning

After the battle is over
When the fight has ended


And the sands drunken the blood
And the sand is soaked with blood


All what there remains
All that's left


Is the bitterness of delusion
Is the disappointment and regret


The immortality of the gods
The idea that gods are eternal


Sits at their side
Is by their side


As they leave the walls behind
As they abandon their fortifications


To reach the jewels gleam
To obtain valuable treasures


The days have come
The time has arrived


When the steel will rule
When weapons and violence will be prevalent


And upon his head
And on the head of the warrior


A crown of gold
A symbol of power and wealth


Your hand wields the might
Your hand possesses strength and power


The tyrant's the precursor
The tyrant is the instigator


You carry the will
You possess the determination


As the morning is near
As the dawn approaches


I sing the ballads
I tell the stories


Of victory and defeat
Of both success and failure


I hear the tales
I listen to the myths


Of frozen mystery
Of mysteries that remain unsolved


The new kingdoms rise
New empires emerge


By the circle of the tyrants
Under the rule of oppressive leaders


In the land of darkness
In a place of despair


The warrior, that was me
I was once that warrior


Grotesque glory
Ugly feats of greatness


None will ever see them fall
No one will witness their defeat


And hunts and war
And the hunting and fighting


Are like everlasting shadows
Are like things that will never disappear


Where the winds cannot reach
In a place faraway


The tyrant's might was born
The tyrant's power originated


And often I look back
And sometimes I reflect


With tears in my eyes
With sadness in my sight


Grotesque glory
Ugly feats of greatness


None will ever see them fall
No one will witness their defeat


And hunts and wars
And the hunting and fighting




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: TOM WARRIOR

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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