Oh Grey Warden
Raney Shockne Lyrics
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what have you done?
The oath you have taken is all but broken.
All is undone.
Demons have come
to destroy this peace we have had for so long.
Ally or foe?
Maker only know.
The stronghold lives on,
and the army's reborn,
compeled to forge on.
What will we become?
Can you be forgiven when the cold grave has come?
Or will you have won, or will battle rage on?
Oh Grey Warden,
what have you done?
The oath you have taken is all but broken.
All is undone.
Ash in the sun,
cast into darkness the light we had won.
Ally or foe?
Maker only know.
Ally or foe? The maker only knows.
The stronghold lives on,
and the army's reborn,
compeled to forge on.
What will we become?
Can you be forgiven when the cold grave has come?
Or will you have won, or will battle rage on?
The song "Oh, Grey Warden" by Raney Shockne is a haunting and powerful tribute to the heroism and sacrifice of the Grey Wardens in the world of Dragon Age. The lyrics address the central dilemma that faces these legendary warriors: the seemingly impossible task of battling demons and protecting their world from destruction, while also struggling to maintain their own integrity and honor in the face of often overwhelming temptation and corruption.
The opening lines of the song ask the titular Grey Warden "what have you done?" as an acknowledgement of the enormous burden they bear and the difficult choices they must make. The oath they have taken to defend their world is "all but broken," and "demons have come" to threaten the hard-won peace that they have maintained. The singer wonders whether the Grey Wardens' allies can truly be trusted, or whether they too will succumb to the corrupting influence of darkness.
Despite the bleakness of this description, the chorus offers a glimmer of hope. The "stronghold lives on" and the Grey Wardens' army is "reborn," ready to "forge on" in the face of whatever challenges come their way. The singer asks whether the Grey Wardens will be forgiven for their failures when they eventually face death ("the cold grave"), and whether their battles will ever truly be won. The answer, according to the singer, lies with the Maker: "Ally or foe? Maker only knows."
Overall, "Oh, Grey Warden" is a moving tribute to the struggles and sacrifices of these legendary warriors, who face seemingly insurmountable odds in their quest to preserve peace and protect their world from darkness.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Grey Warden,
Oh, Grey Warden - addressing the singer of Dragon Age who is a member of an elite group known as the Grey Wardens.
what have you done?
What have you done? - question to the Grey Warden, implying that something significant and consequential has been achieved.
The oath you have taken is all but broken.
The oath you have taken is all but broken - stating that the Grey Warden has broken their promise.
All is undone.
All is undone - expressing that everything the Grey Warden has accomplished is now null and void.
Demons have come
Demons have come - referring to the invading demonic forces that threaten the world.
to destroy this peace we have had for so long.
To destroy this peace we have had for so long - indicating that the world has previously been stable, and now it is under attack.
Ally or foe?
Ally or foe? - questioning the motives of the people the Grey Warden is allied with or fighting against.
Maker only know.
Maker only knows - stating that the answers to the Grey Warden's questions lie only with the Maker, the deity worshiped in the game's lore.
The stronghold lives on,
The stronghold lives on - referring to a stronghold where people are sheltering.
and the army's reborn,
And the army has been reborn - implying that a new army has been established.
compeled to forge on.
Compelled to forge on - emphasizing that the people in the stronghold have no choice but to keep fighting.
What will we become?
What will we become? - wondering about the future of the people in the stronghold if the battle continues.
Can you be forgiven when the cold grave has come?
Can you be forgiven when the cold grave has come? - questioning whether the Grey Warden can make amends before they die.
Or will you have won, or will battle rage on?
Or will you have won, or will the battle continue? - pondering about the outcome of the war.
Ash in the sun,
Ash in the sun - describing the aftermath of a battle, where everything that used to be is now in ruins.
cast into darkness the light we had won.
Cast into darkness, the light we had won - stating that the world that used to be at peace, is now shrouded in darkness.
Contributed by Wyatt V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.