The Sword Woman
Smoulder Lyrics
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Eyes burn fierce, they smoulder
Thou shalt not become his slave
Slit his throat in his blood I will bathe
Cold fury turn me brittle as steel
Ride through a ribbon of starlight
Walled by black forest trees
I sell my sword to the highest bidder
To ride with my brethren
With shining steel by my side
Crush the traitors and revel in their cries!
Heart beats quick with strange longing
Live as I please and die as God wills
Eyes dance with reckless madness
Trade drudgery for wandering and violence
I sell my sword to the highest bidder
To ride with my brethren
With shining steel by my side
Crush the traitors and revel in their cries!
The pounding war drums call me endlessly
To roads where armoured captains ride!
With banners flowing, crimson dyed
To never be swine's bride
Forever, you will be
You will be denied!
My sisters bend above their looms
And gnaw their moldy crumbs
But I ride forth in silk and steel
To follow the phantom drums
The Sword Woman by Smoulder tells the story of a woman who frees herself from a life of solitude and a monotonous existence by becoming a sword-wielding warrior. The opening lines of the song introduce the singer as a fierce, red-haired warrior who is determined not to become a slave to anyone, even the devil. The chorus, "I sell my sword to the highest bidder, to ride with my brethren, with shining steel by my side, crush the traitors and revel in their cries!" further illustrates her resolve to live life on her own terms, seeking adventure and action.
The second verse speaks of her desire to break free from her mundane existence and the moment when she decides to sell her sword to the highest bidder, joining a band of warriors like her own. The line "Heart beats quick with strange longing, live as I please and die as God wills" depicts the singer's freedom to live in the moment and embrace the consequences of her actions. The remainder of the song talks about the singer's purpose as a warrior, fighting against those who seek to harm her or her brethren. She fears nothing, and the pounding war drums beckon her to battle, where she can revel in the cries of the traitors she has defeated.
Smoulder's The Sword Woman is a powerful song that showcases the strength and independence of its character, who revels in the thrill of the battlefield. It is a stark reminder that women too can be fierce warriors, and the song draws inspiration from Norse and Celtic mythology, drawing from the stories of warrior women who were feared and respected in their time.
Line by Line Meaning
Red haired spawn of the devil
Describing the singer's fiery hair and fierce nature, compared to that of a devil's spawn
Eyes burn fierce, they smoulder
The singer's intense gaze that pierces through their foes, smouldering with fury
Thou shalt not become his slave
A warning to not be subservient to anyone, even if they try to control or dominate
Slit his throat in his blood I will bathe
A graphic depiction of the artist's thirst for revenge and bloodshed
Cold fury turn me brittle as steel
The artist's anger turning them as hard and unyielding as steel
Ride through a ribbon of starlight
Describing the singer riding through the night lit only by stars
Walled by black forest trees
The setting of the singer's journey, surrounded by dark and foreboding forests
From a life of solitude, I flee
The artist running away from a lonely life and seeking adventure elsewhere
I sell my sword to the highest bidder
The artist's willingness to fight for anyone who pays them the most
To ride with my brethren
A desire to be with fellow warriors and fight as a team
With shining steel by my side
The singer relying on their trusty sword and armor to protect them in battle
Crush the traitors and revel in their cries!
The artist's bloodthirsty attitude towards their enemies, enjoying their screams of agony
Heart beats quick with strange longing
The singer feeling an inexplicable yearning that quickens their heartbeat
Live as I please and die as God wills
The singer wanting to live freely but also accept fate and God's plan for them
Eyes dance with reckless madness
The singer's eyes showing their wild and daring nature, bordering on insanity
Trade drudgery for wandering and violence
The artist exchanging a mundane life for a more exciting and violent one
The pounding war drums call me endlessly
The artist being drawn towards the sounds of war and battle
To roads where armoured captains ride!
Where powerful military leaders are leading their armies
With banners flowing, crimson dyed
Describing the vivid images of the battlefield, with banners soaked in blood
To never be swine's bride
Refusing to marry someone of low status or be subservient
Forever, you will be / You will be denied!
A defiant statement to anyone who tries to control or oppress the artist, refusing to be subdued
My sisters bend above their looms / And gnaw their moldy crumbs
A contrast between the artist's adventurous lifestyle and the mundane lives of their sisters
But I ride forth in silk and steel / To follow the phantom drums
Choosing to ride off to battle with both style and strength, following the call of war and adventure
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Shawn Vincent, Sarah Kitteringham
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind