Eldorado
Sopor Aeternus Lyrics
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A gallant knight,
In sunshine and in shadow,
Had journeyed long,
Singing a song,
In search of Eldorado.
But he grew old-
And o'er his heart a shadow
Fell as he found
No spot of ground
That looked like Eldorado.
And, as his strength
Failed him at length,
He met a pilgrim shadow-
"Shadow," said he,
"Where can it be-
This land of Eldorado?"
"Over the Mountains
Of the Moon,
Down the Valley of the Shadow,
Ride, boldly ride,"
The shade replied-
"If you seek for Eldorado!"
The song Eldorado by Sopor Aeternus & The Ensemble of Shadows tells the story of a gallant knight who journeyed long in search of Eldorado, singing a song along the way. However, as he grew older, the knight became disheartened as he found no spot of ground that resembled Eldorado, and a shadow fell over his heart. Despite his failing strength, he met a pilgrim shadow who directed him to ride boldly through the Mountains of the Moon and the Valley of the Shadow, if he sought Eldorado.
The lyrics of Eldorado speak to the human experience of searching for something that seems just out of reach. The knight's quest for Eldorado can be seen as a metaphor for the pursuit of happiness, success, or fulfillment in life. As the knight ages and his search becomes more difficult, he becomes weighed down by the shadow of disappointment and despair. However, the song offers a glimmer of hope in the form of the pilgrim shadow's advice to continue riding boldly and persevere in the search for Eldorado.
Line by Line Meaning
Gaily bedight,
In joyful attire,
A gallant knight,
A brave warrior,
In sunshine and in shadow,
Through the good times and bad times,
Had journeyed long,
Travelled far and wide,
Singing a song,
Humming a tune,
In search of Eldorado.
In pursuit of a fabled city of gold.
But he grew old-
But he aged-
This knight so bold-
This fearless knight-
And o'er his heart a shadow
And over his heart, a darkness
Fell as he found
Came as he discovered
No spot of ground
Not even a single place
That looked like Eldorado.
That resembled the mythical city of gold.
And, as his strength
And, as he weakened
Failed him at length,
Lost its power over time,
He met a pilgrim shadow-
He encountered a wandering shadow-
"Shadow," said he,
"Shade," he asked
"Where can it be-
"Where might it be-
This land of Eldorado?"
This land of the mythic city of gold?"
"Over the Mountains
"Across the great mountains
Of the Moon,
In the realm of the moon,
Down the Valley of the Shadow,
Through the dark valley of the shadow,
Ride, boldly ride,
Continue on boldly,
The shade replied-
The shadow responded-
"If you seek for Eldorado!"
"If you are searching for the city of gold!"
Contributed by Savannah V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.