The Alchemist
Ten Lyrics


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Like a satellite breaking orbit to the sun
So another day is over and the light has just begun
For in his timeless eyes there is so much to be done
When the past is just a memory and the future’s yet to come

His castle on the mountain shades the land below
And no-one dares to doubt him
For not so long ago

The alchemist looked down from towers above this town
He summoned forth the lighting, brought it crashing to the ground
The power in his hands cast shadow on this land
Earth, water, fire and air succumb and bow to his command
Old Malachi stands the last in line
The secrets with him die
He lives his life protecting what he can
An honest man

He shines a brighter light than you’ve ever known before
He protected us for centuries
Delivered us from war
Because of Malachi there’s a haven from the storm
There’s a place we can discover what the future has in store

But such fear surrounds the fortress
That no-one ever goes
For there you’ll find the sorcerer the centuries have known

The alchemist looked down from towers above this town
He summoned forth the lighting, brought it crashing to the ground
The power in his hands cast shadow on this land
Earth, water, fire and air succumb and bow to his command
Old Malachi stands the last in line
The secrets with him die




He lives his life protecting what he can
An honest man

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "The Alchemist" by Ten depict the story of an enigmatic and powerful alchemist who resides in his castle on a mountain's summit. The alchemist is portrayed as a figure of immense power and knowledge, capable of controlling the elements of earth, water, fire, and air, and summoning forth lightning from the sky. The theme of the song revolves around the idea of legacy and the passing of knowledge down from one generation to the next. The alchemist embodies this theme, as his secrets will die with him, and the singer of the song, Old Malachi, stands as the last in his line, living his life protecting what he can.


The lyrics describe the dynamic between the alchemist and the town below, where people fear his near-omnipotent power, and instead of embracing him, they cower in fear. Despite this, he continues to work tirelessly, looking towards the future, and protecting the town from the storms that threaten their livelihood. Meanwhile, Old Malachi stands as a pillar of morality, providing the people with a foundation of honesty and protection.


The song's lyrics paint a vivid picture of a powerful figure who stands at the edge of the world, looking towards the future, while the people below remain trapped in the past. The alchemist is a symbol of hope, strength, and knowledge in the face of uncertainty and chaos.


Line by Line Meaning

Like a satellite breaking orbit to the sun
Just as a satellite moves away from its point of origin towards the sun, so does the day come to an end and a new light begins.


So another day is over and the light has just begun
Although one day has ended, a new day filled with light and possibilities has already begun.


For in his timeless eyes there is so much to be done
The person being referred to is full of ambition and energy to achieve great things.


When the past is just a memory and the future’s yet to come
The past is over and can only be remembered, but the future is full of endless possibilities.


His castle on the mountain shades the land below
The person being referred to has a castle located high up on a mountain, which provides shade to the land below.


And no-one dares to doubt him
The people living below the castle have so much faith in the person being referred to that they never doubt his abilities.


The alchemist looked down from towers above this town
The alchemist being referred to is located in a tower above a town, looking down at everything below.


He summoned forth the lighting, brought it crashing to the ground
The alchemist has great powers, which he uses to bring lightning down to the ground.


The power in his hands cast shadow on this land
The power that the alchemist has creates a shadow on the land below.


Earth, water, fire and air succumb and bow to his command
The elements of earth, water, fire, and air are under the control of the alchemist and obey his commands.


Old Malachi stands the last in line
Malachi is the last one standing in a long line of people who have protected their land from harm.


The secrets with him die
Malachi keeps his secrets to himself and they will die with him.


He lives his life protecting what he can
Malachi spends his life protecting those around him and doing what he can to keep them safe.


An honest man
Malachi is known for his honesty and is respected for it.


He shines a brighter light than you’ve ever known before
Malachi's light is brighter than anyone can imagine, and he has abilities that are beyond comprehension.


He protected us for centuries
Malachi has been protecting the people for centuries, and they have survived because of his efforts.


Delivered us from war
Malachi has fought and won many wars, and he has delivered his people from the horrors of conflict.


Because of Malachi there’s a haven from the storm
Due to Malachi's efforts, there is a place of safety where the people can escape the dangers of the outside world.


There’s a place we can discover what the future has in store
The place created by Malachi is a space where the people can learn about the future and what it might hold for them.


But such fear surrounds the fortress
Although the fortress is a place of safety, there is still fear surrounding it.


That no-one ever goes
Due to the fear surrounding the fortress, very few people venture there.


For there you’ll find the sorcerer the centuries have known
Inside the fortress lies the alchemist that has been known throughout the centuries for his great and mysterious powers.




Contributed by Carter K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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