The Raven
The Stranglers and Friends Lyrics

The lyrics to The Stranglers and Friends' song The Raven are suitably mysterious and open to interpretation. The opening lines speak about flying straight with perfection and finding a new direction. This can be seen as a metaphor for a personal journey towards self-realization and enlightenment. The next line, "You never realized the things they said, we'll never realize until we're dead," hints at the idea that people often overlook important truths and lessons until it's too late. This is further emphasized by the mention of the fires burning along the coast of triumphs and the ebony embittered souls of children, suggesting that society is often guilty of causing harm and neglecting those who need help the most.

The next line, "We'll seek another way before too long, but will you stop my wind before I'm gone," seems to touch on the idea that people are always striving to find a better path or way of life, but sometimes their progress is stopped by outside forces. The following verses speak about finding oneself alone and realizing that one's world has never belonged to anyone else. The repetition of the line "And when you find me" lends an air of inevitability and foreboding to the song. The final lines evoke a sense of unity and friendship, despite the differences between individuals.

Overall, the lyrics to The Raven are enigmatic and thought-provoking, touching on themes of personal growth, societal neglect, and the importance of individual identity.