Lyrics
Long ago in days untold
Refers to a distant past
Were ruled by lords of greed
Describes a society dominated by greedy rulers
Maidens fared with gold they dared
Maidens risked their lives for wealth
To bare their wombs that bleed
Describes the sacrifices made by women
Kings and queens and guillotines
References to monarchs, execution devices, and denial of life
Taking lives denied
Execution and loss of life were common
Starch and parchment laid the laws
Legal systems were based on rigid rules and documents
When bishops took the ride
Bishops played a role in the legal system
Only to deceive
People were often deceptive
Oh I know I
Personal realization of familiarity with this life
Lived this life afore
Expressing a sense of déjà vu or past experience
Somehow I know now
Confirming newfound awareness of certain truths
Truths I must be sure
A sense of internal certainty
Tossin', turnin', nightmares burnin'
Restless nights filled with distressing dreams
Dreams of swords in hand
Imagery of combat and conflict in dreams
Sailing ships, the Viking spits
References to Viking voyages and bloodshed
The blood of father's land
Symbolic reference to the sacrifice of ancestors
Only to deceive
Reiteration of the theme of deception
Living times of knights and mares
Life during the era of knights and horses
Raising swords for maidens fair
Men fought for the honor of women
Sneer at death, fear only loss of pride
Choosing pride over fear of death
Living other centuries
Living in different time periods
Deja vu or what you please
Acknowledging a sense of déjà vu
Follows true to all who do or die
Committing to actions with significant consequences
Screams of no reply
Expressions of despair and unanswered calls
They died
Confirmation of death
Screams of no reply
Reiteration of unanswered calls in a distressing context
And died
Further emphasis on death
Died
Repetition of the finality of death
Lordy, Lordy, they died
An exclamation marking the conclusion of the narrative
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