This is my favourite track from Manowar, despite its relatively unknown status. It feels unusual, definitely not a casual hasty-heavy track. It advances slowly but powerfully, like a tank or a line of armoured knights on the battlefield. It hits hard, again and again. I found it raw at first, but later managed to discover the deeper content inside. The lyrics are also strange. After multiple listenings an image of a glorious and powerful medieval king appeared in my mind. As he leads his son, the young prince into the royal treasure room, showing him the regalia, he asks him: Father, what is power? or: Father, tell me about your power! And the King starts to speak... "Atop the mountain, where the river of steel flows Black is the forest, white was the snow. There as children, how could children know? One without name or number soon would show." The young prince listens intrigued as his father tells him the ancient tale about the creation of the world, the holy (metal-)mountain where their glorious people originate from. The forest is black there, as it is on the ground. The bright, white snow, that comes from the sky above, makes a sharp contrast with the shadowed surface, but it eventually melts and disappears: it cannot brighten the gloomy earth for long. The children, the people in the world therefore had to live in the darkness, and had no idea that their Creator would soon send his Messenger to them: one who has no name or number, as he's a divine being, not born on the material world. "There stood he, on his chariot made of gold He did reveal the trinity of secrets old." He arrived from the sky on a golden chariot, glowing in brightness, and hailed the humans, who looked at him stunned and terrified by his presence. The Messenger then taught them the Secrets of real power, that comes from the Creator himself: "A sceptre of iron could mercy bring. A shield of gold, the Creator and king, And the great sword of steel. Sons of destiny shall wield." An iron sceptre, the symbol of judicial power: The real, consecrated King should reign with the sturdiness of iron, judges with justice and mercy, since the Creator also took mercy on them by bringing them out of the darkness of ignorance. A shield of gold, the symbol of legislative power: Gold is the color of the sun, the life-giving brightness and the divine light of the Creator, whose messenger or governor on earth is the King. He mediates the power of the undisputable, eternal Law that comes from the divine, and as a shield, it protects all who observe them. And finally, the steel sword, the symbol of executive power. It shouldn't be viewed as an executioner's tool, but as the weapon of knights, staunch, stalwart and faithful champions of justice. They are the King's most trusted subjects, setting an example and showing the people (by force, if necessary) how to best serve their King, who is blessed by the divine power of the God(s). These majestic gifts are proof that they are the Chosen People, destined for greatness, the sons of destiny. The child prince feels astounded as he carefully touches the items of regalia. His father, the King continues the tale, in fact, he is now teaching his son: "Hear Wisdom's voice. Rise, know the strength that you feel. Hold in your heart, but never reveal You were called by the Gods, their powers to wield. Guard well the secret of steel!" The most important quality of a monarch is Wisdom, it should always guide his decisions. He should always be aware of the strength of his power. Use it responsibly, according to the divine Law and never abuse it. This all is the Secret of Kings - he explains - so keep it close to your heart, heed its meaning, don't let it fall into oblivion and don't reveal it to anybody because this is the legacy of kings only. But, when the day comes, teach all of this to your son, make sure that he will one day become worthy to succeed you on the throne... Towards the end, the repeating of the second verse with some slight changes to the music shows that it may be a later day, the once small child prince has now grown into a mighty paladin, beloved and respected by his people. He is now ready to inherit the throne. At the coronation event, as he stands in front of the praising crowd, his mind returns to the childhood memory with his father. As he loudly recites the oath, while showing up the regalia, in his thoughts he hears the Secrets again, the words of Wisdom. And finally, as the new King, he raises his shining steel greatsword, hails the people and they respond with exultant ovation! "And the great sword of steel!" No TLDR, just a Thank You for reading :)
