The child without a name grew up to be the hand
To watch you, to shield you or kill on demand
The choice he'd made he could not comprehend
His blood a grim secret they had to command

He's torn between his honor and the true love of his life
He prayed for both but was denied

So many dreams were broken and so much was sacrificed
Was it worth the ones we loved and had to leave behind?
So many years have past, who are the noble and the wise?
Will all our sins be justified?

The curse of his powers tormented his life
Obeying the crown was a sinister price
His soul was tortured by love and by pain
He surely would flee but the oath made him stay

He's torn between his honor and the true love of his life
He prayed for both but was denied

So many dreams were broken and so much was sacrificed
Was it worth the ones we loved and had to leave behind?
So many years have past, who are the noble and the wise?
Will all our sins be justified?

Please forgive me for the sorrow, for leaving you in fear
For the dreams we had to silence, that's all they'll ever be
Still I'll be the hand that serves you
Though you'll not see that it is me

So many dreams were broken and so much was sacrificed
Was it worth the ones we loved and had to leave behind?
So many years have past, who are the noble and the wise?
Will all our sins be justified?


Lyrics submitted by P30

Hand of Sorrow Lyrics as written by Sharon Den Adel Martijn Spierenburg

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, SPIERENBURG MUSIC PUBLISHING, Peermusic Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Hand Of Sorrow song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

35 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +3
    General Comment

    FOr some the reason, the song to me is about Severus Snape from Harry Potter..haha

    zEEdaneon August 14, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    It strongly reminds me of the Assassin books by Robin Hobb. Fitz is the obvious 'child without a name', made into a royal assassin with his royal blood hidden, made to take an oath to the King when too young to comprehend, denied his true love for Molly, etc. Robin Hobb is thanked in the Silent Force booklet for 'inspiration'.

    SunlightDon June 27, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Every time I listen to this song, I always thought this would be a good Nightwish cover (Pre Tarja, not with annette) it to me looks like something they would sing. it fits best with most of their stuff

    The Red Pyramidon August 10, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    The song is about Fitz from the 'Assasins Apprentice' and 'Tawny Man' books by Robin Hobb. Sharon said so in an interview. Its about Fitz who grew up as a Royal Bastard and became an assasin. And the whole powers part is about him having the wit bond.

    rogue_soulon September 08, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    this song fits really well to star wars's main hero/antagonist: ANAKIN SKYWALKER!!!!

    he was a child that nobody expected to realize his dream (become a jedi) 'cause he was a slave... until he was discovered by a jedi master (Qui-gon Jinn) who was amazed of his potential and for a "secret commended to his blood" (his virgin birth)

    in his journey to become a jedi he met Obi-Wan (his master), Padme (the love of his life) and also Palpatine (darth sidious) who would be the one that turned him into his own HAND OF SORROW (darth vader)

    when he became a jedi he had to make a choice: choose between his honor (the jedi code that forbided marrige) and the love of his life (padme), he choose both when he married padme in secret and they were about to have child... but was denied when he became Darth Vader (his dark part that consumed him).

    He was tricked by "the crown" (palpatine) to do his will and made him believe that padme would die in childbirth and the only way to save her was achieving a dark power (that cursed him and tormented his life). His soul was cursed by love and pain 'cause the lose of the love of his life would hurt him the most. He knew that achieving the dark power wasn't correct, but the oath made him stay (he swore padme that he wouldnt let her die).

    When Obi-Wan discovers this he faces him in a lightsaber duel, and it ends with anakin being dismembered and burned alive, but he survives... but Padme dies in childbirth (she gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl) because his new dark-numb-radical personality broke her heart and she lost the will to live... his "dreams were broken and so much was sacrified" (he betrayed and killed many jedi, from a liberator turned to a slaver, his wife died and his children were splitted up and given to other families, he was confined to a life supporting system armor) ...

    more than 20 years pass, and he has trully became a hand of sorrow, his former-master Obi-Wan is killed by him in a second duel, the galaxy is under control by him and his new master (Darth Sidious), everything is chaos and darkness, and he stills carries the burden of the memories of his past... then a rebellion raises against his empire, and two of the key-figures of that rebellion were: Luke Skywalker and his lost twin sister Leia Organa (Skywalker)! HIS OFFSPRING!!

    He faces Luke (who was trained in the jedi arts by Obi-Wan and other jedi master (Yoda)) in two lightsaber duels, in the first one he cuts off luke's hand and reveals him he is his father... then in the second and final shodown his son hurts him really bad, and then Palpatine tells Luke to end with his father's life, but Luke refuses and is attacked by an enraged emperor... then Anakin (the good part) arises watching his son being tortured, and vanishes Darth Vader, he probably thinked in Padme and this part fits well to Anakin's sacrifice: "Please forgive me for the sorrow For leaving you in fear For the dreams we had to silence That's all they'll ever be Still I'll be the hand that saves you Though you'll not see that it is me"

    then still with his armor damaged he attacks and kills Palpatine and saved his son, and also destroyed the leaders of the empire: His dark part (Darth Vader) and Palpatine (Darth Sidious)... but he dies moments later, but he is redemed by his son, and then he joins the force (goes to heaven in therms of Earth).

    LadyVader66on January 12, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    pretty sure this is in reference to a song of ice and fire, and the "hand of the king" title

    ProfGlitchon June 17, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Minor corrections to the chorus: So many dreams [were] broken and so much [was] sacrificed Was it worth the ones we loved and had to leave behind So many years have [passed] toward a noble land of lies Will all our sins be justified?

    My favorite song from the album.

    neoflameon March 02, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Thanks for your help...Corrected

    P30on March 05, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Actually, in the chorus it is

    So many years have passed [who are the noble and the wise]

    But this song reminds me a lot of the book Daggerspell, and one of the characters in it. Jillian was written about the same book...So I wonder if it is a kind of continuation. Either way, it is an awesome song.

    the.hellkiteon March 21, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The above lyrics have a few mistakes. Where the hell do you guys get them from? Buy the CD and you'll have the right lyrics and put them then in here!! I hate if someone puts in here wrong lyrics. Here are the right ones (out of the booklet):

    The child without a name grew up to be the hand To watch you, to shield you or kill on demand The choice he’d made he could not comprehend His blood a grim secret they had to command He’s torn between his honor and the true love of his life He prayed for both but was denied

    So many dreams were broken and so much was sacrificed Was it worth the ones we loved and had to leave behind? So many years have past, who are the noble and the wise? Will all our sins be justified?

    The curse of his powers tormented his life Obeying the crown was a sinister price His soul was tortured by love and by pain He surely would flee but the oath made him stay He’s torn between his honor and the true love of his life He prayed for both but was denied

    So many dreams were broken and so much was sacrificed Was it worth the ones we loved and had to leave behind? So many years have past, who are the noble and the wise? Will all our sins be justified?

    Please forgive me for the sorrow, for leaving you in fear For the dreams we had to silence, that’s all they’ll ever be Still I’ll be the hand that serves you Though you’ll not see that it is me

    So many dreams were broken and so much was sacrificed Was it worth the ones we loved and had to leave behind? So many years have past, who are the noble and the wise? Will all our sins be justified?

    Soulslayeron March 23, 2007   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song: Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.” That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Album art
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere. In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Album art
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve. The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future. Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere" The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Album art
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version. Great version of a great song,
Album art
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.