To me this song is an account of the journey of the individual consciousness from birth to death. To this effect, MJK, who is well-versed in mysticism, uses a variety of occult symbols.
The first paragraph is quite explicit. When we are born ('as we begin'), or when we 'come in[to]' the world, we are pure, ruled by Will alone. Look up Crowley's concept of True Will.
The 'stone' is a borrowing to the symbology of Alchemy (the first verses of Lateralus as well as the 46 & 2 song show MJK's knowledge about this), in the strictest sense the Stone is Consciousness (that has to be refined again and again - 'gather, place erase') but like any occult symbol it's supra-rational so you can interpret it in many ways.
The rest is a bit more complex and open to interpretation.
The 'stranger' is probably the Other (the polarity of the Self). We are afraid of realising and opening to that which is not ourselves, hence 'swore to crush his bones'.
The 'spark' is the Divine Spark of the Christian Gnostics, the divine essence. Because there is duality, there are two 'ways back' : follow the Way, or focus within ('warm this home'), if that makes sense.
The blade/sword is a symbol for the intellect (Air element), through life we build our own mind, and here comes the theme of the 'stranger' again.
To understand the references to the Will, here is a quote from Nietzsche : "This world is the will to power — and nothing besides ! And you yourselves are also this will to power — and nothing besides !"
And at the end of life, the cycle is complete, one 'leaves as one comes in, pure as light, returns to One.'
To me this song is an account of the journey of the individual consciousness from birth to death. To this effect, MJK, who is well-versed in mysticism, uses a variety of occult symbols.
The first paragraph is quite explicit. When we are born ('as we begin'), or when we 'come in[to]' the world, we are pure, ruled by Will alone. Look up Crowley's concept of True Will.
The 'stone' is a borrowing to the symbology of Alchemy (the first verses of Lateralus as well as the 46 & 2 song show MJK's knowledge about this), in the strictest sense the Stone is Consciousness (that has to be refined again and again - 'gather, place erase') but like any occult symbol it's supra-rational so you can interpret it in many ways.
The rest is a bit more complex and open to interpretation.
The 'stranger' is probably the Other (the polarity of the Self). We are afraid of realising and opening to that which is not ourselves, hence 'swore to crush his bones'.
The 'spark' is the Divine Spark of the Christian Gnostics, the divine essence. Because there is duality, there are two 'ways back' : follow the Way, or focus within ('warm this home'), if that makes sense.
The blade/sword is a symbol for the intellect (Air element), through life we build our own mind, and here comes the theme of the 'stranger' again.
To understand the references to the Will, here is a quote from Nietzsche : "This world is the will to power — and nothing besides ! And you yourselves are also this will to power — and nothing besides !"
And at the end of life, the cycle is complete, one 'leaves as one comes in, pure as light, returns to One.'
@sylvainsab "After your death you will be what you were before your birth."
@sylvainsab "After your death you will be what you were before your birth."
@sylvainsab The lyrics is not entirely made by James though. Danny and Adam have much more knowledge about this subject.
@sylvainsab The lyrics is not entirely made by James though. Danny and Adam have much more knowledge about this subject.