A tale told in eight musical parts, an experiment, an ode to many things. Please do not judge Silverlode on this venture, for this artefact stands alone from the band’s first two albums, which might be more suitable for the non-familiar.
Enjoy The People’s Son….




Prologue - Instrumental
In the vast world of one boy’s imagination; castles with tall towers, towns and sprawling rivers, spread far and wide across a land of green and gray, with hills and valleys, out to the rocky coast where spat a fathomless sea. A time of uneasy peace: while prosperous with thriving trade and good harvest, this was only the water’s surface, for something stirred below. The passing of the great line of Kings with no heir called upon a prophecy as carved in ancient stones. That a child should come forth to face the ultimate trial of good and evil and in triumph, banish all blackness forever, but in defeat, shall swallow all mankind in darkness. Not by open war would the outcome be sealed, but by the battle within, the conflict of soul in one child of destiny.




Ciré Mornouth: Men of Cloth
The peaceful citadel stood high in the bitter snow-capped mountains of the southeast; a remote bastion against the cold of those parts, a sanctuary for the body and for the mind. Keepers of The Faith had been tending to the prophecy for ages gone, preparing their teachings, for at this very time they had in their caring tutelage a child, who it was believed would fulfill the words of stone. Yet whispers from surrounding lands had reached the walls of the inner temple that The Dark One had once again begun to stir, rising again and engaging his armies in southbound motion. Quickly the priests of cloth act. In fear they send The Child and his mentor, The Wise One, along with a small party of Faithful farther into the western wilds.

A shrine on a mountain, not too far from these four walls
Where quiet contemplation is at the heart of it all
Men of cloth stoke the flames within the sanctuary gates
For a thousand years this place has stood protected by The Faith
It stands up high beyond the ring of wild flowers
Guarded here, The Texts proclaim a child robed in power
But what was known will fade away
For this is a season of great change you know
The birds have flocked so far away
And the Earth screams aloud for aid
Whispers in the North, they claim
The Child is no longer safe
And it’s time to leave this place




Dawn Raid: Men of Steel
Seeking to capture The Child and sway the outcome of the prophecy to his own ends, The Dark One had set to war quickly, sending his darkest lords swiftly onwards so as to maintain the elements of surprise and ferocity. For long ago was this moment anticipated - that flight might be adopted or defenses raised against him – so The Dark One ensnared one of the cloth and the secret entrance to the outer walls was betrayed unto the Men of Steel by The One with the Wizened Hand. Little mercy was shown on that day as the ancient citadel, it’s inner temple, it’s shrine, it’s people fell as the sun burned red as fire and was gone.

Men clad in steel who worship the sword
Will ride to storm these walls by dawn
They carry the standard of Darkness itself
Wielding weapons of magic and stealth
It is known what they wish to take,
They seek The Child that stands in their way

Horseback they come and aggressive they ride
Woe is upon the walls of the shrine
Surrounding lands felt the rush of their strength
They storm with furry of evil hell-bent
It is known what they wish to take,
But the child is fled to a place that is safe.




The Wise One’s Lullaby
The western wilderness was a breaker of bones and a breaker of spirit. As the small party followed The Great River into the west they endured many hardships. The tutelage of The Wise One seemed distant, less understanding was drawn, for indeed, in the sanctuary of Cirè Mornouth his wise words were clear and powerful, charged with the words of destiny, but as the snow began to settle and food became scarce, with some of The Faithful taking ill, the landscape began to overcome and oppress all clarity and reason. And then, other words of wisdom could be heard.

Lay low, child of hope ---
You must not shiver or fold
For the fight will be long ---
But when all’s lost and won
You can lead our people forth
Make us strong against the dark
We are weak but we intend to rise ---
So long as we have you to lead the line
Soon you’ll be a man ---
Take us on to promised lands
You can lead our people forth
Make us strong against the dark



Save Yourself. A Fragment of New Wisdom
Something uncoiled within The Child as a voice from within offered a sweeter alternative, a voice which spoke kindly, articulating the young boy’s fears and offering temptation away from the teachings of his years, for these words would seem wise and true in such a landscape at the bitter ends of the Earth, void of Reason.

Hey! That’s a lot for one to bear,
You could easily get out of here
The old man is nothing but a fool,
His tale is nothing like the truth
You know what you must do
Save yourself, come save yourself.

See war is coming straight for you,
What can the likes of you do?
The world is big and full of fools,
Don’t trust old men blind by youth
You know what you must do
Save yourself, come save yourself.




Infinite Doubt, A Soliloquy
Praying aloud to any God that wished to listen, seeking answers among mixed messages, doubt took the lead in guiding The Child to his own ill-advised resolve which was to flee, far, wide, alone in the night time, disbelieving in his own future and rejecting all that is expected. With him walked Hope.

Fortune,
Fortune save me ---
I’m alone in the face of that which may break me
Hey Reason,
Reason care for me ---
I see not what they see, I’m just a man:
I am no leader
And my past is a well-tread path
But my future’s unknown
I am no leader
I reject that very notion
And I’ll cry as I abandon my home
I’ll wait ‘til the moon shines
Silver light in the nighttime
And leave all this well behind.



The March South - Instrumental
The Dark Army poured into the southern realm raking a furrow of burning towns and livestock, slain men, women and children, polluting all with its blackness, its unholy stench and the smoke of war. File upon file, row upon row. Scouring the land for the child and The Dark One could feel his goal is weakened and close.





Epilogue: Great Change
Soon it came to be that the words of stone were enacted, complete and darkness had swallowed the land and its people, for it was blackness that had triumphed within. The new dark and cruel overlord had replaced the great line of Kings and his kingdom was ashen waste under a thick black night. But there was word of another who may yet rise up in light to lead the oppressed out of the jaws of shadow and into a new day.

A new age, of fire and pain as darkness consumes the Earth
The darkest of reigns as the blood of the slain slowly seeps into the dirt
Now we must wait for the coming again, yes we must wait for the one
Long must we strain under the bitter regime and hold on for the people’s son
All we knew has lost its way
For this is a season of great change you know
The birds have flocked so far away
And the Earth screams out aloud for aid
Whispers in the North, they claim
A child will come again
To lead us on to ever-day.