Candlemass – Black Star Lyrics

I’ve got a reason to live, your fatal beauty
Your sight is touching my soul, my saddened eyes
I try to draw down your light, oh once again
But you are slipping away

Black star, black star
Black star, black star
Black star, black star
Black star, black star

I’ve got a reason to die and many more
I see your darkness as a friend, a celebration

Am I asking too much? And way too soon?
But please come shine your light on me

Black star, black star
Black star, black star
Black star, black star
Black star, black star

I got no reason at all, to doubt you mother
You have always been there, but out of reach
Sometimes I feel you are lost, into the dark void
But now you call me nearer, nearer

Oh temptress, dagger in the night
I’m waiting as an outcast for the luciferian light
Come take me, into your wicked arms
Rise up from the ruins, give fire to us!
Black star black star
Black star black star
Black star black star
Black star black star

Oh, I hold your shadow in the fallen hour
For all the dead and given and now I give you my love
I am the halo of hell, the finger of god

Destroyer of souls, to the sound of the bell
It is over. It is over. Is it over?
(Over, over, over, over)

 

“Black Star” by Candlemass

Song Details

  • Title: Black Star
  • Artist: Candlemass
  • Album: Black Sabbath – Reunited (1994)
  • Genre: Doom Metal
  • Themes: Death, Darkness, Obsession, Temptation, Light vs. Dark
  • Mood: Dark, Introspective, Melancholic, Powerful
  • Language: English
  • Style: Heavy, Slow tempo, Epic

Step-by-Step Lyrical Breakdown & Meaning

[Intro]

I’ve got a reason to live, your fatal beauty
Your sight is touching my soul, my saddened eyes
I try to draw down your light, oh once again
But you are slipping away

Interpretation:

  • The opening lines reflect internal conflict and longing. The singer speaks of a “reason to live” driven by the “fatal beauty” of something or someone, possibly a metaphor for an obsession or unattainable desire.
  • The line “your sight is touching my soul” suggests that this beauty has a profound effect, emotionally and spiritually. However, the beauty is also elusive—slipping away—creating a sense of loss and desperation.

[Chorus]

Black star, black star
Black star, black star
Black star, black star
Black star, black star

Interpretation:

  • The repetitive nature of “black star” conveys the fixation and obsession the singer has on this “black star”. The repeated chanting creates an intense focus on this entity, elevating it almost to the level of a deity or temptress. The black star could symbolize darkness, death, or an alluring, dangerous force that the singer is drawn to.

[Verse 1]

I’ve got a reason to die and many more
I see your darkness as a friend, a celebration

Interpretation:

  • Here, the singer openly acknowledges their desire for death, suggesting that their obsession with the “black star” has led them to feel like they have no will to live without it.
  • “I see your darkness as a friend, a celebration” suggests an acceptance, even embrace, of the darkness associated with the “black star.” Instead of fearing it, the singer finds comfort and revelry in it, seeing darkness as an ally, perhaps representing death or destruction as something inevitable and worthy of recognition.

[Chorus]

Black star, black star
Black star, black star
Black star, black star
Black star, black star

Interpretation:

  • The chorus repeats, reinforcing the obsessive fixation on the “black star,” which still serves as a central, mysterious symbol for death, temptation, or even divine darkness.

[Verse 2]

I got no reason to doubt you mother
You have always been there, but out of reach
Sometimes I feel you are lost, into the dark void
But now you call me nearer, nearer

Interpretation:

  • The term “mother” in this context could refer to a maternal figure associated with darkness or death, such as the “Mother of Darkness” or a metaphor for death itself.
  • The singer feels this “mother” has always been present but out of reach, representing something distant but inevitable. Now, they feel drawn closer, symbolizing a sense of acceptance or a fatalistic attraction to death or darkness.

[Bridge]

Oh temptress, dagger in the night
I’m waiting as an outcast for the luciferian light
Come take me, into your wicked arms
Rise up from the ruins, give fire to us!

Interpretation:

  • The “temptress” in the lyrics could represent the “black star” itself or death, evil, or destruction personified as a seductive force. The “dagger in the night” suggests that this force is both deadly and alluring, something that can pierce and end lives.
  • “Luciferian light” evokes a reference to Lucifer or Satan, symbolizing rebellion and darkness. The singer is actively calling to be embraced by this force, asking to be taken into its “wicked arms”. The invitation to rise from the ruins and give fire suggests a desire for destruction and rebirth, embracing the chaos and fire that comes with it.

[Chorus – Repeated]

Black star, black star
Black star, black star
Black star, black star
Black star, black star

Interpretation:

  • The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the enduring obsession with the “black star,” which has now fully consumed the singer’s thoughts and desires.

[Verse 3]

Oh, I hold your shadow in the fallen hour
For all the dead and given and now I give you my love
I am the halo of hell, the finger of god
Destroyer of souls, to the sound of the bell
It is over. It is over. Is it over?
(Over, over, over, over)

Interpretation:

  • “Holding your shadow” symbolizes embracing the darkness or the inevitable death that the “black star” represents. The “fallen hour” suggests the end of something or an approach to finality.
  • The singer speaks of offering love to the darkness or death, suggesting that their devotion to the black star has reached its peak. The imagery of being the “halo of hell” and “the finger of god” conveys a powerful but paradoxical state—both damned and divine, marking the singer’s complete alignment with darkness and destruction.
  • The phrase “Destroyer of souls” alludes to the destructive nature of the singer’s obsession with the black star, while “to the sound of the bell” hints at the toll of death, symbolizing an inevitable end.
  • The final question—“Is it over?”—is left unanswered, suggesting ambiguity, confusion, and a sense of eternal conflict.

Meaning of the Song

“Black Star” by Candlemass is a dark, emotional exploration of obsession, temptation, death, and darkness. The black star serves as a powerful symbol of an alluring yet destructive force that represents the siren call of death or the darker side of existence. The lyrics delve into the internal struggle of someone who is irrevocably drawn to this darkness, seeing it both as an enemy and a source of comfort and embrace.

The singer’s relationship with the black star can be interpreted as fatalistic, representing a constant push and pull between life and death, light and darkness. It reflects the human condition’s fragility and the allure of embracing the inevitable end, even if it means losing oneself in the process. The lyrics describe the feeling of being “outcast”, waiting for the “Luciferian light”, and offering devotion to a temptress or dark goddess, all while questioning whether the end is truly final.

FAQs

1. What does “black star” symbolize in the song?

  • The “black star” symbolizes a force of darkness, death, or an alluring temptation. It represents a fatal attraction that the singer cannot escape, even though it brings about destruction and conflict.

2. What is the significance of “Luciferian light”?

  • The phrase “Luciferian light” refers to the light of Lucifer, often associated with rebellion, darkness, and freedom from divine authority. In the song, it symbolizes a draw to darkness and temptation.

3. Why does the singer mention being the “halo of hell” and “the finger of god”?

  • These phrases suggest a paradoxical state where the singer feels both damned and divine, highlighting the tension between embracing evil (hell) and being a divine agent (god). It signifies a rebirth through destruction.

4. What does the repetition of “black star” represent?

  • The repetition emphasizes the obsession with the black star, a compulsive fixation that dominates the singer’s thoughts and emotions, symbolizing their devotion and internal conflict.

Conclusion

“Black Star” by Candlemass is a deep and intense exploration of the human attraction to darkness, temptation, and death. Through vivid imagery and powerful metaphors, the song delves into fatal obsession and rebellion, showcasing the struggle between the light and dark that exists within the self. The black star becomes a symbol of both destruction and rebirth, serving as a potent metaphor for the pull of the forbidden. The song evokes a sense of tragedy, temptation, and internal conflict, making it an evocative piece that challenges the listener to confront the allure of darkness and the inevitable end it promises.