The meaning of the lyrics of the song "Hades and Elysium" by the artist "Therion"

The lyrics of Therion's "Hades and Elysium" paint a vivid picture of the ancient underworld, a realm where the souls of the departed face judgment and their final destinies.

The song opens by establishing the somber atmosphere of Hades' realm: the mournful tolling of bells, the misty abode of death, the dark waters of the Styx, across which Charon ferries the souls of the dead. From the first lines, the listener is drawn into the narrative through the line, "Across the Styx, shades must travel as yours will do."

Therion then leads the listener deeper into the underworld, describing the sorrow of the river Acheron and the groans of ancient tongues, representing despair and suffering. Here, the shrouded souls await judgment, which will determine their fate: the blissful fields of Elysium or eternal torment.

The line "Shards of today are near yet far from all. This time that floats at present is but memory" serves as a poignant reminder of life's transience and how all our deeds and experiences will ultimately fade into mere memories.

The crossroads of three paths symbolizes the inevitable choice each soul faces after death. Therion references the three potential destinies: Elysium, Tartarus, and the Asphodel Meadows.

The repetition of Acheron's description and the souls awaiting judgment amplifies the sense of apprehension and uncertainty that pervades the underworld. The closing lines of the song reiterate the theme of time's fleeting nature and the transformation of the present into the past.