The meaning of the lyrics of the song "Gatekeeper" by the artist "Within Temptation"

The song "Gatekeeper" by Within Temptation tells a tragic story of a person who becomes the last stand against evil. The lyrics are filled with dark imagery and metaphors, conveying an atmosphere of despair and hopelessness.

"Shadows of the night" symbolize the forces of evil breaking free. Their "thirst" is a thirst for destruction and death, as evidenced by the lines "sickening lust for blood" and "they came to claim our lives." The image of "cold black eyes" reinforces the feeling of imminent threat and the soullessness of evil.

The phrase "one by one they died" describes the ruthless massacre of defenseless victims by the dark forces. "The slaughter lasted all night long" - this detail emphasizes the horror and duration of the violence. The line "they never stood a chance, there was no fight" emphasizes the imbalance of power and the doom of the victims.

The climax of the song is the moment of the hero's self-sacrifice. He "stepped across the line," taking on the role of the "gatekeeper." By closing the door to the world of darkness behind him, he doomed himself to death, but at the cost of his own life, he saved others ("his life became the price for their freedom"). The final line – "and he became the last one to hold the key" – sounds like a tragic outcome, emphasizing the irreversibility of the choice made and the hero's loneliness.