Swansong For A Raven

Album: Nymphetamine (2004)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song reiterates what happened in "Her Ghost In The Fog" from their earlier album Midian, but with a new twist. At the end of the song, you find out that he never avenged the death of his lover "Clarissa" by burning her attackers. It was merely a dream of revenge he had in his jail cell. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Catalin - Bucharest, Romania

Comments: 11

  • DemyThe song has now a new sequel : Sisters of the Mist from the album Existence is Futile, as a bonus track.
  • Rayne from Douglasville, GaErr...Cody, I must disagree with you on one thing. Being like a lycanthrope does not make you one. It's a simile. He was brutal, he was animalistic, he was cruel. He killed the men of god, the guys that raped and left her ghost in the fog, but he is not a werewolf; he was merely like one.

    Although in Her Ghost In The Fog, he went down to the village and burned down the church, with all the people still inside. So, he might have gotten arrested for that.

    The dream part is more of: After I got arrested, or right after the kill, I day-dreamed that I was with her, her beauty the splendor of roses and whatnot. I'm caught, and her body is hung up for the entertainment of all.

    I digress from my original point. Being like something doesn't make you that thing.
  • Atreyu from Nevermindthat, WyThe song begins restating what happened before and how he avenged Clarissa. Then he's dreaming about her safe, "Freed from the teeth of those beasts that had come", but he wakes back to reality where he is in prison (for taking his revenge) and to be burned the next day, along with Clarissa's body. The body in question is strung up for him, and everyone else, to see. It ends with him unafraid of his fate because there is no way that be burned could be more painful than the agony he face when they took her away from him.
  • Cody from Front Royal, Vahe did kill the men but he was captured by the other villagers for he is nopt a man hes a lycanthrope (i was like a lycanthrope until the moon glazed over) but he changed back to a man and then was captured and the men unduig clarissas body and "used" it for sick needs and hung it before the man who sleeps in his cell dreaming of being with her again and then awakens for tomorrow he burns at the stake along with his love clarissa boy
  • Steven from Haverhill, Englandi think that he burnes himself and clarissa's body so she isnt raped by the men of god anymore
  • Dj from Prarie Village, Kshow do u all know this stuff is there videos for this or something
  • Wardy from Kingswinford, Englandi agree with travis but i think he didnt kill THE people, or he doesnt believe he did, and when clarissa's corpse is used for "sport" (possibly necrophilia) he cant take it any more and commits suicide
  • Lonnie from Houston, Txi believe that, he was imprisoned because he was thought to have killed Clarissa, but only he and the men of god know the truth, so he goes on to die. ha ha, dani 's gonna di!
  • Paul from Otter Lake, MiMy favorite part of this song (allong with all Cradle songs) is the way Dani describes things. For instance, "Her skies they bruise like Nordic women" just to say it was a little cloudy that day. And the lyric "Breaking men like ice" is just to cool for words.
  • Jess from LiverpoolWhy is he in jail if he never burned them?
  • Travis from Nashville, Tni don't think it was all just a dream. he was having a nightmare and remembering that night and awoke to his cell where he was imprisoned for killing the men of "god" and being a witch. just my opinion.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Kelly Keagy of Night Ranger

Kelly Keagy of Night RangerSongwriter Interviews

Kelly Keagy of Night Ranger tells the "Sister Christian" story and explains why he started sweating when he saw it in Boogie Nights.

Adam Duritz of Counting Crows

Adam Duritz of Counting CrowsSongwriter Interviews

"Mr. Jones" took on new meaning when the song about a misguided view of fame made Adam famous.

Psychedelic Lyrics

Psychedelic LyricsMusic Quiz

Whoa man! Do you know which band came up with these cosmic lyrics?

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?Song Writing

Katy Perry mentions McDonald's, Beyoncé calls out Red Lobster, and Supertramp shouts out Taco Bell - we found the 10 restaurants most often mentioned in songs.

Yacht Rock Quiz

Yacht Rock QuizFact or Fiction

Christopher Cross with Deep Purple? Kenny Loggins in Caddyshack? A Fact or Fiction all about yacht rock and those who made it.

Kevin Godley

Kevin GodleySongwriter Interviews

Kevin Godley talks about directing classic videos for The Police, U2 and Duran Duran, and discusses song and videos he made with 10cc and Godley & Creme.