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Harvest
Opeth

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Stay with me a while

Rise above the vile
Name my final rest
Pored into my chest

Into the orchard I walk, peering way past the gate

Wilted scenes for us who couldn't wait
Drained by the coldest caress, stalking shadows ahead
Halo of death, all I see is departure
Mourner's lament, but it's me who's the martyr

Pledge yourself to me
Never leave me be
Sweat breaks on my brow
Given time ends now

Into the orchard I walk, peering way past the gate

Wilted scenes for us who couldn't wait
Drained by the coldest caress, stalking shadows ahead
Halo of death, all I see is departure
Mourner's lament, but it's me who's the martyr

Spirit painted sin

Embers 'neath my skin
Veiled in pale embrace
Reached and touched my face

Into the orchard I walk, peering way past the gate

Wilted scenes for us who couldn't wait
Drained by the coldest caress, stalking shadows ahead
Halo of death, all I see is departure
Mourner's lament, but it's me who's the martyr

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Lyrics submitted by Idan

Harvest Lyrics as written by Mikael Lars Akerfeldt
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
50 Comments Add Your Thoughts

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My Interpretation
+14 This is how I interpret the song, Of course I can't be entirely correct, after all,
poetry is only a play of words.
'Harvest': For all those who say that this song is not about death, the very title
of the song clarifies it. 'The harvest is the process of gathering mature crops
from the fields. Reaping follows harvesting, where the grain is separated from
the cut crops with the help of the reaper/scythe.' That is when the one who
has lived their life completely dies. The Reaper takes his grain (soul).
'Stay with me a while, Rise above the vile.' The writer wants someone by his
side in the last few minutes of his life. But he doesn't want them to be
saddened by his state (rise above the vile).
'Name my final rest, Poured into my chest.' Here, I guess by naming his 'final
rest' he means put a grave stone above his coffin (Poured into my chest).
'Into the orchard i walk peering way past the gate.' He knows that he is just
about to die, now he looks back at what's happening around his dying body
(peering way past the gate).
'Wilted scenes for us who couldn't wait.' Very brilliant pun! When a plant wilts,
it bows its head (Flower & Stem). Wilted scenes refers to the sadness that
surrounds a person who's dying i.e. everyone's "wilting" (sobbing with their
heads held low). 'Us who couldn't wait' refers to those who couldn't wait back
here on Earth (people who are dying). This is what the writer sees- a scene
of utter sadness.
'Drained by the coldest caress, stalking shadows ahead.' Further, he
describes the people around his dying body. There are some people around
him that are holding onto him (caress) yet these people are not really sad or
they do not feel for the writer (cold). He doesn't want them around (stalking
shadows).
'Halo of death, all i see is departure.' He is encircled (Halo) by death and
sees only one way out.
'Mourner's lament but it's me who's to martyr.' People around him are depress
but yet, he is the one who will actually have to witness (martyr) death helpless
Now, he looks upon his most beloved one's (wife, son, lover, etc.). 'Pledge you
Never leave me be' He wants a promise that they will think of him often i.e. ple
themselves to his memories. And never forget him.
'Sweat breaks on my brow, Given time ends now.' He's worried that he will nev
again. Their time together is almost over.
Now he has passed away. This is probably at his funeral. 'Spirit painted sin, E
my skin' He has done ill all his life and feels his soul is tainted with sin. His spi
around and at his dead lifeless body. And sees the fire (life) within him is extin
(gone). Embers refers to the remains of a fire (it's something like the smoke th
after you blow out the flame on a matchstick).
'Veiled in pale embrace, Reached and touched my face.' People are dressed (
black (pale refers to absence of color, so it need not always mean white). They
down and touched his face (a tradition followed at some funerals).
So basically, it has nothing to do with suicide, heaven or hell. It's only and only
few minutes before and after death. I don't really know if anyone will even read
like writing anyway. Let me know what you'll think.

smafks1992 on January 07, 2011 Link

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General Comment
+5 Songs like these are what make Opeth such an original metal band. They
can go from screaming in your face to lulling you into relaxation.

Supplanter on September 07, 2002 Link

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General Comment
+4 In my opinion blackwater park is a concept album talking about a place called
"blackwater park" that during winter is infested by leper. I think that the whole
story is narrated by the same man that in the first two songs sees his lover
dying by leper, until in harvest she dies. After he also becomes infected and
he is disgusted by the fact that everyone has abandoned him, so in "dirge for
november" he decides to commit suicide. In "the funeral portrait" he is a
ghost , infact in the last song we can read the word "Fluttering",and he describ
dead body is covered by snow. Finally in the last song he is like a spectator th
the other lepers death and he reflects about how healthy people were insensit
situation. Sorry if my english is wrong but I'm italian :D That's just my interpret

silver34324 on October 14, 2010 Link

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General Comment
+2 That sounds about right to me, but maybe the person is dying IN PLACE of
someone, "Stay with me awhile" "Plege yourself to me" "It's me who's the
martyr"

Supplanter on May 30, 2002 Link

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General Comment
+1 This song is about the moment of facing Death. Uncertain the final
destination. Heaven Or Hell. The song title describes a phase or action where
all the souls are return to the Almighty after sowing it on a place called
Earth.Thats what I think anyway....

blackenedsg on May 09, 2002 Link

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General Comment
0 I think it's someone requesting a loved one to stay by their side, maybe take
them through a garden of some sorts one last time.

Blindwish on June 20, 2002 Link

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General Comment
0 Fixed the lyric a bit. Looks better, aye?

Idan on July 21, 2002 Link

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General Comment
0 WTF? This song has a higher view rate than about 12 of the last songs on
the top 100 chart but yet it's not on there?

Blindwish on July 22, 2002 Link

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General Comment
0 I truly agree....

blackenedsg on September 11, 2002 Link

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General Comment
0 I agree that the lyrics of the song refers to the last crossroads of life, is a
good description of that moment would able to be

hateu on October 05, 2002 Link

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