What does Shepherd of Fire mean?

Avenged Sevenfold: Shepherd of Fire Meaning

Album cover for Shepherd of Fire album cover

Song Released: 2013


Shepherd of Fire Lyrics

Let's take a moment and break the ice
So my intentions are known
See I have pity in watching you suffer
I know the feeling of being damned alone
I've got a story book of my own

Don't you see I am your pride
Agent of will, bearer of...

  1. 1TOP RATED

    #1 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Aug 23rd 2014 !⃝

    Lead vocalist M. Shadows told Kerrang! magazine: "If you just listen to the music, it feels like you've been taken down to Hell. From the riffs, to the bells ringing, to the horns, to the drumbeat, it feels like you're being dragged down."

    He added: "It's very like 'Sympathy For The Devil,' in that there's a silver-tongued Devil speaking to you. He's not all about fire and brimstone; he's luring you down and telling you he can make your life better than the guy up above. There's a temptation vibe to it, with pure chaos going on behind it."
    Thats the actual, intended meaning. So go ahead and argue some more. Lol...took me 2 minutes to find it

  2. 2TOP RATED

    #2 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Oct 4th 2014 !⃝

    Shadows is prevalent to the story of the four horseman of the apocalypse. the book of revelations in essence would be their book. "I" doesn't necessarily mean a single person in all actuality. Sounding of the seventh trumpet is also mentioned in the last seal, meaning the fulfillment of God's plans.

    First seal
    Revelation 6:1-2
    1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.
    2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

    Second seal
    Revelation 6:3-4
    3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.
    4 And there went out another horse [that was] red: and [power] was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

    Third seal
    Revelation 6:5-6
    5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
    6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a denarius, and three measures of barley for a denarius; and [see] thou hurt not the oil and the wine

    Fourth seal
    Revelation 6:7-8
    7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
    8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

    Fifth seal
    Revelation 6:9-11
    9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
    10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
    11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they [were], should be fulfilled.

    Sixth seal
    Revelation 6:12-17
    12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
    13 And the stars of the heavens fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
    14 And the heavens departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
    15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
    16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
    17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

    Seventh seal
    Revelation 8:1-6
    1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.
    2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.
    3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer [it] with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
    4 And the smoke of the incense, [which came] with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
    5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast [it] into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
    6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
    Revelation 16:1
    1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

  3. 3TOP RATED

    #3 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Apr 4th 2016 !⃝

    From what I understand, its about the false messiah who trying to lure you to be with him. Well. In the music video, there's this images of one eye. Come on.

    Let's take a moment and break the ice

    So my intentions are known
    He tells you what he want

    See I have pity in watching you suffer
    Trying to tell you he understand all of men's suffering

    I know the feeling of being damned alone
    The false messiah is living all alone.

    I've got a story book of my own
    And yes we've got books of his story.

    Throughout the whole song he is luring you to take on his side. The devil's side.
    He's the king

  4. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Apr 23rd 2020 !⃝

    It seemed to be about money (aiding the poor, arming the strong,agent of wealth
    bearer of needs, pride) . Or the highest version of a person. A hero.

  5. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Nov 30th 2019 !⃝

    The way I interpreted it was as if we all had a Sheppard of fire in all of us. The part of you that guilds you through your hardest, darkest times. Almost like your natural instincts or basic needs of survival. If your reading this listen to the song as if your own "Sheppard of fire" is telling you how to get out of the shitty situation you are in.

  6. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Jun 8th 2019 !⃝

    Very simple in my opinion. Hell has fire. He is a shepherd of fire. But going deeper one can see this eludes to the devil. “I know the feeling of being damned alone” is an allusion to Lucifer being kicked to hell. “Storybook of my own” he is telling about his history. The line that convinces me the most is not “know be by name/shepherd of fire” but is actually “I am your pride/agent of will” as he is playing to your pride and free will. The line “Dealer of simple choices” clearly states that. It even makes fun of the cross when it hits the line “disciple of the cross and champion of suffering.”

  7. anonymous
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    Jul 17th 2017 !⃝

    Holy shit you guys are high? It's about the oldest and best tradition in rock n roll: Satan.

  8. anonymous
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    Jul 13th 2017 !⃝

    About revealing one's identity during and after the transformation. Of the person or the people that believed God has abandoned them into being ''forced'' or manipulated to become somebody or some THING else that went against their own will and it's beliefs. Within It, this could have made them very angry and revengeful towards The Way of The Others. Now wanting to expose Itself that has been confusing those others for It's loss and for their own agenda kind, in order to get back and restore the ''Shepherd[s] of fire'' that long ago performed sacrifices to their God or gods. Similar to what the Converso[s] went through and did within Catholicism or the morrannos who converted to the Christian faith by tongue only, but at heart many of them still wanted or practiced their old selfish religious ritual customs and beliefs without the true words of Jesus Christ at heart. Throughout the ages and eversince the Temple fell, It hardend the souls of many that persisted with the Inquisition persecutions that wanted to eliminate heresy of the religious and scientific beliefs for gaining power and control. By this, It developed revengeful souls with anger and hatered that made them work like the devil or with the devil as fake Christians and jews [later to be known also as crypto jews, Jesuits and Zionists] mainly working within the roman catholic church that always wanted and still wants a one world order to force It and bring back the ''Shepherd of fire'' again. The future is always affected by the past, played out in the present for bad or good according to what we learned,believed,remember and experienced.

  9. anonymous
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    Jul 9th 2017 !⃝

    I think its about the u.s. government "arming the strong, aiding the weak" sounds alot like the war on terror.

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
  10. anonymous
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    Jul 22nd 2016 !⃝

    Members of the band have already stated that the song is similar to "Sympathy For the Devil" so as such there's not much that's open to interpretation. At least not much that's intentional. It's fairly standard: He has a' storybook' of his own; there's no need to serve on your knees; he is the master of conflict by arming the strong but at the same time he ' aids the weak';etc. By their own admission they don't care much for religion, but "Shepherd of Fire" certainly evokes Chapter Three of Aleister Crowley's 'Liber Al vel Legis' (better known as ' The Book of the Law') with its apocalyptic imagery of Fire, chaos, confusion and disaster. Furthermore, there are references to the ultimate goal of Thelema ( the religion associated with 'The Book of the Law'): The Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel (e.g. HGA): 'I am your Law, I am your Star, I am your Trust.'

  11. anonymous
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    Apr 13th 2016 !⃝

    I beleve well and true that it is more about light and dark in the spiritual element sence becaus if you sink deep under church and gods there is a fundamental nature all men fear the dark but the darkness can be kinder than the light because everything is laying bare we all have our own story to you strive for the light or dive deep in the dark its always your choise

  12. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Oct 7th 2015 !⃝

    I think it gives u a choice too. But I do agree with the guy that was talking about jesus. He is lord. Every one will bow down before him.

  13. anonymous
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    May 25th 2015 !⃝

    It's about the devil trying to coax you. The band said it themselves. Argue with them about it geniuses.

  14. anonymous
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    Oct 2nd 2014 !⃝

    I think its simply about how cunning the devil is in luring people in by speaking from satan's viewpoint. "i have a story book of my own" obviously it references the bible while at the same time setting up the tempter as satan. while also setting up satan's personality wonderfully.

    All throughout the song he sets himself up as a misunderstood, even abused being. possibly even misrepresented by those who would benefit (relgious leaders and the like). while setting god up as tyrant who only gives paradise to those who will grovel before him in absolute servitude. while promising them paradise with his less binding in comparison requirement for it. giving a easy way out to an already weary individual.

    though really you know hes gonna skrew you over for his own gains once hes done with you. honestly i don't think they are really religious. they're more or less using the popular interpretations to write a cleverly written song. so if someone is considering the possiblility of them being satanist, it's slim at best.

    especially given mine and many others interpretations. just a band giving their (or satan's i should say)own point of view on a popular story. real or not.

  15. anonymous
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    Oct 2nd 2014 !⃝

    I believe that this is about the death of all things, only to be brought back through the power of science. though the first sentient life forms must believe it as God. I think that this is about the 2nd turn of human life, in the "2nd Earth" known in the bible. And then the scientist that re-created everything went mad with power and called himself the shepherd of life and the defeater of fire (death). then shortened it to shepherd of fire. I believe this song is about the birth and destruction of humans and religion, through the magic of science! And when the main singer stops, that is when the church of this new God is praying in the same manner that other religions do. Thank you for reading my interpretation.
    -Wolf Blade

  16. anonymous
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    Sep 8th 2014 !⃝

    I personally think its about general yamamoto's zanpakuto.

  17. anonymous
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    Aug 22nd 2014 !⃝

    To say Avenged Sevenfold is not talking about the good vs evil, God vs. Satan is narrow minded. Their name came from the bible. Yes the phrase "avenged sevenfold" is in the bible when it discusses the story of Cain and Able. They are talking about Satan and they do reference God and Jesus. The message is up to you to decide what they intend. My opinion is the message wants for you to follow Satan. "I've got a story book of my own" in the beginning refers to the Satanic book bible if you will, in contrast to the bible most religions are familiar with.

  18. anonymous
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    Jul 18th 2014 !⃝

    I dont think it has anything to do with religion, i belive its just a metaphore for them taking us to a better place with music. cWe are the fire and A7X is the Shepherd

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