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Open Steppe​.​.​.

from To Those Who Stand Against Us​.​.​. by Scythian

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about

"Open Steppe" was the first attempt at a fully progressive track by Scythian, and originally composed as an instrumental for the debut album. Lyrics were added shortly before entering the studio. The concept of the song is based on the Persian King Darius I's invasion of Scythia. Responding to the Persian tribute of "Earth and Water" (total submission), the Scythian ruler, Idanthyrsus sent his opponent four gifts: A bird, a mouse, a frog, five arrows... in other words:

"Unless you become birds and fly up to the sky, or mice and crawl under the earth, or frogs and jump into the lakes, you will not escape being pierced by our arrows" (Herodotus)

Scythian's embellishment of this quote became the central lyrics of the song:

"Fly like fearful avians, hide in the folds of the earth like vermin, submerge beneath the waves you think to command... or die beneath our arrows!"

lyrics

Alone I stand before you
O father of the sky
The open steppe beneath my feet
As far as falcons fly…

Come hear my savage spirit
Echo past the unmarked graves
Of those who stand against us
Of those, who sought to make us slaves…

To you…
I pray…

March onward whores of Persia
You will never tame this land…
You are blind in my dominion…
You are insects to my hand.

Fly, like fearful avians
Hide in the folds of the earth like vermin
Submerge beneath the waves you think to command
Or fall beneath our arrows.

Hear me coward emperor:
I will never march to the crack of your whip…
My armies will bleed the ranks of your invincible columns
I will drink from the clefts of your departed head!

I will punish you
As you sought to punish me
Your noble bones will kindle my fire
As your soldiers kneel in shame.

Our might is the crushing fist of the gods
Our rush is the frozen wind of open plains
Hear your sycophantic prophets
chant your annihilation. Your fate is written.

credits

from To Those Who Stand Against Us​.​.​., released September 9, 2009
Written by A. Von Moller / J.C. Volgard in 2007
Lyrics by A. Von Moller

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Scythian London, UK

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