A new look at Holy Diver 's meaning

daleyjem · Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 3

I've seen a lot of different interpretations of what this song might mean, with a lot of them suggesting some kind of tie to heroin.

I personally think this is rediculous, but to each his own.

An idea that this is about heroin kind of discredits Ronnie James Dio's ability to devise a song more interesting than drugs... and in the same breath puts the same stereotypical personallity on Dio that many "hair metal" bands carry.

To be honest, I was pretty lost as to what this song could be about until I stumbled upon a google search result to a wikipedia article on the book "Ride the Tiger" by Julius Evola.

View the article here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ride_the_Tiger

I think I might just buy the book.

Jack24 · Joined: 22 Sep 2007 Posts: 54 Location: Northamptonshire-UK

I don't tend to be very good at interpreting songs, but I always thought it was about a priest who has lost faith.

I basically got that from the lines 'Holy Diver, your the star of the masquerade' and 'Between the velvet lies', so I've never really thought about it that much, and I've never heard anyone else's interpretations.
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daleyjem · Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 3

i can see that interpretation also. maybe it could tie into my theory also. there's a parody video of a priest diving off of a high dive on youtube. it's kind of funny.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=M7MhawvuZnY

Holymagica · Guest

Guys if you want to decipher Ronnie's words and songs...think about the locations and news events around the time he wrote the song.
You guys are judging the song on the cd cover Confused

Thats the easy way out....Ronnie spent time in Cornwall when writing Holy Diver and if you know anything about Cornwall you will know the place is full of history and legends.
Why do you always think its about God Confused

Think about the Old Holy Wells of Cornwall?
I believe the answer to your question is in Cornish folklore,this is a place of legends, Tristan and Isolt, King Mark, Uther Pendragon, Merlin the Magician and King Arthur.There is holy sites dedicated to Celtic goddesses in Cornwall.

When the conquering Normans reached the westernmost land of England they heard that the ancient seat of Cornwall's kings had stood atop this soaring headland, surrounded on three sides by the ceaseless surge of the Atlantic. So in propaganda terms it made sense for Earl Richard of Cornwall, younger brother of Henry III, to build a castle on the spot where his legendary predecessors had held court. There was no strategic reason for the choice, as there had been for the other Norman castles in Cornwall, Launceston and Restormel - and Earl Richard rarely stayed there.

Though Norman realpolitik put Tintagel on its windy headland, it is as a castle of the imagination that it holds us spellbound - a place of 'magic casements, opening on the foam of perilous seas, in faery lands forlorn.' Was it here that Tristan wooed Isolt? Where Merlin magicked Uther Pendragon into the bed of Igerna, wife of King Gorlois, to father Arthur? And when Arthur became king, did he place his foot in "Arthur's Footprint" as part of ancient inauguration rites? Look around you, as the sea-light dances and the salt-spray flies, and you can believe whatever you want to believe.

Ronnie has been to Tintagel Castle in Cornwall.
The meaning of Holy Diver is in Cornwall.

TD Fan Tam · Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 63

It's a cryptic song, arguably like most of RJD's.

However I agree with Holymagica about the Castle connection. I'm pretty sure that is mentioned in the collection about sleeve notes.

I think there is something to be said about the transition from earth of heaven.
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daleyjem · Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 3

no matter how you look at it, i hope we can all agree that the song kicks ass Twisted Evil

Reem · Joined: 24 Dec 2006 Posts: 842 Location: Jordan

TD Fan Tam · Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 63

Jack24 · Joined: 22 Sep 2007 Posts: 54 Location: Northamptonshire-UK

Holy Diver could well have more than one meaning. Only Dio knows what any of them are about though...

BLACKKNIGHT · Joined: 17 Nov 2007 Posts: 89 Location: Aberdeen Washington

I still think that the song and the cover are more linked than people want to think.

If you read the lyrics of all of the songs on Holy Diver the themes that stand out are alienation and abuse of others - physically or emotionally. This alienation isn't the phony teen alienation that most acts capitalized on in the 80s, but real alienation we all feel as we go through our lives.

Two things come to mind. RJD was a member of the Catholic Church and found it unsatisfying to say the least. He also was very pissed off over his treatment by the boys in Black Sabbath over the Live Evil fiasco. Both are good fodder for a album and the song as well
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robingraves5 · Joined: 01 Oct 2004 Posts: 49 Location: massachusetts

PerranOak · Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Posts: 4 Location: Cornwall, UK

... if you believe it, it's no lie!
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RJD

RolyDiver · Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 1 Location: earth

Well I always thought it was about a messenger or a servant or something like that talking to his master which is Holy Diver.

Or if you wanna hear a cheesy joke i made about it here it is:

What do you call the Pope in the Olypics?

Holy Diver!

Rolling Eyes

It's Cheesy, I know....

alitivity · Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 9:46 am Post subject:

reborn rolla · Joined: 11 Feb 2005 Posts: 85 Location: Mother Earth

My take on the song Holy Diver is this:

When there is an excorcism a Catholic
Priest at some point will throw Holy
Water on the demon victim to try and
drive away the evil.

In the song and cover of the album
"Holy Diver" Dio is shoving that Catholic
bitch to an eternity of water. Just like
Satan would. Great song!
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