Holy Diver Song Review, Lyrics and Meaning

Holy Diver Song Review, Lyrics and Meaning

Holy Diver Lyrics

Holy Diver
You've been down too long in the midnight sea
Oh what's becoming of me

Ride the tiger
You can see his stripes but you know he's clean
Oh don't you see what I mean

Gotta get away
Holy Diver

Got!
Shiny diamonds
Like the eyes of a cat in the black and blue
Something is coming for you



Look out!
Race for the morning
You can hide in the sun 'till you see the light
Oh we will pray it's all right

Gotta get away-get away
Get away,
Gotta get away,
Get away

Between the velvet lies
There's a truth that's hard as steel
The vision never dies
Life's a never ending wheel

Holy Diver
You're the star of the masquerade
No need to look so afraid

Jump on the tiger
You can feel his heart but you know he's mean
Some light can never be seen

[Repeat verse 1]

Gotta get away
Get away
Gotta get away
Get away yeah

Holy Diver
sole survivor
your armour’s clean

Holy Diver

Holy Diver Song Lyrics and Meaning 

Holy Diver is the single for Dio’s Holy Diver album. It was Dio's first solo work. This song goes hand and hand with the music video. Then again, the front cover has a priest drowning in the ocean. He was trying to escape from the devil. Well, part of traditional rock, are songs about the devil and the dark ages. Our Holy Diver is a basically a barbarian exploring a ruined church. Judging by the first sea line, Holy Diver is a pagan Viking. He never has seen a church before.  

While he is wondering about, something like a tiger is stocking Holy Diver.  The next lines keep describing the beast. It has shinny eyes.  The Holy Diver senses something. He can only escape from it in the light or pray for it to go away.  Like Vampires, Demons rarely show up in the morning sun, or near any strong light.  Holy Diver still tries to get away. Now, let’s analyze the center of the song. The “velvet lies” refers to the lies created by the priest, kings, anyone with power.  There is an undeniable truth.  

However, the truth seems to refer to the devil and not God.  It means that the Devil truly exist. That is what Holy Diver found in the ruined church.  Again, Dio tells the Holy Diver not to be frightened. He is the star of this masquerade. That reference to masquerades refers more to Red Death. That party did not end well.  Plus, there is the Devil stocking about the church. Holy Diver can feel the hostile heart beat of the beast that approaches.  The light is hidden in that place. Again, Holy Diver tries to escape. He is the only one that survived. Perhaps, he was shipwreck and arrived at the decaying church. 

Now, the song ends with a mention of the armor of the Holy Diver. By saying that his armor is clean means that he has yet to engage in battle.  Overall, the song is more of a narrative than anything else. A brave Viking that can handle any danger at sea is faxing an unknown foe. The devil is roaming about the empty church.  The guitar is really something else, specially the two colors. In any case, the Holy Diver song deserves 5 star rating.