The Lord Is Risen

Song Meaning

This poem paints a vivid picture of Christ's victory over death and evil, framing it as a triumphant battle. The opening lines declare the "battell on the dragon blak" is "done," with Christ "confountet hes his force." The imagery of hell's gates breaking "with a crak" and devils trembling sets a scene of cosmic upheaval and divine power unleashed. It's a declaration that the fight is over, and the forces of darkness have been decisively defeated. The central conflict is the struggle between Christ and the "dragon blak," identified later as Lucifer, the "cruell serpent." This ancient foe, described as a "auld kene tegir," had been lying in wait, "thinking to grip us in his clowis strang." The poem emphasizes Christ's mercy, stating the "mercifull lord wald nocht that it wer so," and that he "maid him for to felye of that fang," ensuring the serpent's defeat. The most striking craft element is the sustained metaphor of Christ as a warrior and victor, contrasted with his earlier suffering. He who "suffеrit to be slane" and was "lyk a lamb in sacrifice wes dicht" is now "lyk a lyone rissin up agane" and "as a gyane raxit him on hicht." This transformation is mirrored in nature, with "Aurora radius and bricht" and "glorius Appollo" rising, signifying the triumph of light over darkness and day over night. The lyrics achieve their power through this potent imagery of conquest and liberation. The repeated refrain, "Surrexit dominus de sepulchro" (The Lord has risen from the tomb), acts as a triumphant announcement, reinforcing the core message. The final stanza lists the results of this victory: the "fo is chasit," the "presone brokin," the "feild is win," and "ransoun maid," all culminating in the release and redemption of "presoneris." It's a powerful articulation of salvation through divine might.