Diana in Her Dreams

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a nocturnal, almost ritualistic picture of Diana's inner world. Every night at midnight, a "voice of devotion" washes over her, stirring an experience that leaves her with a "strange emotion." This suggests a recurring, perhaps involuntary, internal event that disrupts her usual state, hinting at a subconscious landscape that only awakens when the world sleeps. The core of this dreamscape appears to be a scene of quiet, almost mystical preparation. The repeated phrase "Bend a silver bow upon the medal's low" evokes imagery of archery, but with a surreal, dreamlike quality. The "medal's low" is an unusual, evocative detail that doesn't quite ground itself in reality, reinforcing the ethereal nature of Diana's nocturnal experiences. The repetition of "a silver bow" further emphasizes this singular, potent image. The lyrics introduce a more cryptic element with the lines about a "mean-black horse" and "defence of this fang." This imagery feels primal and protective, suggesting a struggle or a guarded state within the dream. The horse, an attendant in her dream, seems to be part of this defensive posture until morning arrives, highlighting a tension between vulnerability and a need for protection that only resolves with the dawn. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics lies in their deliberate ambiguity and atmospheric construction. The precise meaning of the "voice of devotion," the "silver bow," and the "fang" remains elusive, but the cumulative effect is a powerful sense of a private, symbolic world that Diana inhabits nightly. The contrast between the mundane "clock strikes twelve" and the fantastical dream imagery creates a compelling portrait of a hidden emotional life.