Concept- How does one attain such expertise at an early age in various forms of martial arts. How is that certain individuals throughout history have overcome insurmountable odds in battle and became victorious. For example Bruce Lee & 1 inch punch and developing a simplified style for battle success. Then the art of fighting without fighting.
Solution- Through reincarnation the continuous learning of such expertise is advanced throughout each lifes' learning cycle and passed onto the next.
That was the thought behind the original title of StormBringer II which was changed to Perfect Strangers during final writing. This was about 6 months before I was entering into the Navy and I had read most of the books on Miyamoto Musashi and Art of War so my tactile senses were at a high level. You could research what has been said about the song but the above were my notes before I wrote the first verses. Yes in a way it has been stated by Gillian that it was meeting these strangers again and getting re-aquanted with the band members again after all the years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ_kez7WVUU
You know how no writer wants to come out and explain everything and the better ones have multiple meanings as this one does. It's basically the core of oneself-maybe its present self talking about past & future life(s) it has/will live. I like to believe it's the final evolution of one self communicating to it's prior incarnations through time & space.
Can you remember remember my name
As I flow through your life
A thousand oceans I have flown
And cold spirits of ice
All my life
I am the echo of your past
I am returning the echo of a point in time
Distant faces shine
A thousand warriors I have known
And laughing as the spirits appear
All your life
Shadows of another day
And if you hear me talking on the wind
You've got to understand
We must remain
Perfect strangers
I know I must remain inside this silent well of sorrow
A strand of silver hanging through the sky
Touching more than you see
The voice of ages in your mind
Is aching with the dead of the night
Precious life (your tears are lost in
Falling rain)
And if you hear me talking on the wind
You've got to understand
We must remain
Perfect strangers
I think the first part is self explanatory that the narrator is speaking to his past life(s).
The line of I am returning the echo of a point in time is when this person was in numerous situations/developments/wars in past incarnations and while the odds were so stacked against himself that a remembrance of all your skills and how to conquer the situation is brought forth under these situations. Sort of your past guiding/helping your present self. You are your own guardian angel. And when you come out on top of whatever situation you were involved in all your past selves smile recognizing victory and how each life contributed to that victory.
The silver strand is what connects all your selves together and is connected to what some call the source of all knowledge. If you know about the American spiritualist Edward Cayce you will understand what I am speaking on. When he would meditate he would describe being connected to "this source" to help solve peoples problems-"voice of ages in your mind". Whether it's true or not is another thing but that is what the silver strand or cord represents. The voice of ages in your mind is your past life experiences. And it's very sad that each life must remain perfect strangers to each other.
Now of course when spirits are mentioned I have to add that it's what you think, however these mo-fo's drink so much that it does have a double meaning. A professor buddy of mine helped with a practical joke and these guys being drunk most of the time helped. He pretends to hypnotized me and regressed me to a former life that I had lived. So I spoke in aggressive tones and a few languages that no one understood. One character was a roman general, one was an American Indian warrior, another was a Texan who was killed at the Alamo. So the lines cold spirits of ice have double meaning here and laughing while the spirits appear is in tribute to "my spirits" appearing as I was going through a fake regression. "Your tears are lost in falling rain" pertains to a washing of your soul and a way to calm yourself.
Some think it has to do with the Michael Moorecock books featuring Elric. Very interesting and sad story how one is reincarnated thousands of times and there is a "StormBringer" sword in the story line. Maybe similarities but the Elric sagas had nothing to do with this song.
Not for this song but have to point out on this single on the b side was a song titled "Son of Alerik".
Also this is one of the few songs with no guitar solo and that was my doing. The guitar riff was one that I altered that was inspired by James Patrick Page. And since Ritchie has always been such a major pain in the ass to other members that was my decision and the true story behind the song.
