Video hit Uriah Heep

Uriah Heep - Lady in black

Lady in Black is a song by the rock band Uriah Heep. It is the fourth track of their 1971 album Salisbury. The song is credited to Ken Hensley.
It tells the story of a man wandering through war-torn darkness and encountering a goddess-like entity who consoles him. It is often praised, by fans and critics alike, as Hensley's most poetic work to date.

There were many b-sides for this song as a single. The most famous was "Simon the Bullet Freak" but "Bird of Prey" has also been the b-side for the song. In 1981 the band released a single in Germany and in Netherlands and the b-side was "Easy Livin'". The song was written in the key of A Minor.

A brief comment on the cover of the original vinyl release commented that for Ken Hensley inspiration was a real case: a surprise visit to his daughter's rural vicar at a moment when he was in very depressed state. The result of this meeting, and - some kind of insight - was the song "Lady in Black": a philosophical parable that tells us that evil cannot be overcome by evil itself. The song is Uriah Heep's most "listened to" song on Last.fm with over 15,000 and more hits.

"Lady in Black" has been performed in the form of rock ballads (and not having the traditional verse-chorus), and has become one of the most popular concert numbers of Uriah Heep. It achieved great success in Germany and Russia.

In the United Kingdom and United States the song was never released as a single, but when it was released as a single in Germany in 1977, it became a major hit. It stayed on the top of the charts 13 weeks, and it prevented Paul McCartney and his hit "Mull of Kintyre" from reaching number one. For this achievement Uriah Heep got the "Golden Lion" award, the German equivalent Grammy and Brit Awards.

"Lady in Black" is the story of a man who takes a walk one lonely Sunday morning, feeling very empty. He encounters a mysterious woman, her long hair flowing in the midwinter wind, imagery which conveys the cold feeling he's experiencing in the presence of destruction. He doesn't know how she found him since in darkness I was walking (dark thoughts), surrounded by the destruction of battle which he considers unwinnable from a fight I could not win. The lady is an analogy for good sense and the desire for peace.

When asked to name his enemy, he says, need within some men to fight and kill their brothers without thought of love or God.

He begs the "Lady in Black" to give him horses to "trample down my enemies" suggesting that in his eagerness to stop this senseless waste of life, he has lost sight of what he was trying to stop in the first place, and he would use war to fight war. But she refuses to grant him his request - she wouldn't think of battle that reduces men to animals, so easy to begin, and yet impossible to end, saying that men who resort to war are no better than beasts.

After feeling the desperation that he could never end this senseless aspect of humanity, he asks her (the good sense that represented by her) to stay with him. But the "Lady in Black" responds that he should have faith and trust in peace rather, and gives him hope in this way. (Have faith and trust in peace she said, and filled my heart...).

She goes on to counsel him that war does not stop war (there is no strength in numbers, have no such misconception), but that he should not fear being alone with these thoughts and that he can always call on her when these feelings of desperation arise (when you need me, be assured that I won't be far away).

He concludes that while he is still unhappy with the nature of things, he now has help dealing with his struggles - My labour is no easier, but now I know I'm not alone, I'll find new heart each time I think upon that windy day.

The lyrics:

She came to me one morning, one lonely Sunday morning

Her long hair flowing in the mid winter wind

I know not how she found me, for in darkness I was walking

And destruction lay around me from a fight I could not win

She asked me name my foe then I said "The need within some men

To fight and kill their brothers without thought of men or God"

And I begged her give me horses to trample down my enemies

So eager was my passion to devour this waste of life

But she would not think of battle that reduces men to animals

So easy to begin and yet impossible to end

For she the mother of all men had counseled me so wisely that

I feared to walk alone again and asked if she would stay

Oh lady lend your hand, I cried, oh let me rest here at your side

"Have faith and trust in me," she said and filled my heart with life

There is no strength in numbers I've no such misconceptions

But when you need me be assured I won't be far away

Thus having spoke she turned away and though I found no words to say

I stood and watched until I saw her black cloak disappear

My labor is no easier, but now I know I'm not alone

I find new heart each time I think upon that windy day

And if one day she comes to you drink deeply from her words so wise

Take courage from her as your prize and say hello for me