This next song is one of my personal favorites. It's a story about a real life hero who grew up through much trouble and turbulence in his life. But all he ever gave out was the good in his heart and the love that he felt. This is The Ballad of Jeremiah Peacekeeper...
Jeremiah Peacekeeper is a recurring character in the music videos of Poets of the Fall, who has also appeared in the band's promotional photography and as stage costume. He is portrayed by Marko Saaresto.
The Jeremiah Peacekeeper costume and makeup were an evolution of the Zoltar character from Carnival of Rust to be more practical for use on stage.[citation needed] He wears a black or grey top hat or a black bowler hat, pale makeup with black eyeliner, greyscale clothing and a black or red boa.
Appearances
- Can You Hear Me music video
- Cradled in Love music video
- Temple of Thought album lyrics booklet and promotional art
- The Ballad of Jeremiah Peacekeeper is about this character
- Temple of Thought Tour and 10th Anniversary Tour stage costume, such as with Live in Moscow.
Symbolism
Jeremiah Peacekeeper, like Zoltar before him, is a variation on the Commedia dell'Arte stock character Pierrot - who competes with Harlequin for the love of Columbina.
He is shown to have messianic parallels, such as with the promotional artwork depicting Jeremiah Peacekeeper in the place of Jesus in a variation on da Vinci's The Last Supper. The lyrics of The Ballad of Jeremiah Peacekeeper add to the parallel with the lines like "your wounds will be his scars" and "for to be invincible, he needs your love".
He is described with the imagery of the Wild West (and Spaghetti Western soundpallette) - likened to a lawful neutral gunman except for his lack of revolver.