Current members are Dennis Lee (screaming vocals), Shawn Milke (lead vocals, guitars, piano, synth, keys, programming, string composition), Patrick Thompson (lead guitar, backing vocals), Jeremy Bryan (drums, percussion), Shane Crump (bass guitar, backing vocals) and Jake Campbell (rhythm guitar, backing vocals).
Former members were Adam Ferguson (rhythm guitar, vocals), Steven Tomany (bass), Will Anderson (drums) and Daniel Magnuson (drums).
Shawn's sister Melissa Milke takes over the female vocal parts throughout every Alesana album without being officially part of the band.
On Alesana's third studio album "The Emptiness" Adam Fisher of Fear Before contributed the spoken words throughout the album.
The Third Temptation of Paris
Alesana Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is filled with my impending dread
My foolish actions will cost so many good men
Achilles has come
A thousand sails approaching
Sent here in her name to reclaim the one I stole
And destroy the walls of Troy
Desire leaves me numb to all the pain surrounding me
To all the pain surrounding me
Storms will arise to condemn me
I will not die before her eyes
It ends tonight
Tragically I now must accept the penance I have earned
She is cursed and tonight we die
In the dawn of this, my end, I hold my sword true
I must let her go
A thousand sails approaching
Sent here in her name to reclaim the one I stole
And destroy the walls of Troy
Desire leaves me numb to all the pain surrounding me
To all the pain surrounding me
Storms will arise to condemn me
I will not die before her eyes
It ends tonight
It ends tonight
It ends tonight
It ends tonight
I am alone
Pain fills her eyes
I am alone
I cannot let them win (Sacred and profane is our love in death)
I cannot let them win (Sacred and profane is our love in death)
I cannot let them win (Sacred and profane is our love in death)
(Sacred and profane is our love)
In death
The Third Temptation of Paris by Alesana is a song that tells the story of Paris, a Trojan prince who chooses love over duty, and the consequences of his actions. The first verse sets a somber tone, describing the impending doom that Paris knows is coming due to his actions. He stole Helen, the queen of Sparta, from her husband, Menelaus, causing a war between Troy and Sparta. The reference to Achilles, one of Greece's greatest warriors, signals that the Greeks have come to Troy to reclaim Helen and avenge Menelaus.
The chorus is a reflection of Paris's internal struggle. He loves Helen but knows that his actions have caused the deaths of many soldiers. He is numb to the pain and chaos around him, but he is determined to save his honor and not die before Helen's eyes. The repetition of "It ends tonight" suggests that Paris knows that his story will come to a tragic end, and he is resigned to that fate.
The second verse repeats the same story about the approaching Greeks, but this time the chorus is not followed by a reflection on Paris's emotions. Instead, the lyrics focus on his acceptance of his punishment. He knows that he and Helen are cursed and that they will die together. The last two lines of the verse, "I must let her go..." and "the blood of many spills," suggest that Paris is truly remorseful for his actions and knows that he must pay the price for them.
Line by Line Meaning
The horizon, now as dark as the crimes that brought them here,
The view of the surroundings has become as gloomy as the sins committed, leading to a sense of foreboding.
Is filled with my impending dread
I feel a sense of impending doom.
My foolish actions will cost so many good men
My careless deeds will result in the loss of many good people.
Achilles has come...
The feared warrior Achilles has arrived.
A thousand sails approaching
A great number of enemy ships are heading towards me.
Sent here in her name to reclaim the one I stole
The ships are here under orders to retrieve the woman I took.
And destroy the walls of Troy
Their objective is to raze the city's defenses.
Desire leaves me numb to all the pain surrounding me
My longing for her makes me oblivious to the suffering around me.
Storms will arise to condemn me
I will face the consequences of my actions.
I will not die before her eyes...
I cannot bear the thought of dying in front of her.
It ends tonight
This will be the finale of the struggle.
Tragically I now must accept the penance I have earned
Sadly, I must face the punishment I deserve.
She is cursed and tonight we die
She is cursed and we are doomed to die tonight.
In the dawn of this, my end, I hold my sword true
At the beginning of my demise, I grip my sword firmly.
I must let her go...
I have to relinquish her to her rightful place.
It ends tonight
The finality of the conflict will be tonight.
It ends tonight, I am alone
This is the end tonight, and I face it by myself.
Pain fills her eyes, I am alone
She is in agony, and I am helpless.
I must save my honor, I cannot let them win, the blood of many spills
I have to protect my honor, and I will not surrender; however, this resolve comes at the cost of many deaths.
Sacred and profane is our love in death...
Our love is both holy and sinful, even in death.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dennis Lee, Dennis Lavell Lee, Patrick Thompson, Patrick M. Thompson, Shawn Milke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind