The origin of the name of the band is related on their website. The tongue-in-cheek back-story recounts a historically questionable ancestral story beginning in 16th century Sweden. Supposedly, ancestors of the band members performed orchestral works in defiance of the ruling church at the time (possibly in reference to the newly installed protestant Lutheran national church, in power during the mid and late 16th century). The orchestra was forced to go into hiding, performing in secret, with the assistance of oppressed peasants during the era. After years of performing for the pleasure of these peasants, the story claims that the church put a bounty on the performers' lives, and that this bounty was so high that the orchestra knew they would soon be captured, and thus chose to play a spectacular final show before becoming martyred to the church.
While this account is historically unsupported it does provide a backdrop to DSO's eclectic musical style
Members[*]Daniel Håkansson – guitars, vocals (since 2003)
[*]Pontus Mantefors – guitars, effects, vocals (since 2003)
[*]Andy Johansson – bass,vocals (since 2003)
[*]Johannes Bergion – cello, vocals (since 2003)
[*]Martin Isaksson – trumpet, vocals (since 2009)
[*]Daniel Hedin – trombone, vocals (since 2009)
[*]Johan Norbäck – drums (since 2012)
[*]Kristin Evegård – vocals (since 2014)
Former Members[*]Andreas Halvardsson – drums (2003–2010)
[*]Petter Karlsson – drums (2010-2012)
[*]Annlouice Loegdlund – vocals (2003-2014)
Heroines
Diablo Swing Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You cannot see with them eyes
A tired hand, her naked hand, putting me to sleep
It won't be long, your glow
Has left me dry and my abstinence has been
Postponed by my comfort in denial
She'd be the last one to leave
Always close now sense it clear
For years to come I can't go back
To the things I held so, I held so dear
We were crushed by her halo—oh what a way to go
Endlessly she said forevermore in debt
Colourful, so beautiful, with fever eyes closed and so free
Those were my heroines
Freedom roar from senseless mind
Apocalypse all dressed in white
Saw it coming watched them leaving with all I ever was
Broken tissue, broken dreams far-fetched as those fantasies
Since peace of mind was not meant for me
(I'll praise them silently)
We were crushed by her halo—oh what a way to go
Endlessly she said forevermore in debt
Colourful, so beautiful, with fever eyes closed and so free
Those were my heroines
The lyrics of Diablo Swing Orchestra's 'Heroines' portray a sense of loss, regret, and even addiction. The opening lines 'Tuck it in or take it out for what/You cannot see with them eyes' invite the listener to look beyond what is visible and perhaps consider the deeper meaning of what is being said. The reference to the 'naked hand putting me to sleep' suggests a sense of comfort, perhaps in a relationship that is not healthy but has become routine.
The chorus 'We were crushed by her halo - oh what a way to go' is particularly powerful. It implies that the singer has been brought down by someone who was considered an angel, someone who was looked up to as a role model or a savior. The use of the word 'heroine' in the title further reinforces this notion of worship and adoration. However, the verse 'Since peace of mind was not meant for me' suggests that perhaps the singer was never truly at peace with themselves, and that their addiction to these 'heroines' was just another manifestation of their inner turmoil.
Overall, the lyrics of 'Heroines' seem to suggest a cautionary tale of the dangers of idolizing others and losing oneself in the process.
Line by Line Meaning
Tuck it in or take it out for what
Decide whether to hide or reveal something, depending on what purpose it serves.
You cannot see with them eyes
Some things are not visible to the naked eye.
A tired hand, her naked hand, putting me to sleep
A gentle hand can bring comfort and put one at ease.
It won't be long, your glow
The light that once shone so brightly will soon fade away.
Has left me dry and my abstinence has been
The lack of that bright light has left me feeling empty and my willpower has faltered.
Postponed by my comfort in denial
I am prolonging the inevitable by avoiding the truth.
And the worst lie it may be (that hope said)
The most dangerous falsehood may be the idea that things will get better.
She'd be the last one to leave
The one I thought would always be there ended up being the first to go.
Always close now sense it clear
Now that it is gone, I realize how precious and irreplaceable it was.
For years to come I can't go back
The past cannot be undone or relived, no matter how much we may wish it.
To the things I held so, I held so dear
The things I cherished most are now out of reach and forever lost.
We were crushed by her halo—oh what a way to go
The weight of her angelic presence was too much to bear and brought about our downfall.
Endlessly she said forevermore in debt
She promised eternal loyalty, but it came at a great cost.
Colourful, so beautiful, with fever eyes closed and so free
Despite their flaws, my idols were still radiant and inspiring.
Those were my heroines
They were the women I looked up to, but now I am lost without them.
Freedom roar from senseless mind
The yearning for freedom can sometimes overpower rational thought.
Apocalypse all dressed in white
Even the end of the world can appear beautiful and peaceful from a distance.
Saw it coming watched them leaving with all I ever was
I knew they were leaving, but could not bear to let go of the piece of me that went with them.
Broken tissue, broken dreams far-fetched as those fantasies
My aspirations and desires are just as distant and unattainable as my broken body.
Since peace of mind was not meant for me
I have come to accept that I will never find true inner peace.
(I'll praise them silently)
Though I cannot follow in their footsteps, I will still hold my heroines in high esteem, even if only in my thoughts.
Contributed by Bentley B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.