Th… Read Full Bio ↴Heavens Gate was a power/heavy metal band from Wolfsburg, Germany
They started out as a band called Steeltower in 1982 releasing their first record, Night of the Dog in 1984.
Before signing with No Remorse records, they were known under the name of Carrion and several of their songs ended up re-worked on their debut album "In Control". They changed their name to Heavens Gate in 1987. Their first record as Heaven's Gate was released in 1989. They were, together with German bands Helloween, Gamma Ray, Grave Digger, Running Wild, and Rage, the pioneers in German power metal, taking their influences mainly from Helloween as well as from Judas Priest.
Heavens Gate were taken under the wing of Frank Bornemann (ELOY) and soon after releasing "In control" they were embraced by the German metal audience and had an amazing response in Japan.
Heavens Gate came out of Germany at a time when grunge was starting to happen and sadly never got the attention they deserved. They realesed an album under another name. Their first album was "In control", an album which sounded a bit like Helloween like so many other bands from Germany at the time (1990). The follow up was a mini-lp called Open the gate and watch.
The album "Livin' in hysteria" is by many considered to be their best album - strong music and good musicians. "Hell for sale" followed after and was the first step into another direction of more blues oriented metal. The album also contained the last of a trilogy of songs that started on the first album (Path of glory) and from "Livin' in hysteria" (The never ending fire). The closing track was He's the man. "Hell for sale" saw guitarist Sascha Paeths debut as a producer. He would later come to produce and appear as guest musician on a various number of albums and artists like: Angra, Rhapsody, Luca Turilli and so on.
After "Hell fore sale" came the live album "Live for sale" and after that the band became silent for a couple of years. Returning with their to date bestselling album "Planet E". That album showed a more complex side to the band than before. The music became more and more technical and less "Helloweenish". They concluded that journey with their (to date) last album "Menergy".
Singer Tomes Rettke is now singing in Redkey. Sascha Paeth is also a member of the band.
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life
Heavens Gate Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They can really make you mad
Other things just make you swear and curse
When you're chewing on life's gristle
Don't grumble, give a whistle
And this will help things turn out for the best
And...
Always look on the bright side of life
If life seems jolly rotten
There's something you've forgotten
And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing
When you're feeling in the dumps
Don't be silly chumps
Just purse your lips and whistle, that's the thing
And...
Always look on the bright side of life
Always look on the bright side of life
For life is quite absurd
And death's the final word
You must always face the curtain with a bow
Forget about your sin
Give the audience a grin
Enjoy it, it's your last chance anyhow
Always look on the bright side of death
Just before you draw your terminal breath
Life's a piece of shit
When you look at it
Life's a laugh and death's a joke, it's true
You'll see it's all a show
Keep 'em laughing as you go
Just remember that the last laugh is on you
And...
Always look on the bright side of life
Always look on the bright side of life
[repeat till end]
I mean, what have you got to lose?
You know, you've come from nothing,
You're going back to nothing!
What have you lost?
Nothing!
The lyrics to Heaven's Gate's "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" convey an important message of optimism and resilience. The song acknowledges that life can be difficult and frustrating, but urges listeners to remain positive and seek out the good in every situation. The opening lines state that "Some things in life are bad / They can really make you mad," but instead of dwelling on these negative experiences, the song encourages listeners to look for ways to improve their outlook. By simply whistling a tune, one can instantly transform their perspective and find a more positive outlook on life.
The song also addresses the themes of mortality and the ephemeral nature of life. The lyrics suggest that life is transient and absurd, and that death is the final word. However, rather than lamenting this fact, the song encourages listeners to make the most of their time by enjoying the present moment and spreading joy to others. The message is that, regardless of the challenges we face or the eventual outcome of our lives, we can always choose to look on the bright side and find meaning in our experiences.
Overall, the lyrics to "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" are a powerful reminder of the importance of optimism and positivity in the face of adversity. The song urges listeners to remain resilient, even in the face of life's many challenges, and to seek out the good in every situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Some things in life are bad
Life sometimes throws curveballs at you that are unpleasant
They can really make you mad
These things can drive you up the wall and incite anger
Other things just make you swear and curse
Sometimes you react to unfavorable circumstances by using bad language or even worse, curse words
When you're chewing on life's gristle
When life is particularly tough or bothersome
Don't grumble, give a whistle
Rather than sulking or complaining, try whistling to uplift yourself
And this will help things turn out for the best
This more positive outlook may help improve the situation
And...
Always look on the bright side of life
Despite bad things happening, try to maintain an optimistic perspective
Always look on the bright side of life
If life seems jolly rotten
When you feel like life is particularly cruel and painful
There's something you've forgotten
You've neglected to remember that humor and enjoyment can make things better
And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing
Laughter, singing, and dancing are all ways to brighten up even the darkest day
When you're feeling in the dumps
When you feel especially low
Don't be silly chumps
Don't be foolish or immature in dealing with the situation
Just purse your lips and whistle, that's the thing
Rather than wallowing in self-pity, whistle and try to find a reason to be happy
And...
Always look on the bright side of life
Always try to maintain a positive outlook, even when facing difficulties
Always look on the bright side of life
For life is quite absurd
Life can be very illogical and nonsensical sometimes, which can be difficult to make sense of or understand
And death's the final word
Death is the end of our physical existence and is the ultimate result of life's absurdity
You must always face the curtain with a bow
We must accept our ultimate fate and respect its inevitability
Forget about your sin
Leave your mistakes and regrets behind
Give the audience a grin
Make the best of your last moments and entertain those around you by putting on a show they can enjoy
Enjoy it, it's your last chance anyhow
Make the most of the time you have left, since this is one of the last opportunities you'll have
Always look on the bright side of death
Try to find the bright side of death, including accepting the end of the physical body and moving on to the next stage
Just before you draw your terminal breath
Find the positivity in death, right up until the moment it arrives
Life's a piece of shit
This line speaks to the sense of hopelessness sometimes felt in life and suggests that sometimes life just plain sucks.
When you look at it
When you view life through a certain lens or perspective
Life's a laugh and death's a joke, it's true
Life is full of laughs and surprises, much like death is often viewed as unpredictable and bizarre
You'll see it's all a show
This suggests that the world we experience and live in is simply a theatric production, a fiction created by ourselves.
Keep 'em laughing as you go
Keep people entertained and in good spirits throughout life, including through difficult times and moments leading up to death.
Just remember that the last laugh is on you
Always be aware that, in the end, the joke may be on you. Don't take life too seriously & try to find the humor in it when possible.
And...
Always look on the bright side of life
Remain positive and optimistic, even when things seem tough
Always look on the bright side of life
[repeat till end]
Repeat this chorus throughout the song
I mean, what have you got to lose?
This line encourages one to view life with objectivity and detachment to see the bigger picture more clearly.
You know, you've come from nothing,
It is important to recognize where you originated from and be grateful for the growth and experiences that have occurred in your life.
You're going back to nothing!
Everyone eventually leaves the material world no matter what they have or haven't accomplished.
What have you lost?
By comparing the experience of living and dying to nothingness, this statement implies that a person loses only the effect of their life as a memory or legacy.
Nothing!
The artist is encouraging us to live fully and not be too concerned with afterlife. Since there is no gain or loss, give your best while you're here.
Contributed by Hunter F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.