Initially the project consisted entirely of solo recordings by Oliva, but after several months of work he was joined in 2004 by former members of Circle II Circle to form a band. After hearing the results of their earliest studio sessions together he then decided to repeat the solo work from scratch with the band, releasing their first album 'Tage Mahal on the SPV label early that year. Originally slated to be released on the same label in May 2006, JOP subsequently signed to AFM Records for the release of the follow-up entitled Maniacal Renderings, which was released in September 4th 2006. Oliva credits his late brother Criss (with whom he had founded Savatage) as co-writing some of the work on this latest album (particularly the track "The Answer"), after finding some working tapes they had recorded together immediately before Criss' death in a road accident in 1993.
Jon Oliva's Pain hit the road fequently, visiting mostly Europe. 2006 saw some appearances at the larger European festivals. In april 2007, Jon Oliva was reunited with Chris Caffery onstage at the Pestpop festival in Belgium. This festival featured three Savatage related bands: Jon Oliva's Pain, Circle II Circle and Chris Caffery.
October 2007 saw Jon Oliva's Pain headlining ProgPower Europe, among the played songs was Chance, which was never performed with Jon on lead vocals before.
In 2008 JOP released Global Warning, which received excellent reviews from all over the globe. The album includes an ode to the bands past sound engineer Greg Marchak (O to G.) The band is currently preparing the fourth JOP album and will be hitting some of the annual summer festivals in Europe.
The music and themes bear comparison with the likes of Alice Cooper, focussing as they do on elements of obsession, pain, confusion and insanity. Oliva himself cites The Beatles, Queen and The Who amongst his and hence the band's influences.
JOP always play a bunch of classic Savatage songs onstage. Typical Savatage songs that are played are Sirens, Hall Of The Mountain King, Gutter Ballet and a lot of songs from the Streets album.
Lineup:
Jon Oliva (vocals, keyboards)
John Zahner (keyboards)
Matt LaPorte (guitars)
Kevin Rothney (bass)
Christopher Kinder (drums)
Tom McDyne (guitars)
Former Members:
Jerry Outlaw (guitars)
Shane French (guitars)
Adding the Cost
Jon Oliva's Pain Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That is forced upon me everyday and night
They play the game of life and death
Millions they have spent
On useless war machines
The cause of what we see
Liars, liars... Liars, liars
We are adding the cost
We are adding the cost
We are adding the cost
We are adding the cost
Thousands die each day of hunger and disease
Open up your eyes, see the wasted lives
That once was precious caught in circumstances
Now with death they're dancing, searing desperate glances
Crying, crying... Dying, dying
We are adding the cost
We are adding the cost
We are adding the cost
We are adding the cost
So what's the answer to the world's dilemma
If you ask me questions I will show you figures
That will stagger; rock you... that will truly shock you
Bring you to your knees, watch you beg and plead
But they will not listen 'cause their souls are missing
They're just mindless specters looking like court jesters
We are adding the cost
We are adding the cost
We are adding the cost
We are adding the cost
The lyrics of Jon Oliva's Pain's song Adding The Cost are a profound commentary on the state of the world and the cost that is being paid for it. The song starts with the singer acknowledging the lies that are being forced upon him and others. He speaks of the game of life and death that is being played, where millions are spent on useless war machines, resulting in the death and destruction that we see around us.
The chorus of the song, "We are adding the cost," is a somber reminder of the toll that is being taken on the world. The verses that follow speak of the thousands who die each day of hunger and disease, and the wasted lives that were once precious but are now caught in desperate circumstances. The lyrics paint a picture of the pain and suffering that is being ignored by those in power.
The singer then poses the question of what the answer is to the world's dilemma. He offers figures that will shock and stagger, but the people in power will not listen because their souls are missing. The song ends with a powerful repetition of the chorus as a reminder of the cost that is being added every day.
Overall, the lyrics of Adding The Cost are a powerful commentary on the world we live in and the cost of ignorance and inaction. They offer a call to action to open our eyes and see the pain and suffering around us.
Line by Line Meaning
I am trying to look past the lying
I am attempting to see beyond the falsehoods that are forced upon me on a regular basis.
That is forced upon me everyday and night
These lies are presented to me consistently, both during the day and at night.
They play the game of life and death
Those in power engage in a dangerous game of deciding who lives and who dies.
Millions they have spent
They have wasted vast sums of money.
On useless war machines
The funds were spent on weapons that serve no real purpose except to cause destruction.
The cause of what we see
The state of the world is a result of this wastefulness and greed.
Liars, liars... Liars, liars
A repetition of the word 'liars' emphasizes the deceitfulness of those in power.
Thousands die each day of hunger and disease
Many people perish regularly due to a lack of food and inadequate medical care.
Open up your eyes, see the wasted lives
It's time to start recognizing the many lives lost to preventable causes.
That once was precious caught in circumstances
People who could have brought great good to the world have been lost due to their circumstances.
Now with death they're dancing, searing desperate glances
People are dying terrible deaths, with little hope of relief.
Crying, crying... Dying, dying
Another repetition emphasizes the tragic losses taking place constantly.
So what's the answer to the world's dilemma
What is the solution to the many problems the world faces?
If you ask me questions I will show you figures
I can provide data to support whatever answers I may have.
That will stagger; rock you... that will truly shock you
The statistics are so overwhelming and upsetting that they will stun and surprise even the most well-informed person.
Bring you to your knees, watch you beg and plead
The information will be so devastating that those who hear it will react with utter desperation.
But they will not listen 'cause their souls are missing
The very people who could make a positive difference are unable or unwilling to take appropriate action.
They're just mindless specters looking like court jesters
Those in power are merely hollow, foolish figures who appear to be amused by their own antics.
We are adding the cost
All of these tragic outcomes are accruing a terrible tally.
We are adding the cost
The costs are mounting with each passing moment.
We are adding the cost
We are all contributing to these terrible outcomes in some way.
We are adding the cost
Each day that we fail to act in a positive way, the costs are increasing.
Contributed by Aaliyah K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.