John Nicholas "Jon" Oliva (born July 22, 1959) is an American composer, mul… Read Full Bio ↴John Nicholas "Jon" Oliva (born July 22, 1959) is an American composer, multi-instrumentalist and singer. He is best known as the co-founder, keyboardist and lead vocalist of the band Savatage, which he co-founded with his younger brother Criss Oliva. Since 1996 he has also been a songwriter, musician and vocalist in Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Producer Paul O'Neill referred to Oliva in numerous interviews as the single greatest vocalist/musician he has ever worked with.

Jon Oliva is a singer / pianist / songwriter famous from his years with 80's metal band Savatage, Trans Siberian Orchestra, Jon Oliva's Pain and Doctor Butcher. He is regarded as one of the first musicians to mix heavy metal with opera influences and though not as big in his home country of America, he is quite popular in Europe as well as his band Savatage.

Under the name Oliva, he released a solo album in June 2013, titled, 'Raise The Curtain'.

The tracks played for this artists, are actually mistags of his solo band, Jon Oliva's Pain

Father Time
Jon Oliva Lyrics

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I am the father
I am the keeper of time
I live inside of you
My hands you don't need to wind

I am the father of time
Call me the father of time

I watch the clocks for you
I put the lines on your face
I'm moving quickly
You try to slow down my pace

I am the father of time

Father time
Watch the skies
Father time
Never ever lies
As your years fly by

I am the father
I am the father of time
I twist your souls around
I control all of your lives

I am the father of time
Call me the father...

Father time
Watch the skies
Father time

Never ever lies
As your years fly by

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Jon Oliva's "Father Time" describe the metaphorical figure of Father Time, who is portrayed as the keeper and controller of time. The first stanza of the song mentions that Father Time lives inside of us and he doesn't need to be wound like a clock because he is a part of our being. The second stanza depicts Father Time as the one who watches the clocks, adds lines to our faces as we age and moves quickly. Humans, on the other hand, try to slow him down, but he is in control. The chorus of the song is a reminder that time passes quickly and Father Time never lies.

The third stanza talks about how Father Time twists our souls around and controls our lives. He is the father of time, and he is in charge of every aspect of our existence. The chorus is repeated again as a reminder of the fleeting nature of time and Father Time's omnipresence. The final chorus is significant because it mentions how as the years go by, Father Time keeps an eye on us from the skies above. He never lies because he is always truthful about the nature of life and the fact that time waits for no one.

Overall, the lyrics of "Father Time" are a reminder of the finite nature of life and the importance of valuing every moment we have. Father Time is depicted as a powerful figure who controls our lives, and the chorus is a plea to acknowledge the preciousness of life.

Line by Line Meaning

I am the father
I am the one in control, the patriarch, the originator of time.

I am the keeper of time
I am responsible for the passing of time and keeping track of its movement.

I live inside of you
I exist within your consciousness, influencing your perception of time and its passage.

My hands you don't need to wind
The passage of time is automatic and does not require intervention from you or anyone else.

I watch the clocks for you
I am constantly keeping track of the passage of time for you, so that you do not need to worry about it.

I put the lines on your face
As time passes, it leaves its mark on you in the form of wrinkles and other signs of aging.

I'm moving quickly
Time is passing at a rate that is beyond your control, moving faster than you want it to.

You try to slow down my pace
You may attempt to slow down time or make it stop, but ultimately you are powerless in the face of its passage.

I twist your souls around
My influence extends beyond your physical form, affecting your inner being and sense of self.

I control all of your lives
The passage of time is a fundamental aspect of all life, and I am ultimately responsible for its influence on you.

Father time
A title that acknowledges my role as the originator and controller of time.

Watch the skies
A reminder of the constant passage of time and its ongoing effect on the universe and all life within it.

Never ever lies
Time is a constant force that cannot be manipulated, and will always pass at the rate that it is intended to.

As your years fly by
The passage of time means that your life is finite and that it will continue to move forward regardless of your intentions or desires.

Contributed by Charlie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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