Overture
Julie Andrews & Rex Harrison Lyrics


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[On a late night in the spring of 1827
The city of Vienna is experiencing the largest lightning storm in its long history.
Within a large disheveled room,
Ludwig Von Beethoven is slumped over his piano
And on the piano sits the just completed manuscript for his tenth symphony.
It is his final, and he is certain, his greatest work.]

Since the time when ra and isis
Raised the sphinx out of the sand
And apollo dreamed athena
And men began to understand

That when darkness folds on darkness
In the restless tides of night
And lightning raises shadows
And for moments gives them life

It's been said by those who ponder
That it surely is a sign
That a life touched by the stars
Is now running out of time

And that somewhere in that darkness
In the heart of that great storm
The world returns a soul
That the gods caused to be born

And this was such a storm
The kind one rarely sees in life
For in a room now filled with shadows
The great Beethoven was spending

His last night

[From the shadows a beautiful spirit, fate,
And her deformed dwarf son, twist,
Emerge to inform Beethoven of what he has already deeply suspected,




That this is to be his last night on earth.
They are accompanied by numerous spirits and ghosts from his past.]

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to the Overture from Julie Andrew Rex Harrison’s song depict a poignant moment in the life of Ludwig Von Beethoven, who is considered one of the greatest composers of all time. The song portrays Beethoven being in Vienna during a thunderstorm in the spring of 1827. Beethoven is depicted in the song slumped over his piano, with the manuscript for his tenth and final symphony on the piano. The song suggests that Beethoven is aware that his life is coming to an end and that his final composition is the greatest work he has ever done. The lyrics are rich in imagery, with references to mythology, lightning, and shadows, adding to the emotion and beauty of the song.


The lyrics also explore the idea of fate and the possible meaning of lightning storms. The song’s lyrics suggest that a lightning storm is a sign that a life touched by the stars is now running out of time. In this sense, the storm symbolizes a return of a soul to the gods that caused it to be born. The lyrics also depict the emergence of a beautiful spirit, Fate, and her deformed dwarf son, Twist. They come to inform Beethoven of what he has already suspected that this was to be his last night on earth. They come accompanied by numerous ghosts from Beethoven's past, adding to the powerful imagery and emotion of the song.


Line by Line Meaning

Since the time when ra and isis
From the earliest days of humanity


Raised the sphinx out of the sand
People have sought to understand the mysteries of life


And apollo dreamed athena
The gods have inspired great works of art


And men began to understand
Which have helped humans to better comprehend their own existence


That when darkness folds on darkness
When night becomes darker than ever before


In the restless tides of night
And the winds of change are blowing


And lightning raises shadows
And lightning illuminates the unknown


And for moments gives them life
Giving them form and substance, if only temporarily


It's been said by those who ponder
Philosophers and other deep thinkers have considered the implications of such events


That it surely is a sign
Believing that such storms are harbingers of important events


That a life touched by the stars
Such as one touched by genius or creative inspiration


Is now running out of time
Is reaching the end of its earthly existence


And that somewhere in that darkness
In that realm of mystery and uncertainty


In the heart of that great storm
Amidst the chaos and confusion of the tempest


The world returns a soul
The universe reclaims an individual's spirit


That the gods caused to be born
Whose talents and abilities were a gift from the divine


And this was such a storm
The one in which Beethoven finds himself


The kind one rarely sees in life
A rare and momentous event


For in a room now filled with shadows
Amidst the darkness in which Beethoven labors


The great Beethoven was spending
His final moments on earth


His last night
Aware that his life's work is coming to an end


From the shadows a beautiful spirit, fate,
Fate comes to pay a visit


And her deformed dwarf son, twist,
Her grotesque companion Twist by her side


Emerge to inform Beethoven of what he has already deeply suspected,
Confirming what Beethoven already knows


That this is to be his last night on earth.
That his time on this plane of existence is short


They are accompanied by numerous spirits and ghosts from his past.
Haunting him with memories of what once was and what might have been




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JIMMY HOROWITZ, ROBIN MILLER, LEO ROST

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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