overture
Mary Martin Lyrics
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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
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.]
Mary Martin's "Overture" is a song that tells the story of Ludwig Von Beethoven's final moments on Earth. The song begins with a depiction of the largest lightning storm in the history of Vienna, which takes place on a late night in the spring of 1827. In a large disheveled room, Beethoven is slumped over his piano, and on it sits the just-completed manuscript for his tenth symphony, which he believes to be his greatest work. The storm and the darkness it brings with it are symbols of the end of his life, which he already deeply suspects. The singer suggests that this kind of storm is a sign that a life touched by the stars is running out of time, and that the gods are returning a soul that they caused to be born to the world.
From the shadows, the singer describes the arrival of a beautiful spirit named Fate and her deformed dwarf son Twist, who inform Beethoven of his impending death, although he already suspected this to be true. They are accompanied by numerous spirits and ghosts from his past, who are there to comfort him and help him let go of life. The song ends with a haunting melody that symbolizes the passing of Beethoven's spirit into the next world.
Overall, the song is a beautiful and poignant portrayal of one of the greatest composers of all time and his final moments on Earth. It captures the sense of foreboding and the weight of the impending loss that Beethoven must have felt, while also celebrating his life and his astonishing musical talent.
Line by Line Meaning
On a late night in the spring of 1827
During a dark and turbulent night in Vienna in the year 1827.
The city of Vienna is experiencing the largest lightning storm in its long history.
Vienna is amidst the most aggressive and intense lightning storm it has ever encountered.
Within a large disheveled room,
Inside an untidy and chaotic space,
Ludwig Von Beethoven is slumped over his piano
Ludwig Von Beethoven is hunched over his piano,
And on the piano sits the just completed manuscript for his tenth symphony.
Ludwig's tenth symphony manuscript is present, having been finished recently.
It is his final, and he is certain, his greatest work.
He believes this is his final composition and perhaps his masterpiece.
From the shadows a beautiful spirit, fate,
Appearing from the darkness, a lovely spirit called Fate,
And her deformed dwarf son, twist,
Joined by her crooked, disfigured offspring, Twist,
Emerge to inform Beethoven of what he has already deeply suspected,
They come to tell Beethoven what he has long suspected,
That this is to be his last night on earth.
This night would be Beethoven's last alive.
They are accompanied by numerous spirits and ghosts from his past.
Beethoven is surrounded by apparitions of his long-held memories and experiences.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JIMMY HOROWITZ, ROBIN MILLER, LEO ROST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind