The first incarnation of the band was under the name Aslan, after a character in the novel The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis. With money earned from local shows and T-shirt sales, they recorded a self-titled demo tape in 1986. After discovering another band with the same name, they changed theirs to Psychotic Waltz and recorded a new four-song demo in 1988.
In 1990, they debuted with their independently financed debut A Social Grace, which was released in Europe via a licensing deal with the German label Rising Sun Productions. The album was very well received in Europe, being named album of the month in some European magazines,[citation needed] The situation in US was more difficult, as the album was released under the band's own Sub Sonic Records label. With practically no promotion and minimal distribution, it remained an extremely underground item. In 1991, the band appeared in the Dynamo Festival in Holland.
After the tour, the band's guitarist, Dan Rock, suffered a near-fatal accident after falling off a bridge while rappelling. The band went on to record their second album, Into the Everflow. The album was recorded from August–October, 1992, at Phoenix Studios in Herne, Germany, and was produced by Mekong Delta's main man, Ralph Hubert. After recording the album, but before its release, the band did a small tour while Dan Rock recovered from his accident. The CD was released in Europe on Dream Circle Records, and was very well received, getting album of the month honors in many European magazines.[citation needed] After Rock recovered, the band was nominated as the Best Hard Rock band at the 1992 San Diego Music Awards.
By that time, the band was at the peak of its popularity. They signed with Ralph Hubert's own label, Zardoz Music, for their third album, Mosquito. Recording took place in late 1994 in Record Plant and Madhatter studios in Los Angeles, with the help of the famous metal producer Scott Burns. The initial response for this album was mixed, as the more conventional songwriting that the band followed led some hardcore fans of the band to label it as a sell-out. This was the last album that was recorded with their initial lineup, as bassist Ward Evans left the band after two tours in Europe and was replaced with Phil Cuttino.
They entered the studio once again in 1996, for what proved to be their last studio work together, Bleeding. This time, Scott Burns did the engineering, but the record was mixed by Dan Rock and engineer Woody Barber. Before the band started touring in support for the new album, guitarist Brian McAlpine announced that he would not be able to follow the band due to familial obligations. He was replaced by Steve Cox for the band's final two European tours. Phil Cuttino filmed a promotional video for the track "Faded". This proved to be disastrous for the band, as a crew member sued the band in April 1998, claiming that a light on the set caused him to go blind.
The lengthy court battle that followed, coupled with the different musical interests that the band members had, contributed in the band's demise. Buddy Lackey was the first to leave the band. For a short while, the remaining band members tried to continue with the band, but eventually each went his own way. Rock recorded two instrumental albums with his project Darkstar. Norm Leggio and Steve Cox created the band Teabag, and Buddy Lackey formed the band Deadsoul Tribe, where he performs using his real name, Devon Graves.
Psychotic Waltz reunited in 2010, will tour Europe in support of Nevermore and Symphony X, and are planning to write, record and release a new album.
Only Time
Psychotic Waltz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When the sun shines let your bullets fly like rain
Let'em fly, let'em fly like rain
Well it's only time
I can't taste the morning
When the rays of the killing sun won't shine
Blue as the wind, blew it all, blew it all the time
I see the sky burning red
So let it rain down hard
Let it break on through
I see your world, I see your seas
And I know what's going to be left
When you leave what you leave for me
You're pulling me down
Don't lay down when the sun shines
The lyrics of Only Time by Psychotic Waltz depict a sense of urgency, a feeling that time is running out and that decisions must be made quickly. The opening line "Well it's only time" can be interpreted as a call to action, a reminder that we have a limited amount of time to achieve our goals and make our mark on the world. This sentiment is reinforced by the line "When the sun shines let your bullets fly like rain", which suggests that we need to act quickly and decisively, like a hail of bullets, in order to achieve our desired outcome.
The phrase "I can't taste the morning" is a metaphor for the sense of despair that can often accompany a feeling of hopelessness. The singer is unable to enjoy the simple pleasures of life because they are so consumed by their worries and fears. The line "Blue as the wind, blew it all, blew it all the time" suggests that the singer has lost everything that was once important to them, and that time has been the cause of this loss. The sky burning red represents the intensity of the singer's emotions, and the fact that they are at a point where they are willing to let go of everything and watch it all burn.
The chorus "You're pulling me down, Don't lay down when the sun shines" is a call to action, a reminder that we need to keep moving forward and not give up when things get tough. The singer is being dragged down by their emotions and the weight of their fears, but they know that they cannot give up if they want to achieve their goals. The song ends with the lines "I see your world, I see your seas, And I know what's going to be left, When you leave what you leave for me". This suggests that the singer is aware of the legacy that they will leave behind, and that they are determined to make the most of their time on this earth.
Line by Line Meaning
Well it's only time
The passing of time is inevitable and unstoppable
When the sun shines let your bullets fly like rain
Take advantage of every opportunity to fight and defend yourself
Let'em fly, let'em fly like rain
Do not hold back when it comes to defending yourself and attacking your enemies
I can't taste the morning
I cannot enjoy life and feel hopeful when everything around me is bleak and violent
When the rays of the killing sun won't shine
When there is no hope or joy to be found in the world
Blue as the wind, blew it all, blew it all the time
Describing the feeling of hopelessness and despair in life
I see the sky burning red
The world is in chaos and destruction
Burning inside of you
The feeling of hopelessness and despair is consuming the artist
So let it rain down hard
Let the emotions and pain flow freely
Let it break on through
Do not hide from the pain and let it take over
I see your world, I see your seas
The singer is aware of the world and its problems
And I know what's going to be left
The artist is anticipating the future and what is to come
When you leave what you leave for me
The singer is contemplating what the world and its problems will be like once they are gone
You're pulling me down
The world and its problems are affecting the singer and bringing them down
Don't lay down when the sun shines
Do not give up and lose hope when there is still a chance to defend oneself and fight
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRIAN RODGER MC ALPIN, BUDDY HOWARD LACKEY, DANIEL WAYNE ROCK, NORMAN GAETANO LEGGIO, WARD EVANS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sarakaster
the solo pushes me somehow over an edge i don't even know how to name it, but it is reaching deep down inside me and brings some part of me to resonate that is so precious to me and yet so seldom seen and touched by anything...
@thomasbakke6677
OMG ! Completeley forgot how fucking coooool this is!
@moveEcritik
LOL