Queensrÿche has sold over 20 million albums worldwide, including over 6 million albums in the United States. They are considered one of the leaders of the progressive metal scene of the mid-to-late 1980s, and often referred to as one of the "Big Three" of the genre, along with Dream Theater and Fates Warning. The band received worldwide acclaim after the release of their 1988 album Operation: Mindcrime, which is often considered one of the greatest heavy metal concept albums of all time. Their follow-up release, Empire, released in 1990, was also very successful and included the hit single "Silent Lucidity". The band has received three Grammy Award nominations for songs from both albums. In 1998, drummer Rockenfield received an individual Grammy nomination.
Also in 1998, guitarist and primary songwriter Chris DeGarmo left the band for personal reasons, returning briefly in 2003 to write and record the Tribe album. Over the years, his replacements have been Kelly Gray, Mike Stone, and Parker Lundgren. Following a highly publicized backstage altercation before a show in São Paulo, Brazil, in April 2012, Tate was fired from the band and replaced with then-Crimson Glory singer Todd La Torre. In response to his dismissal, Tate and his wife Susan (who served as the band's manager from 2005 to 2012) filed a lawsuit in a Washington court, claiming that he was wrongfully terminated. The ruling in the preliminary injunction was that both parties were allowed to use the name Queensrÿche until a court ruling or a settlement decided who would get to use the name. A settlement was reached on April 17, 2014, in which founding members Wilton, Rockenfield and Jackson were awarded the rights to the band trademark, continuing to play with the lineup that additionally includes singer La Torre and guitarist Lundgren.
During the time, both parties could use the name Queensrÿche, Tate created his own lineup featuring former guitarist Gray and musicians from bands including Blue Öyster Cult, Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake, Dio, AC/DC and Quiet Riot. This version of Queensrÿche with Geoff Tate released the album Frequency Unknown on April 23, 2013, while Queensrÿche (with La Torre replacing Tate) released their eponymous album on June 24 and 25, 2013 (European and American release date, respectively). Both bands toured in 2013 and 2014.
Full article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensrÿche
Studio albums
The Warning (1984)
Rage for Order (1986)
Operation: Mindcrime (1988)
Empire (1990)
Promised Land (1994)
Hear in the Now Frontier (1997)
Q2K (1999)
Tribe (2003)
Operation: Mindcrime II (2006)
Take Cover (2007)
American Soldier (2009)
Dedicated to Chaos (2011)
Queensrÿche (2013)
Condition Hüman (2015)
The Verdict (2019)
Digital Noise Alliance (2022)
Geoff Tate's Queensrÿche
Frequency Unknown (2013)
Sign Of The Times
Queensrÿche Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The kids file through the metal machine
It finds what they may hide
No it just ain't right
A sign of the times
Another church is burning to the ground
Looking for the vandals and they're nowhere to be found
A sign of the times, Sign of the times
A sign of the times, Sign of the times
Would someone please let me know how we have spun out of control?
Has the captain let go of the wheel?
Or could we please try to find a way to be a bit more kind?
I see the road to tomorrow in the haze!
On the Senate floor they congregate
Many pockets lined with green,
From those behind the scenes, yeah they take the bribe (it's on the side)
A sign of the times, Sign of the times
A sign of the times, Sign of the times
The song “Sign of the Times” by Queensrÿche provides commentary on the state of society during the time it was written (1988) and still applies today. The song begins by describing the invasive security measures students must face when entering their school, reflecting the increase of surveillance and loss of privacy in modern society. The second verse describes the burning of a church and the inability to apprehend the culprits, highlighting the presence of hate and intolerance that still plagues society. The chorus repeats the phrase “a sign of the times” to emphasize the prevalence of these issues and the urgency to address them.
The bridge of the song switches the focus to those in power, asking if they have lost control or if there is a way to bring more kindness back into society. The final verse brings up the corruption and greed in politics, with senators accepting bribes and making decisions based on money instead of morals. The song overall paints a bleak picture of the current state of society, but calls for change and a better future.
Overall, “Sign of the Times” is a socially conscious song that criticizes various issues in society, but also calls for hope and change. It encourages listeners to see beyond the surface of the world around them and to strive towards a better future for all.
Line by Line Meaning
Heading for the classroom yesterday
Going to school as usual
The kids file through the metal machine
Children pass through metal detectors
It finds what they may hide
The machine detects any hidden weapons
No it just ain't right
The presence of metal detectors in schools is not normal
A sign of the times
It is an indication that our society has changed
Another church is burning to the ground
A church is on fire again
Looking for the vandals and they're nowhere to be found
The culprits are missing
But the hate's alive
The act was fueled by hate
A sign of the times, Sign of the times
It is a reflection of our current era
Would someone please let me know how we have spun out of control?
Can anyone explain how our society has become chaotic?
Has the captain let go of the wheel?
Did our leaders abandon their responsibilities?
Or could we please try to find a way to be a bit more kind?
Can we make an effort to be more compassionate towards each other?
I see the road to tomorrow in the haze!
Our future is uncertain and unclear
On the Senate floor they congregate
Senators gather to make decisions
Many pockets lined with green,
Some senators have been bribed
From those behind the scenes, yeah they take the bribe (it's on the side)
Influence peddlers offer bribes to senators
A sign of the times, Sign of the times
It is a reflection of our current era
A sign of the times, Sign of the times
It is an indication that our society has changed
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Christopher Degarmo
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind