overture
Rex Harrison & Julie Andrews 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.]
The lyrics of Overture in Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews's song narrates a poignant scene in the life of the iconic composer Ludwig Von Beethoven. The song is set on a late night in the spring of 1827 when Vienna was experiencing the largest lightning storm in its long history. The composer is depicted as being slumped over his piano in a large disheveled room where he had just completed the manuscript for his tenth symphony. As he contemplates his final work, he is certain that it will be his greatest.
The lyrics of the song evoke a sense of melancholy and inevitability as the composer seems to await death, personified in the form of Fate and her deformed dwarf son, Twist. They emerge from the shadows to inform Beethoven that his end is near, a revelation that he had already deeply suspected. As they appear, numerous spirits and ghosts from his past accompany them, triggering a reflection on his life and legacy.
Overall, Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews's Overture is a moving tribute to the magnum opus of Beethoven and his contribution to the world of classical music. The lyrics of the song are rich in symbolism, capturing the mood of the moment and echoing the sentiments of music lovers whose passion for Beethoven's work endures through the ages.
Line by Line Meaning
Since the time when ra and isis
From the beginning of time when gods like Ra and Isis roamed the earth
Raised the sphinx out of the sand
Built wonders like the Sphinx for men to behold
And apollo dreamed athena
Gods like Apollo created beings like Athena
And men began to understand
And men began to comprehend the creations of the gods
That when darkness folds on darkness
That when darkness upon darkness descends
In the restless tides of night
In the uneasy nights of storms and lightning
And lightning raises shadows
And lightning gives temporary life to shadows
And for moments gives them life
But only for a moment, before they disappear once more
It's been said by those who ponder
Those who contemplate believe
That it surely is a sign
That this is surely a premonition
That a life touched by the stars
That a life influenced by celestial powers
Is now running out of time
Is now coming to an end
And that somewhere in that darkness
And that in the midst of this darkness
In the heart of that great storm
In the center of the violent storm
The world returns a soul
The world is taking back a soul
That the gods caused to be born
That the gods created and set on this earth
And this was such a storm
And this was one of those rare storms
The kind one rarely sees in life
That we seldom have the fortune to witness
For in a room now filled with shadows
For in a room that's now overcome with darkness
The great Beethoven was spending
Ludwig Van Beethoven was spending his final night
His last night
His final moments on this earth
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JIMMY HOROWITZ, ROBIN MILLER, LEO ROST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind