Next Dio formed Ronnie Dio and The Prophets in the autumn of 1961, the band lasted until 1967. After this Dio formed The Electric Elves (1967-1969), The Elves (1969-1970), and finally the more well known Elf (1970-1975). From this Dio sang for Rainbow (1975-1978). After his work in Rainbow he went on to sing for Black Sabbath from (1979-1982), he later appeared in Black Sabbath again in late 1991-1992. After his split from Black Sabbath for the first time he went on to start his solo career known as Dio which started in 1983.
Ronnie James Dio is generally credited as the originator of the famous "mano cornuta" (or "devil horns") symbol in the metal world. According to him, his grandmother used to make the symbol as a sigil to ward off evil. Dio started using the gesture onstage in the early days of his career.
Roger Glover, the bass player of Deep Purple, had, as a solo artist, a world wide hit in 1974, "Love is All". It had, for those days, a very special videoclip, with a frog. It was Ronnie James Dio who did the vocals for that song.
In October 2006, it was confirmed that Dio would be joining Black Sabbath members Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and former Black Sabbath drummer Vinny Appice to tour under the moniker Heaven & Hell, the title of the first Dio era Black Sabbath album. They chose the name Heaven & Hell as Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler were still in Black Sabbath with Ozzy Osbourne and felt it was best to use a different moniker for the Dio version of the band. Original Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward was to be involved in this project, but he later withdrew. In 2008 the band completed a 98-date world tour. The band released one album under the Heaven & Hell name, The Devil You Know, to critical and commercial acclaim. They also had planned to release a follow-up in 2010, but Dio died of stomach cancer on May 16 of that year.
Welcome To My Nightmare
Ronnie James Dio Lyrics
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I think you're gonna like it
I think you're gonna feel
You belong
A nocturnal vacation
Unnecessary sedation
You want to feel at home
Welcome to my nightmare, yeah
Welcome to my breakdown
I hope I didn't scare you
That's just the way we are
When we come down
We sweat and laugh and scream here
Cause life is just a dream here
You know inside you feel
Right at home here
Welcome to my breakdown, whoa
You're welcome to my nightmare, yeah
Welcome to my nightmare
I know you're gonna like it
I think you're gonna feel
You belong
We sweat, laugh and scream here
Cause life is just a dream here
You know inside you feel
Right at home here
Welcome to my nightmare, whoa
Welcome to my breakdown
Welcome to my breakdown, whoa
Welcome to my nightmare, yeah
The song "Welcome to My Nightmare" is the title track of Alice Cooper's 1975 album of the same name, but in this interpretation, the focus will be on the cover version performed by Ronnie James Dio, Steve Lukather, Bob Kulick, Phil Soussan, Randy Castillo, and Paul Taylor. The lyrics of the song suggest that the singer is inviting the listener to join them in their nightmare, which may seem strange and scary at first, but ultimately feels like home. The singer explains that this nightmare is a place where those who are outcasts or misunderstood can finally feel like they belong.
The song's chorus "Welcome to my nightmare, I think you're gonna like it" is both inviting and unsettling, setting up the theme of the song. The use of words like "sedation" and "breakdown" suggests that the nightmare is not necessarily a pleasant experience, but the repetition of the phrase "you belong" emphasizes the idea that this is a place for people who feel like they don't fit in anywhere else. The lines "We sweat and laugh and scream here, 'Cause life is just a dream here" suggest that the nightmare is a chaotic and surreal experience, but also one where people are able to let go and embrace their true selves.
Overall, "Welcome to My Nightmare" is a song about finding a place where you feel like you belong, even if that place is dark or unsettling. The use of the word "nightmare" suggests that the singer is aware of the darkness and challenges of this place, but is still confident that the listener will ultimately find comfort and acceptance there.
Line by Line Meaning
Welcome to my nightmare
The artist welcomes the listener to a dark and twisted world.
I think you're gonna like it
The artist is confident that the listener will enjoy their music despite the unsettling nature of the content.
I think you're gonna feel
The artist anticipates that the listener will connect with the emotions and themes presented in the song.
You belong
The artist wants the listener to feel like they are part of the experience, not just a passive observer.
A nocturnal vacation
The artist is describing the experience of exploring a twisted world through the lens of a dream or nightmare.
Unnecessary sedation
The artist suggests that the listener may not need drugs or alcohol to experience the world the way they do.
You want to feel at home
The artist is acknowledging that the world they are presenting may be unsettling, and that finding a sense of familiarity within it is important for the listener's comfort.
Cause you belong
Again, the artist wants the listener to feel like a welcomed and important part of the experience.
I hope I didn't scare you
The artist is aware that their music may be unsettling or even frightening, but they still want the listener to enjoy it.
That's just the way we are
The artist is embracing the darker side of their music, and suggesting that it's an essential part of their creative process.
When we come down
The artist recognizes that the experience they are presenting may be overwhelming, and that there will be moments of release or come-down for the listener.
We sweat and laugh and scream here
The artist is describing the visceral emotional experience of their music, and suggesting that it can be both thrilling and cathartic.
Cause life is just a dream here
The artist is suggesting that the world they are presenting is a metaphorical dream or nightmare, and that the listener should embrace it as such.
You know inside you feel
Again, the artist is emphasizing the emotional connection that they want the listener to form with their music.
Right at home here
The artist is reassuring the listener that despite the darkness and volatility of the world they are presenting, there is still a sense of safety and familiarity to be found there.
You're welcome to my nightmare
The artist is extending an invitation to the listener to fully embrace the experience they are presenting.
Welcome to my breakdown
The artist is describing a moment of intense emotional release or breakdown, and suggesting that the listener should embrace it as part of the journey.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RICHARD WAGNER, ALICE COOPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind