Wilson was born in Sale, Greater Manchester, and was educated at Harrow School and Oriel College, Oxford. Most of his work for the stage was material for revues, such as Slings and Arrows, Oranges and Lemons, and See You Later, starring such performers as Peter Cook.
Overture
Sandy Wilson 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 Sandy Wilson's Overture describe a dramatic and intense scene taking place in Vienna in the spring of 1827. The city is experiencing the largest lightning storm in its long history, and amidst this chaos, we find one of the greatest composers of all time, Ludwig Von Beethoven. He is slumped over his piano in a large disheveled room, with the just-completed manuscript for his tenth symphony sitting on it. Beethoven is certain that this piece is his greatest work and that it will be his final one. The lyrics paint a picture of a man at the end of his life, reflecting on his legacy and the impact he has had on the world of music.
The second verse introduces the idea that throughout history, lightning storms have been seen as a sign of great change or significant events. The storm that is currently raging outside Beethoven's window is no exception. The lyrics suggest that this storm is a tribute to a life touched by the stars and is a sign that Beethoven's time on earth is coming to an end. As the shadows deepen, and the lightning raises them to life, the great composer knows that this is his last night.
In the next section of the lyrics, we encounter Fate and her deformed dwarf son, Twist, who emerge from the shadows to confirm Beethoven's suspicions. They are accompanied by a host of spirits and ghosts from his past, emphasizing the significance of this moment in his life. These lyrics give us a sense of the otherworldly atmosphere of the scene, one in which the boundaries between life and death, past and present, are blurred.
Overall, the lyrics of Sandy Wilson's Overture paint a vivid and emotionally charged picture of a great composer at the end of his life. The imagery is powerful and evocative, drawing listeners into the scene and allowing them to feel the weight of Beethoven's final moments.
Line by Line Meaning
On a late night in the spring of 1827
One night in the spring of 1827
The city of Vienna is experiencing the largest lightning storm in its long history.
Vienna is having the biggest lightning storm ever.
Within a large disheveled room,
Inside a big messy room,
Ludwig Von Beethoven is slumped over his piano
Beethoven is hunched over his piano
And on the piano sits the just completed manuscript for his tenth symphony.
On the piano is the fresh manuscript of his tenth symphony.
It is his final, and he is certain, his greatest work.
He knows this is his last and best work.
From the shadows a beautiful spirit, fate,
Fate, a lovely spirit,
And her deformed dwarf son, twist,
And her twisted, dwarf son,
Emerge to inform Beethoven of what he has already deeply suspected,
Appear and tell Beethoven what he already knew,
That this is to be his last night on earth.
This night will be his last.
They are accompanied by numerous spirits and ghosts from his past.
Several spirits and ghosts from his past are with them.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JIMMY HOROWITZ, ROBIN MILLER, LEO ROST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind