The band first reached substantial commercial success with its third studio album Fight for the Rock (1986), which peaked at number 158 on the Billboard 200. Its next four albums—Hall of the Mountain King (1987), Gutter Ballet (1989), Streets: A Rock Opera (1991) and Edge of Thorns (1993)—were also successful but more critically acclaimed than Fight for the Rock. On October 17, 1993, six months after the release of Edge of Thorns, guitarist Criss Oliva was killed in a car accident. Following his death, Jon (along with producer Paul O'Neill) decided to continue Savatage in memory of his brother. The band released four more studio albums, and went through several line-up changes before going on an extended hiatus in 2002. During the years—partly even before the hiatus—members founded various new bands such as Jon Oliva's Pain, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Circle II Circle and Doctor Butcher. On August 2, 2014, Savatage announced that they were reuniting for the 2015 Wacken Open Air; despite having discussed the possibility of more shows and new music, the band went on hiatus once again. Although Savatage technically remains inactive, half of the members of the band claimed in interviews during throughout 2020 and 2021 that they have been working on new material for a possible follow-up to Poets and Madmen (2001).
Studio albums
Sirens (1983)
Power of the Night (1985)
Fight for the Rock (1986)
Hall of the Mountain King (1987)
Gutter Ballet (1989)
Streets: A Rock Opera (1991)
Edge of Thorns (1993)
Handful of Rain (1994)
Dead Winter Dead (1995)
The Wake of Magellan (1997)
Poets and Madmen (2001)
Believe
Savatage Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've ended up with heart in hand
A child alone
On your own
Retreating
Regretful for the things you're not
And all dreams you haven't got
Without a home
Lies bleeding
And for all the roads you followed
And for all you did not find
And for all the things you had to leave behind
I am the way
I am the light
I am the dark inside the night
I hear your hopes
I feel your dreams
And in the dark
I hear your screams
Don't turn away
Just take my hand
And when you make your final stand
I'll be right there
I'll never leave
All I ask of you
Believe
Your childhood eyes were so intense
While bartering your innocence
For bits of string
Grown-up wings
You needed
But when you had to add them up
You found that they were not enough
To get you in
Pay for sins repeated
And for all the years you borrowed
And for all the tears you cried
And for all the fears you had to keep inside
I am the way
I am the light
I am the dark inside the night
I hear your hopes
I feel your dreams
And in the dark
I hear your screams
Don't turn away
Just take my hand
And when you make your final stand
I'll be right there
I'll never leave
And all I ask of you is
Believe
The lyrics to Savatage's "Believe" tell a story of someone who has been through many experiences in life, which have left them feeling alone, regretful, and with a heart that is bleeding. The person has endured numerous one night stands and has ended up with a child alone on their own. They are regretful of the things they didn't do and the dreams they haven't fulfilled. Despite all these hardships, the lyrics suggest that the person still has hope, and that there's someone out there who is listening to their dreams and screams. The chorus of the song consists of the singer declaring that they are the way, the light, and the dark inside the night. They hear the person's hopes and feel their dreams. The singer asks the person not to turn away, but to take their hand, and during their final battle, they'll be right there and never leave. All they ask of the person is to believe.
The song is a tale of redemption and hope, telling people that no matter how dire their situation may be, there is always a way out, and they can find hope and redemption.
Line by Line Meaning
So after all these one night stands
After indulging in countless one night stands
You've ended up with heart in hand
You're now left with a broken heart
A child alone
Now you're left alone like a child
On your own
With no one to support you
Retreating
Withdrawing into yourself
Regretful for the things you're not
You feel sad for not being what you wanted to be
And all dreams you haven't got
You regret not being able to fulfil your dreams
Without a home
You don't even have a place to call home
A heart of stone
Your heart has become cold and unfeeling
Lies bleeding
Even though your heart is cold, it still bleeds with pain and regret
And for all the roads you followed
Despite all the paths you've taken
And for all you did not find
And everything you couldn't discover
And for all the things you had to leave behind
And all things you had to give up
I am the way
I am the path to follow
I am the light
I am the brightness to guide you
I am the dark inside the night
I am the comfort you seek in your darkest times
I hear your hopes
I hear your desires and aspirations
I feel your dreams
I comprehend the dreams you bear
And in the dark
Even in the darkest times
I hear your screams
I understand the pain you suffer
Don't turn away
Don't ignore me or push me aside
Just take my hand
Take my hand and let me help you
And when you make your final stand
And when you face the end
I'll be right there
I'll always be there for you
I'll never leave
I'll always stand by your side
All I ask of you
All I beg from you
Believe
Is to have faith in me
Your childhood eyes were so intense
When you were young, you had a lively sparkle in your eyes
While bartering your innocence
But as you grew up, you lost your innocence by exchanging it for worldly gains
For bits of string
For trivial and meaningless things
Grown-up wings
You tried to fly with mature wings
You needed
But you still needed more than what you had
But when you had to add them up
When you had to count your possessions
You found that they were not enough
You realized they were inadequate
To get you in
To give you a sense of belonging
Pay for sins repeated
Paying for mistakes made over and over again
And for all the years you borrowed
For all the years you lived pretending
And for all the tears you cried
And for all the moments you wept
And for all the fears you had to keep inside
And for all the fears you had to hide
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PAUL O'NEILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Michael Ayop
So after all those one night stands
You've ended up with heart in hand
A child alone
On your own
Retreating
Regretful for the things you're not
And all the things you haven't got
Without a home
A heart of stone
Lies bleeding
And for all the roads you followed
And for all you did not find
And for all the things you had to leave behind
I am the way
I am the light
I am the dark inside the night
I hear your hopes
I feel your dreams
And in the dark I hear your screams
Don't turn away
Just take my hand
And when you make your final stand
I'll be right there
I'll never leave
All I ask of you
Believe
Your childhood eyes were so intense
While bartering your innocence
For bits of string
The grown-up wings
You needed
But when you had to add them up
You found that there were not enough
To get you in
Pay for sins
Repeated
And for all the years you borrowed
And for all the tears you cried
And for all the fears you had to keep inside
Yeah
I am the way
I am the light
I am the dark inside the night
I hear your hopes
I feel your dreams
And in the dark I hear your screams
Don't turn away
Just take my hand
And when you make your final stand
I'll be right there
I'll never leave
And all I ask of you
Believe, yeah
I never wanted to know
Never wanted to see
I wasted my time
Till time wasted me
Never wanted to go
Always wanted to stay
'Cause the persons I am
Are the parts that I play
So I plot and I plan
Hope and I scheme
To the lure of a night
Filled with unfinished dreams
And I'm holding on tight
To a world gone astray
As they charge me for years
I can't pay
I am the way
I am the light
I am the dark inside the night
I hear your hopes
I feel your dreams
And in the dark I hear your screams
Don't turn away
Just take my hand
And when you make your final stand
I'll be right there
I'll never leave
All I ask of you
Believe
Believe
paniz pakzad
god how many nights i spent my eyes cryin out with this song for all broken parts of my heart sitin on the ground n see my mother alive again singin this song for me I am the way
I am the light
I am the dark inside the night
I hear your hopes
I feel your dreams
And in the dark I hear your screams
Don't turn away
Just take my hand
And when you make your final stand
I'll be right there
I'll never leave
All I ask of you
Believe .....
Garrapaterorulez
I wasted my time
Till time wasted me
Never wanted to go
Always wanted to stay
'Cause the persons I am
Are the parts that I play
So I plot and I plan
Hope and I scheme
To the lure of a night
Filled with unfinished dreams
And I'm holding on tight
To a world gone astray
As they charge me for years
I can't pay
Don't turn away
Just take my hand
And when you make your final stand
I'll be right there
I'll never leave
All I ask of you
Believe
Sheol83
About 11 years ago a friend of mine died in a car accident. He was a big fan of the band. On his funeral, when they carried his coffin from the church to the grave, this song was played. This was so unbelievably sad and beautiful at the same time - I will never forget that. Rest in peace, my friend.
Hor Tote
God blessed his soul 😭🙏🏼
MsBreedaniels
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🫶🏻
Danny Sechrist
All he had to do is believe man and you know where he's at and guess what one day you'll be there right with him have a good time but I sure hope I'm there too
Danny Sechrist
Man I feel your pain I really do
nour halawani
sorry for your loss, god bliss his soul
Andrea Tringali
04/10/1991 - 04/10/2021
Thirty years later, still the greatest ballad ever written.
Thank you Savatage.
Waco Johnny Dean
TRUE
Iván Blanquer
you are absolutely right.
BuskHusker
This song is definitely timeless. I'm in high school and this song is still my favorite song. It has helped me through a lot, and holds a very special place in my heart.