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)
Chance
Savatage Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trying to find the words to say
When every prayer he ever prayed
Was gone
And the dreams he's never owned
Are still safely tucked away
Until tomorrow he just
Carries on
See the Devil in the streets at night
See him running in the pouring rain
See him grinning Å?neath a twisted light
I'll be back again
See the people standing in a row
See them nodding like a field of grain
No one sees the sickle though
Coming Å?cross the plain
And this he knows if nothing more
That waiting in the dark like destiny
Are those who kissed the dogs of war
And there is no tomorrow
No tomorrow
Take a chance
Take a chance
See the Devil he is so intense
See the Devil go and change his name
What's the going price of innocence
It can't be the same
Is it dark when the moon is down
Is it dark with a single flame
If there's glass falling all all around
I am not to blame
And this he knows if nothing more
That waiting in the dark like destiny
Are those who kissed the dogs of war
And there is no tomorrow
No tomorrow
Take a chance
Burn the night away
Pictures at an exhibition
Played as he stood his trance
Staring at his inhibitions
All the time believing
That it now came down to nothing but this chance
I fear you
Your silence
Your blindness
See what you want to see
In darkness
One kindness
One moment
Tell me what you believe
I believe in nothing
Never really had to
In regards to your life
Rumors that are not true
Who's defending evil
Surely never I
Who would be the witness
Should you chance to die
Father can you hear me
This is not how was meant to be
I am safe and so are you
As for the others destiny
I believe that situations
All depend on circumstance
Look away
Look away
Pictures at an exhibition
Played as he stood in his trance
Staring at his inhibitions
All the time believing
That it now came down to
Nothing but this chance
The lyrics of Savatage's Chance depict a man who is trying to find the right words to say, but is unable to do so as his prayers have gone unheard and his dreams have not come true. The song suggests that there are people in the world who have fallen victim to the dark forces of the Devil, and there is no tomorrow for them. The man knows that destiny is waiting for those who have kissed the dogs of war, which can be interpreted as those who have given in to temptation and evil.
The song highlights the importance of taking chances in life, and not being afraid to try new things, as there may not be a tomorrow to regret not taking the chance. The lyrics also suggest that there are unpredictable forces in the world, such as the Devil, that can change their name and cause chaos wherever they go. However, the man in the song refuses to be held responsible for the actions of others, and instead seeks to carve his own path in life.
Line by Line Meaning
He was standing all alone
The singer is lonely and isolated
Trying to find the words to say
He struggles to communicate his thoughts and emotions
When every prayer he ever prayed was gone
He feels hopeless and like he's exhausted all options
And the dreams he's never owned are still safely tucked away
He still has unfulfilled aspirations
Until tomorrow he just carries on
Despite his struggles, he keeps moving forward
See the Devil in the streets at night
The Devil represents evil and temptation
See him running in the pouring rain
The Devil is always present, even in times of hardship
See him grinning Å?neath a twisted light
The Devil takes pleasure in manipulating and deceiving people
I'll be back again
Evil is persistent and will never truly go away
See the people standing in a row
The people represent conformity and lack of individuality
See them nodding like a field of grain
They blindly follow without critical thinking
No one sees the sickle though
They are unaware of the danger they are in
Coming Å?cross the plain
Death is approaching
And this he knows if nothing more
The singer is aware of the harsh realities of life
That waiting in the dark like destiny
Death is inevitable and unpredictable
Are those who kissed the dogs of war
Those who have contributed to violence and conflict
And there is no tomorrow
The future is uncertain and death can come at any moment
Take a chance
The singer encourages the listener to take risks and live in the moment
See the Devil he is so intense
The Devil is powerful and all-encompassing
See the Devil go and change his name
Evil can take on different forms and disguises
What's the going price of innocence
Innocence is precious and can be lost easily
It can't be the same
Things will never be the same once innocence is lost
Is it dark when the moon is down
The unknown can be frightening
Is it dark with a single flame
Light can be comforting but also fleeting
If there's glass falling all all around
If there is danger present
I am not to blame
The singer accepts no responsibility for the danger around him
Pictures at an exhibition played as he stood his trance
The music represents his inner thoughts and feelings
Staring at his inhibitions
He is deep in thought, contemplating his fears and limitations
All the time believing that it now came down to nothing but this chance
He realizes that the present moment is all that matters and he must seize it
I fear you
There is a sense of distrust and unease
Your silence
Lack of communication adds to this discomfort
Your blindness
The artist feels that the other person is not truly seeing the situation
See what you want to see
They are not looking at things objectively
In darkness
There is a sense of confusion and uncertainty
One kindness
Kindness can go a long way
One moment
A moment can change everything
Tell me what you believe
The singer wants to understand the other person's perspective
I believe in nothing
He feels jaded and disillusioned
Never really had to
He has never had a strong belief system
In regards to your life rumors that are not true
The other person's life is not as perfect as it seems
Who's defending evil
No one should condone evil actions
Surely never I
The singer has never been an advocate for evil
Who would be the witness should you chance to die
No one can predict death or its circumstances
Father can you hear me
The artist reaches out for guidance and support
This is not how was meant to be
He feels like things have gone off course
I am safe and so are you
Despite everything, they are both still alive
As for the others destiny
The fate of others is outside of their control
I believe that situations all depend on circumstance
Circumstances shape people's lives and experiences
Look away
Ignoring a problem does not make it go away
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DEREK BRAMBLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ericb9931
Honestly, Savatage didn't just produce "songs", they produced pieces of art
@outoftime788
it was downhill after this album tho....
@thunderellamars5701
❤️sure
@trystanterblanche1546
@@outoftime788what happened
@outoftime788
@@trystanterblanche1546 lol they sucked n turned into tso
@thephantomeagle2
Bit of irony here when you consider that this piece was based, somewhat on "Pictures at an Exhibition" by Modest Mussorgsky, which was based upon works of art.
@Leaddevo
Ahh Savatage, a band of such startling creative power. TSO is fun and all but i really want a new Savatage album. This is such a spectacular song.
@Grimsterrr
Apparently THERE IS ONE COMING!!! Sometime next year supposedly! To say I am pumped is putting it lightly.
@DamningTooth1
@@Grimsterrryeah I’m pumped!!
@darchon5
This is my favorite song of all time. Just labeling it "epic" doesn't even begin to describe it. Musicality, lyricism, phrasing, layering, tonal shifts... Criminally underrated.