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)
Conversation Piece
Savatage Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It seemed so far away
I keep your picture hidden in a file
Of favorite one act plays
Like pieces of myself
Cut off in desperation
As offerings to thee
I keep them on a shelf
Over a cup of tea, yeah, cup of tea
I put it all down in a letter once
A letter I don't send
It made me feel much better at the time
I thought it'd help me mend
The pieces of myself
Cut off in desperation
As offerings to thee, yeah
I keep them on a shelf
They're good for conversation
Over a cup of tea, yeah, cup of tea
The song "Conversation Piece" by Savatage deals with the theme of unrequited love and the feeling of holding onto something one-sided. The singer acknowledges that they haven't thought about the person they are addressing in the song for a while, but they still keep a picture of them hidden away. The singer talks about how they have given pieces of themselves to this person as offerings, represented by cutting off pieces of themselves in desperation. These pieces, however, are kept on a shelf and are only good for conversation over a cup of tea, symbolizing that they no longer hold the same value as they once did.
The singer also mentions writing a letter to this person which they never sent, an act that made them feel better at the time but ultimately did not help them mend. The repeated line "as offerings to thee" suggests that the singer sees this unrequited love as a sacrifice they have made, going so far as to cut pieces of themselves away. In the end, however, the pieces are just objects for conversation, showing that the object of affection may also only see the singer as something to talk about, rather than someone to reciprocate feelings with.
Overall, the song presents a melancholy commentary on one-sided love and the emotional toll it can take on a person.
Line by Line Meaning
I haven't thought about you for awhile
It has been a while since I last thought about you.
It seemed so far away
The thought of you seemed distant and far away.
I keep your picture hidden in a file
I have kept your picture in a private file.
Of favorite one act plays
Together with other things that are important to me.
Like pieces of myself
These are like pieces of me.
Cut off in desperation
Taking them out was a desperate act.
As offerings to thee
These were meant to be given to you.
I keep them on a shelf
I still value these things and keep them at arm's length.
They're good for conversation
These possessions make for good topics of conversation.
Over a cup of tea, yeah, cup of tea
Especially when relaxing over a warm cup of tea.
I put it all down in a letter once
In the past, I wrote all my thoughts and feelings down in a letter.
A letter I don't send
But, I chose not to send it to you.
It made me feel much better at the time
Writing the letter was a form of therapy, which made me feel better.
I thought it'd help me mend
I wanted the letter to help me heal and recover from the past.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN OLIVA, JOHN O'NEILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dem
I haven't thought about
you for awhile
It seemed so far away
I keep your picture hidden in a file
Of favorite one act plays
Like pieces of myself
Cut off in desperation
As offerings to thee
I keep them on a shelf
They're good for conversation
Over a cup of tea, yeah, cup of tea
I put it all down in a letter once
A letter I don't send
It made me feel much better at the time
I thought it'd help me mend
The pieces of myself
Cut off in desperation
As offerings to thee, yeah
I keep them on a shelf
They're good for conversation
Over a cup of tea, yeah, cup of tea
GrieverBros
As a Brit I am brilliantly bidazzled that a band could make "Having a cup 'o tea" metal. 🤘
Michael Scott
Criss was the man - it's so tragic that he was taken from us in the way he was. I literally broke down in tears when I 1st heard he had been killed. Listening to his phenomenal guitar prowess now is always so bittersweet. He is sorely missed. R.I.P. 🎸🤘🎸🤘🎸 #'Tage4ever
Dem
I haven't thought about
you for awhile
It seemed so far away
I keep your picture hidden in a file
Of favorite one act plays
Like pieces of myself
Cut off in desperation
As offerings to thee
I keep them on a shelf
They're good for conversation
Over a cup of tea, yeah, cup of tea
I put it all down in a letter once
A letter I don't send
It made me feel much better at the time
I thought it'd help me mend
The pieces of myself
Cut off in desperation
As offerings to thee, yeah
I keep them on a shelf
They're good for conversation
Over a cup of tea, yeah, cup of tea
Marcos Carrillo
What a great lead solo, Rest in Peace Chris Oliva, he was one of the greats.
Tom Tom
Chriss Oliva ! Guitar God for ever !!!!✌️✌✌✌
Kat
The beauty of this song is just...<3
AyBi
Criss managed to produce a guitar sound that no other band in the style of Savatage has done. No need to talk about his playing thou...
Charles P
What a Great groove, love this song!
Saturn Skull
One of their best songs in their best album
kevin cavanaugh
I just love that cup of tea line