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)
Hall of the Mountain King
Savatage Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a land caught between
Time and space
Where the books of life lay
We fear
This castle of stone
The mountain king roams
All alone in here
Lost inside
Forever hidden from the sun
Madness reigns
In the Hall of the Mountain King
Oh yeah
His deep
Dark eyes
Keep watch on his kingdom
And the mysteries that sleeps safe inside
His hall
His towers of stone
Shall not be overthrown
For eternity
It is guarded by the king
Insanity and the power that it brings
Madness reigns
In the Hall of the Mountain King
Oh yeah
In the Hall of the Mountain King
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Come with me
Stay close by my side
As the darkness of night closes in
Don't fear
In the thunder, it roars
When the Mountain King calls all his children home
To where I hid him we must run
Refuge(?) here but I was forever on the run
Madness reigns
(my friends)
In the Hall of the Mountain King
Oh yeah
In the Hall of the Mountain King
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
The lyrics of Savatage's song, Hall of the Mountain King, paint an eerie picture of a far-away land trapped between time and space. The castle of stone that lies there is guarded by the Mountain King, whose deep and dark eyes watch over the kingdom and the mysteries that lie within. The hall and towers of the castle shall never be overthrown, as they are guarded by the king's insanity and the power that it brings. The song sets a tone of darkness and paranoia as the singer urges us to stay close by his side through the thunders and roars of the Mountain King, who calls all his children home to the refuge. The singer, who was forever on the run, seeks refuge and warns us of the madness that reigns in the Hall of the Mountain King.
Line by Line Meaning
Far away
This story takes place in a distant land.
In a land caught between
This land exists between two things such as time and space.
Time and space
Two dimensions of this universe that this land lies in.
Where the books of life lay
The knowledge of the world is kept in this land.
We fear
We are scared.
This castle of stone
We are afraid of this strong fortress.
The mountain king roams
The king of this land wanders around.
All alone in here
He seems to be the only one in here.
But he's not the only one
There are others lost in this land as well.
Lost inside
They are adrift and trapped within this place.
Forever hidden from the sun
They are trapped in the dark, never to see the light again.
Madness reigns
Insanity rules the land.
In the Hall of the Mountain King
This insanity mainly resides in the king's stronghold.
Oh yeah
Expressing agreement.
His deep
Referring to the king's eyes which reflect his character.
Dark eyes
These eyes possess a heavy, intimidating look.
Keep watch on his kingdom
He is the protector of the realm.
And the mysteries that sleeps safe inside
He guards the secrets of this land.
His hall
The king's throne room.
His towers of stone
The king's castle is fortified with unbreakable towers.
Shall not be overthrown
The fortress cannot be taken down.
For eternity
It will remain for all time.
It is guarded by the king
The king ensures its safety.
Insanity and the power that it brings
The madness that rules the king and provides him with authority.
Come with me
Follow me.
Stay close by my side
Be by my side for protection.
As the darkness of night closes in
As night approaches.
Don't fear
Don't be afraid.
In the thunder, it roars
Thunder rolls and echoes.
When the Mountain King calls all his children home
When the king beckons, his subjects must return to him.
To where I hid him we must run
We must go to his hiding place for refuge.
Refuge(?) here but I was forever on the run
I found a place of safety, however, I cannot stay put for too long.
In the Hall of the Mountain King
Once again emphasizing that the madness is located at the king's stronghold.
Oh yeah
An affirmation of the previous assertion.
In the Hall of the Mountain King
Reiterating the point that this insanity is centered in the king's fortress.
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Agreement and emphasis through repetition.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ATTICUS ROSS, EDVARD (DP) GRIEG, TRENT REZNOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Snipe
Far away in a land caught between time and space
Where the books of life lay
We fear this castle of stone
The mountain king roams all alone in here
But he's not the only one
Lost inside, forever hidden from the sun
Madness reigns
In the Hall of the Mountain King, oh yeah
His deep dark eyes keep watch on his kingdom
And the mysteries that sleeps safe inside
His hall, his towers of stone
Shall not be overthrown for eternity
It is guarded by the king
Insanity and the power that it brings
Madness reigns
In the Hall of the Mountain King, oh yeah
In the Hall of the Mountain King, oh yeah...
Come with me, stay close by my side
As the darkness of night closes in
Don't fear in the thunder it roars
When the Mountain King calls all his children home
To where I hid him we must run
Refuge here, for those forever on the run
Madness reigns, my friends...
In the Hall of the Mountain King, oh yeah
In the Hall of the Mountain King, oh yeah...
Judas
Let's keep introducing this metal gem to the new generations. Don't let it die.
Another 80s kid.
Evan Forys
I am a 2005 kid and listening savatage is still alive
Metal Gaming
Dad always hammered this band into my head.
Free Kashyyyk
I was born in 96. My parents and games like guitar hero and Brutal Legend introduced me to rock.
David Ellis
I just heard it this week. And then heard it another 1000 times. And now my voice might be going out
CBChamberlain
It's 2022 and Savatage still sounds amazing.
Laura Supko
Yes definitely
Demonhunter Paul
One of my favorite bands.
Todd Williamson
One of the bands that ignited my lifelong love of heavy metal \m/ \m/
David Gardiner
So true CBChamberlain