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)
Symmetry
Savatage Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are life and death a symmetry
Balanced on scales
Neither side chosen
And could these moments
Balance out against eternity
Promise inferred
Words never spoken
Could you read by the light
Letters I¹ve written
Never to follow
Poets and madmen
All defy reason
Still in my mind I know
I want to live my life with you
Dying hard
Play my whole hand until it¹s through
Dying hard
And in your arctic night
You contemplate eternity
Walking on water
Frozen in silence
And in that moment would you
Turn around and turn to me
Laughing away night¹s darker tyrants
My life is burning
Could you read by the light
Letters I¹ve written
Never to follow
Poets and madmen
All defy reason
Still in my mind I know
I want to live my life with you
Dying hard
Play in my whole hand until it¹s through
Dying hard
Some nights I spend alone inside my head
But it¹s better than losing it
And if you want to turn your life around
It¹s your life you¹re choosing it
I want to spend my life with you
Dying hard
Play the whole hand until it¹s through
Dying hard
The lyrics of Savatage's song Symmetry explore the concept of life and death as a balance or symmetry, where neither side is chosen and moments can try to balance out against eternity. The songwriter wonders if their life is burning out and if others can read the letters they have written but never followed. The song also mentions poets and madmen who defy reason and in the end, the desire to live one's life with someone else and play one's whole hand until it's through.
Through these lyrics, the songwriter is questioning the idea of life and death being equal and opposite, but also the possibility of finding balance or symmetry in one's own life. They also explore the theme of unspoken words and desires, and the fear of losing one's mind or losing control of one's life. It's a desperate but also hopeful song, asking for a chance to choose the life they want with someone else.
Line by Line Meaning
So would you tell me now
The singer is asking for the truth to be revealed
Are life and death a symmetry
Is there balance between life and death?
Balanced on scales
Life and death are weighed out
Neither side chosen
There is no preference for either life or death
And could these moments
Is it possible?
Balance out against eternity
Is life worth living compared to eternity?
Promise inferred
The idea of a promise is suggested
Words never spoken
The promise was not actually verbalized
My life is burning
The artist's life is intense and in turmoil
Could you read by the light
Can you understand the message in this intense moment?
Letters I¹ve written
Messages the singer has tried to convey
Never to follow
The messages were not heeded
Poets and madmen
Even those who are irrational and creative can't make sense of this
All defy reason
No one can make sense of this intense moment
Still in my mind I know
The singer is sure about one thing
I want to live my life with you
The artist wants a life partner
Dying hard
The artist is willing to go all in, even if it means death
Play my whole hand until it¹s through
"Go big or go home" mentality
And in your arctic night
In a cold and lonely moment for the listener
You contemplate eternity
The listener is thinking about life beyond the present
Walking on water
Trying to do the impossible
Frozen in silence
The listener is stuck in a moment of reflection
Turn around and turn to me
The singer is asking for the listener's attention and affection
Laughing away night¹s darker tyrants
Finding joy and relief from scary or negative thoughts
Some nights I spend alone inside my head
The singer has moments of loneliness and introspection
But it¹s better than losing it
Internal reflection is better than losing control completely
And if you want to turn your life around
Encouragement to the listener to make a positive change
It¹s your life you¹re choosing it
The listener has control over their own life
I want to spend my life with you
The artist desires companionship
Play the whole hand until it¹s through
"Go big or go home" mentality
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Παναγιωτης Καρλιωτης
probably the most underrated Savatage album
Tralhas
Savatage is one of the best bands ever! much better than a lot of well known metal/rock bands....
Fernanda F Heyworth
Thank you so much for uploading these songs and the lyrics along with them. You made my day at work a lot more fun!
Miloš Milošević
Every time I hear Savatage I'm amazed by their music and lyrics. My favorite band ever, along with Opeth! \m/
ShadowsConcealed6783
Zak Stevens along with Jon Oliva and Midnight are some of the best vocalists in metal history
ElarianFirescale
When I heard this song the first time i was so stunned by it i forgot to look up what its name was, and desperatley searched for it
LovEaNdmusicA
ils sont vraiment speciaux!! De ma part, je te proposais d' écouter leur album "edge of thorns" de l' année 1993 :)
wawwwaaa
Jon Oliva...not many have the musical talent that he possesses. Although he isn't my favourite singer, this man's incredible when it comes to practically everything musical. This album is one of the best ever produced. It's too bad that it isn't well known, but at the same time, I kind of prefer it like that.
Vasilis Pallikaras
hello, indeed Savatage is one of the best groops ever, regarding the albums i would suggest this one(Handful of Rain :oliva written this one "inspired" by the death of his brother the guitarist and it is dedicated to him), Streets: a Rock Opera, Gutter Ballet and Hall of the Mountain king. these are 4 of their best but all of their albums are amazing
Rafael Tavares
fodastico savatage \m/