Savatage is an American heavy metal band founded by brothers Jon and Criss … Read Full Bio ↴Savatage is an American heavy metal band founded by brothers Jon and Criss Oliva in 1979 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. The band was first called Avatar, but, shortly before the release of their debut album Sirens (1983), they changed their name to Savatage, as Avatar was already taken by another band. Savatage is considered a significant member of the American heavy metal movement of the early-to-mid-1980s and has been cited as a key influence on many genres, such as power metal, progressive metal, speed metal, thrash metal, death metal and symphonic metal.

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)

The Ocean
Savatage Lyrics

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When the night will gather darkness
And black clouds unadorned
Only poets, dreams and madmen
Will sail out into the storm

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Savatage's song The Ocean are beautifully somber and poetic. The opening lines highlight the feeling of impending doom and the darkness that comes with it. The night is getting darker and the clouds are unadorned, suggesting there is nothing to look forward to. However, the lyrics take a positive upswing when they state that only poets, dreamers and madmen will sail out into the storm. This suggests that creative people who embrace their innermost thoughts and emotions, will find ways to express themselves even when all seems hopeless.

Overall, this song seems to be a celebration of those who have the courage to explore their inner selves, even when times are tough. The ocean is a metaphorical representation of our emotions, and like the sea, can be both calm and stormy. The song suggests that it’s important to navigate through these emotions, and that often, only those who are brave enough to face them head-on will be able to do so. The lyrics are beautifully written and reflect the depth and honesty that Savatage put into their music.

Line by Line Meaning

When the night will gather darkness
As the darkness of the night envelopes the land

And black clouds unadorned
With no sign of hope or light, black clouds fill the sky

Only poets, dreams and madmen
In such dire conditions, only those with incredible imagination and courage will venture out into the world

Will sail out into the storm
And face the challenges of the storm head-on, unflinching in their determination to keep going

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN OLIVA, JOHN N. OLIVA, PAUL O'NEILL, PAUL F. O'NEILL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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