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 Wake of Magellan
Savatage Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Looking out onto the sea
It would offer no solutions
Only silent company
So he took hold of the reasons
As he tried to understand
But they offered just confusion
Dear god
Couldn't you decide
What should happen to a man's assassins
Dear god
Is it suicide
I have never been a man of passions
I believe what the prophets said
That the oceans hold their dead
But at night when the waves are near
They whisper
And I hear
There are wounds that bleed inside us
There are wounds we never see
They are part of our refinements
That allow a man to be
There are wounds that bleed in silence
With aristocratic grace
There are tears we keep beside them
Never seen upon a face
Dear god
Do you think it's wise
To remember everything that's ever happened
Dear god
Could we compromise
Or must the shadows of this night be everlasting
I believe what the prophets said
That the oceans hold their dead
As I contemplate this stand
What I do
Is who I am
I believe what the prophets said
That the oceans hold their dead
But at night when the waves are near
They whisper
And I hear
Don't see the storms are forming
Don't see or heed the warning
Don't hear the sound of tyrants
Surrounded by the silence
Columbus and magellan and de gama
Sailed upon the ocean
In a world of ignorance
With thoughts so primitive
That men were killed
With no more will
Than that they simply had the notion
But in this world of heartless men
This thing they never did
Don't hear it
Don't hear it
Don't hear it
Don't hear it
Got to keep it underground
Pretend you never heard a sound
If they find it kill it blind it
If they find it kill it blind it
Lord tell me what is to be
Lord tell me what is to be
They whisper and I hear
The lyrics of this song touch on a theme of introspection and profound contemplation. The singer stands on a watch deck, looking out onto the sea, which symbolizes the great unknown that lies ahead. He is trying to find answers to questions that have plagued him, such as the nature of wounds that bleed inside us, and the purpose of remembering everything that has ever happened. The singer experiences confusion and a sense of helplessness as he grapples with these questions, as they bleed into his hands. He references the wisdom of the prophets who believed that the oceans hold their dead, and hears whispers in the night when the waves are near. He is searching for meaning and understanding, while also contemplating his own identity, and what he does is who he is.
Line by Line Meaning
As he stood upon the watch deck
Standing on the deck, overlooking the sea
Looking out onto the sea
Looking over the vast expanse of salty water
It would offer no solutions
The sea had no answers for him
Only silent company
All he had was silence
So he took hold of the reasons
Trying to make sense of it all
As he tried to understand
Pulled to figure out the reasons behind his thoughts
But they offered just confusion
The reasons were perplexing, possibly even frustrating
As they bled into his hands
The reasons seemed to slip through his grasp like blood through his fingers
Dear god
A plea or prayer to God
Couldn't you decide
Asking for divine intervention or guidance in making a decision
What should happen to a man's assassins
Uncertainty in what punishment is fitting for those who have killed
Is it suicide
Questioning the value of passionate action
I have never been a man of passions
Viewing oneself as unemotional or incapable of passion
I believe what the prophets said
Placing faith in an external source - prophets - for knowledge or guidance
That the oceans hold their dead
Believing the sea is a final resting place for the deceased
But at night when the waves are near
When the surroundings are darker, the sea seems to hold more significance
They whisper
The sea waves seem to speak in their own language
And I hear
Acknowledging the personal experience of hearing something that can't be explained
There are wounds that bleed inside us
Pain and trauma that can't be seen outwardly but still have lasting effects
There are wounds we never see
Some hurts aren't visible to others, making them more difficult to heal
They are part of our refinements
Wounds contribute to personal growth and refinement
That allow a man to be
Pain and suffering can be necessary parts of being human
There are wounds that bleed in silence
Differentiating between hidden wounds versus visible wounds
With aristocratic grace
Even hidden wounds can be handled with poise and elegance
There are tears we keep beside them
There's often more pain and emotion than what is seen outwardly
Never seen upon a face
The suffering isn't always visible to others
Do you think it's wise
Questioning the judgement of divine action or decisions
To remember everything that's ever happened
Reflecting on whether or not all events should be remembered, if it's worth carrying that burden
Could we compromise
Hoping for peaceful or less harmful resolutions
Or must the shadows of this night be everlasting
Alluding to darkness or fear being an all-encompassing, never-ending feeling
As I contemplate this stand
Reflecting on one's position, thoughts, actions
What I do
The artist's actions define who they are
Is who I am
Actions define one's identity and values
Don't see the storms are forming
Ignoring or being unaware of danger or trouble ahead
Don't see or heed the warning
Ignoring or not respecting signals of coming trouble
Don't hear the sound of tyrants
Unaware of the oppressive forces at play
Surrounded by the silence
Isolated or cut off from help
Columbus and magellan and de gama
Referencing historical figures, explorers who underwent dangerous and uncertain journeys
Sailed upon the ocean
Setting out on a journey into the unknown
In a world of ignorance
Acknowledging the lack of knowledge or understanding at the time
With thoughts so primitive
Ideas and values that would be considered outdated and incorrect today
That men were killed
The notions held about the world led to harmful outcomes, such as death
With no more will
Implying that the thought process was not deliberate or thought out, but rather based on impulse
Than that they simply had the notion
The beliefs and values carried were so strong that action was taken without hesitation
But in this world of heartless men
The world remains cruel and unforgiving
This thing they never did
Something positive, hopeful, or kind was never accomplished
Got to keep it underground
Concealment or secrecy is needed to keep something hidden
Pretend you never heard a sound
Acting like something didn't happen, or wishing to forget something
If they find it kill it blind it
Violently destroying anything in opposition or disruptive to the status quo
Lord tell me what is to be
Asking for divine guidance or clarity
They whisper and I hear
Referencing the inexplicable feeling of hearing something in silence, possibly divine or insightful
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHRISTOPHER C. CAFFERY, JOHN OLIVA, JOHN N. OLIVA, PAUL O'NEILL, PAUL JOHN O'NEILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Adam Jensen
As he stood upon the watch deck
Looking out onto the sea
It would offer no solutions
Only silent company
So he took hold of the reasons
As he tried to understand
But they offered just confusion
As they bled into his hands
Dear God
Couldn't you decide
What should happen to a man's assassins
Dear God
Is it suicide
I have never been a man of passions
I believe what the prophets said
That the oceans hold their dead
But at night when the waves are near
They whisper
And I hear
There are wounds that bleed inside us
There are wounds we never see
They are part of our refinements
That allow a man to be
There are wounds that bleed in silence
With aristocratic grace
There are tears we keep beside them
Never seen upon a face
Dear God
Do you think it's wise
To remember everything that's ever happened
Dear God
Could we compromise
Or must the shadows of this night be everlasting
I believe what the prophets said
That the oceans hold their dead
As I contemplate this stand
What I do
Is who I am
I believe what the prophets said
That the oceans hold their dead
But at night when the waves are near
They whisper
And I hear
Don't see the storms are forming
Don't see or heed the warning
Don't hear the sound of tyrants
Surrounded by the silence
Don't see the storms are forming
Don't see or heed the warning
Don't hear the sound of tyrants
Surrounded by the silence
(simultaneously)
/= where stanza 1 lines begin in comparison to other stanzas
1:
/Don't see the storms are forming
/Don't see or heed the warning
/Don't hear the sound of tyrants
/Surrounded by the silence
2:
/Columbus and Magellan and De Gama sailed upon the ocean
/In a world of ignorance with thoughts so primitive
/That men were killed with no more will than that they simply had the notion
/But in this world of heartless men this thing they never did
3:
/Don't hear it, don't hear it
/Don't hear it, don't hear it
/Don't hear it, don't hear it
/Don't hear it, don't hear it
4:
/Got to keep it underground
/If they find it kill it blind it
/Got to keep it underground
/If they find it kill it blind it
(In unison)
They whisper and I hear
Yannis Makridis
18 years ago, I found a magazine on a bench... a greek version of Metal Hammer. Thats how I started to listen metal in general... That was the best album of the month. article writer was desperately infatuated and rated it of course with a perfect 10/10. I bought it, while the seller guy said to me... ''Kiddo, this is going to leave history. \m/ Enjoy!'' Both were so right. My first album stayed into the cd player for... I don't know maybe a month or two... And still my number one. Remarkably inspired, flawless melodies, outstanding theme and lyrics... Indeed, no one knows if THIS kind of music will be written and play ever again... Hail from Greece Metal Heads of the World \m/
Ahmad Almohtaseb
ظ٫
Andreas Retsinas
Fantastic indeed! Gretings from Hellas!!!
John Koklamanis
Το έχω αγοράσει αυτό το cdακι! Φανταστικό φίλε.. Χαλαρώνεις. Που τέτοια συγκροτήματα τώρα! Αδικήθηκαν όμως...
EpicAlexMetal
You are a lucky man, first album bought: The Wake of Magellan!!!! Welcome into the club;-)
Future Breed Films
Do we really need to say something about this band? Nobody ever will touch THESE peaks of emotion. Nobody ever will speak these words, or reach these inner deep fragments of poetry. Everything they did is simply...soaring high. I will never thank them enough for what they could gave me.
todd s
Savatage changed my life. Well said sir!
Michael Richardson
Indeed. Savatage is an example of what happens when you actually put your heart, soul and blood into your music.
EpicAlexMetal
I agree with John P. VERY WELL SAID. No more words
John P
Very well said!