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)
Unusual
Savatage Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Chills rattle through my bones
The way she looks it shocks me
Standing at the door that leads below
There's a light at the end of the hall
Can I reach it before I fall
She's unusual
In a daze I turn to run
A thousand steps to her arms
Does she really want to touch me
I see it in her eyes
See it in her eyes
No
I follow through very slowly
When I get there she's gone
She's unusual
So unusual
I know some things can't be right
Ghostly visions of delight
She tells me of a better life
The way she looks it blows my mind
silhouette cast in time
Temptress of the night is calling
me
Does she really want to touch me
I can see it in her eyes
Snakes of fire hypnotize her
Seductress of lost lives
There's a light at the end of the hall
Can I reach it before I fall
She's unusual
So unusual
She's unusual
So unusual
The lyrics of Savatage's song "Unusual" are an eerie representation of one's fear and fascination towards the unknown, represented by the enigmatic female figure in the song. The singer, who walks alone on a cold night, can't help but be shocked by her appearance and is drawn towards the door that leads below. Despite the chills that rattle through his bones, he is intrigued by the light at the end of the hall and is determined to reach it before he falls. He repeatedly mentions the unusual and seductive nature of the woman, who seems to have ghostly visions of delight and speaks of a better life.
In the second verse, the singer tries to run towards her arms but realizes that she doesn't really want to touch him. Though he follows her slowly, by the time he reaches her, she's already gone, leaving him in awe of her unusual and mesmerizing nature. He is haunted by her silhouette cast in time and her hypnotic gaze, which seduces him to follow her, even if it means risking his life to see her again.
The song is a hauntingly beautiful representation of the human fascination towards the unknown and how it can draw one towards danger. It can also represent the unattainable and fleeting nature of beauty and the dangers of obsession.
Line by Line Meaning
Walking alone on a cold night
Starting the journey towards a path of loneliness and emptiness.
Chills rattle through my bones
Feeling the shivering cold and vulnerability of the situation.
The way she looks it shocks me
Astounded by the appearance and presence of a mysterious woman.
Standing at the door that leads below
At a crossroads and the possibility of going down a path of darkness.
There's a light at the end of the hall
Hope for redemption and escape from the darkness.
Can I reach it before I fall
Wondering if redemption is possible before it's too late.
She's unusual
The mysterious woman is different from anyone else encountered before.
So unusual
Emphasizing the uniqueness and peculiarity of the mysterious woman.
In a daze I turn to run
Overwhelmed with fear and confusion, running away seems like the only option.
A thousand steps to her arms
A long distance to travel to reach the mysterious woman.
Does she really want to touch me
Questioning if the mysterious woman has genuine interest in him.
I see it in her eyes
Sensing the true intentions of the mysterious woman through her eyes.
No
Answering the previous question negatively, implying a sense of danger.
I follow through very slowly
Proceeding with caution, wary of the potential consequences of moving forward.
When I get there she's gone
The mysterious woman has disappeared, leaving the singer to face his fears alone.
I know some things can't be right
Acknowledging the presence of evil and danger in certain things.
Ghostly visions of delight
Images of happiness and pleasure that are illusory and deceptive.
She tells me of a better life
The mysterious woman promises a life that seems too good to be true.
The way she looks it blows my mind
The enchanting appearance of the mysterious woman is captivating and overwhelming.
Silhouette cast in time
The mysterious woman is shrouded in a veil of mystery and ambiguity.
Temptress of the night is calling me
The alluring and seductive nature of the mysterious woman is tempting the artist.
Snakes of fire hypnotize her
The dangerous and enticing nature of the mysterious woman is hypnotizing and captivating her.
Seductress of lost lives
The mysterious woman is a seductive and dangerous figure who preys on lost souls.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHRISTOPHER M OLIVA, JOHN N OLIVA, KEITH COLLINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Todd Brady
Great songwriting once again. Chris makes it a classic for me.
PhilsGuitarLessons1
Criss
James Roberts
this band was so very underrated, damn shame, this still blows away stuff coming out to this day...............
RnTheSeventh
Agreed this Can Blow All the Music These Days ... with one Single Riff...
cristiano lopes
ouvi esse álbum em 1988,faz parte da minha vida!
David Bruggeman
Snakes of fire hyptnotyse her!!!their best album..anything the olivas did was killer👊👊💪🎸🎤🇺🇸😎
The Keeper
Sirens/Dungeons and Hail of the Mountain King were better M.H.O.
Joe Zech
David Bruggeman yes. The Oliva's. 10-4 man.
Pure GM
Criss had such a killer tone.
Pure GM
Metal will never die \m/