Trans-Siberian Orchestra is a rock orchestra founded in New York City, USA … Read Full Bio ↴Trans-Siberian Orchestra is a rock orchestra founded in New York City, USA by Paul O'Neill, Robert Kinkel, Jon Oliva, and Al Pitrelli in 1996. O'Neill had managed and produced rock bands including Aerosmith, Humble Pie and Scorpions, later writing for and producing Savatage, where he began working with Kinkel and Oliva.

The roots of TSO are found in Savatage, a traditional heavy metal band that gradually progressed into a symphonic metal act. Savatage's rock operas, starting with STREETS, began the experimentation with what would become TSO culminating on the track "Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)" from DEAD WINTER DEAD. This track was a minor hit for the struggling band, and demonstrated that there might be an audience for the symphonic metal approach to holiday themes.

The concept for a band playing Christmas carols in a rock opera style was not received warmly by the industry, but quickly proved a success with adults as well as young people. In the recording studio, Trans-Siberian Orchestra uses a full 60-piece orchestra and a choir.

As of 2004, their touring band included 14 vocalists, 14 musicians, and 2 narrators. Trans-Siberian Orchestra released their debut album Christmas Eve and Other Stories in 1996, and it remains their best-selling album. Their 1998 release The Christmas Attic was similarly a concept album with a Christmas theme. In 2000, they released their first non-Christmas album, Beethoven's Last Night. Beethoven's Last Night is a concept album about Ludwig van Beethoven's last night on earth, during which he meets Mephistopheles (possible Satan, or one of his underlings).

After a few years of touring, they returned to the studio with another full-length album, Lost Christmas Eve, and the accompanying DVD/3-CD release The Christmas Trilogy, which contained all three of their Christmas albums to date.

During their winter tours of 2005 and 2006, the band had announced that they were working on the new album, set to release later that year (this was said both years). During the summer of 2007, the official myspace for TSO stated that they were recording, with the expression 'inspired'. Finally, on October 27, 2007, the long awaited new album (and second non-Christmas) arrived "Night Castle". The album is another concept album, spanning 2 cd's, and is the telling of the story of a soldier's experience during the Killing Fields of the Khmer Rouge. As always, it's about faith, hope, fate and the inherent belief that there is good in all people. The album was received with mixed reviews, from the praise of the band's fans, to the near burning of albums by those that are less than receptive to the album. Along with the songs for the story, the album also includes 4 tracks that are not part of the story, and yes, it features the band's rendition of "Carmina Burana (O Fortuna)", performed as a preview by the band during their winter tours, as well as one cover of a Savatage song.

http://www.trans-siberian.com
http://www.nightcastlealbum.com
http://www.myspace.com/tsoofficial

Christmas Bells Carousels & Time
Trans-Siberian Orchestra Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

If he went there and saw his son
What words could he possibly say
Would his own child recognize him
And if he did, would he turn away?

Dare he rekindle this hope
Perhaps to only watch it die
And standing there in this man's place

I wonder, would you or i?

Now the angel knew if enough time passes by
Any hope can be smothered

So before it was dead, to the first prayer he had said
The angel quickly added another

Overall Meaning

These lyrics tell the story of a man who is contemplating whether or not he should reunite with his estranged son. He wonders if his son would even recognize him, and if he did, would he reject him? The man is torn between wanting to rekindle his relationship with his son and the fear of being rejected. The lyrics pose a thought-provoking question to the listener, asking if they were in the same situation, what they would do.

The second part of the lyrics bring in an angel who understands that hope can quickly diminish over time. The angel interjects with another prayer, recognizing the importance of not giving up hope. The lyrics demonstrate the power of hope and the importance of not giving up on what we truly desire. These lyrics are not only applicable to the holiday season but can apply to any situation where someone is contemplating rekindling a broken relationship.

Line by Line Meaning

If he went there and saw his son
If he traveled to where his son is located and they saw each other

What words could he possibly say
What could he say to his son?

Would his own child recognize him
Would his son recognize him as his father?

And if he did, would he turn away?
Even if his son recognizes him, would he reject his father?

Dare he rekindle this hope
Should he revive his hope for a relationship with his son?

Perhaps to only watch it die
Maybe it will only lead to disappointment

And standing there in this man's place
If we were in his situation

I wonder, would you or I?
Would we make the same decision?

Now the angel knew if enough time passes by
The angel knew that if hope remains unfulfilled for an extended period

Any hope can be smothered
Anticipation could extinguish without notice

So before it was dead, to the first prayer he had said
Before all hope is lost from the initial prayer