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.
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Misery
Trans-Siberian Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't close your eyes and she's easy to see
She is not your child
She's always another's
And those you abandon
They are left to me
And know I will impale her like a knife
Listen now closely and hear how I've planned it
Please let me tell you just how it will be
She'll feel the pain but she won't understand it
She'll think it's her fate
But we'll know it's me
And know I will impale her like a knife
Leave her twisting day after day after day of a very short life
With me
So let me know
Have I been clear
That I will magnify each cut and every bruise and every single childhood tear
I'll pick her scabs
Cripple a hand
Push a finger in each wound I make
Now tell me then
Do you understand
You understand?
You understand
You understand?
You understand
And know I will impale her like a knife
Leave her twisting day after day after day of a very short life
With me
The lyrics to Trans-Siberian Orchestra's song "Misery" describe an incredibly disturbing scene of a child who is sleeping in the gutter and is abandoned by those who were supposed to take care of her. The singer is speaking directly to the listener, telling them that this child is not theirs and has been left to their care. The singer then goes on to describe how they will inflict physical and emotional pain on the child, saying that they will "impale her like a knife" and leave her "twisting day after day of a very short life with me."
The overall theme of the song appears to be the concept of neglect and abandonment, particularly of children. The singer seems to represent a sort of abusive caregiver who takes advantage of the vulnerable child. The lyrics are disturbing and speak to the darker aspects of human nature, particularly the capacity for cruelty and indifference to the suffering of others.
Overall, "Misery" is a dark and unsettling song that deals with heavy themes like child abuse and neglect. The lyrics paint a picture of an innocent child being victimized by someone who is supposed to take care of her, and it is a stark reminder of the importance of protecting vulnerable members of society.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a child and she sleeps in the gutter
There is a vulnerable child who is sleeping alone on the streets.
Don't close your eyes and she's easy to see
Don't ignore the plight of this child, it is evident.
She is not your child
The child is not related to you.
She's always another's
The child belongs to someone else.
And those you abandon
The people who left the child alone on the streets.
They are left to me
The singer is the one who will take advantage of the child's vulnerability.
And know I will impale her like a knife
The singer will intentionally inflict unbearable pain on the child.
Leave her twisting day after day after day of a very short life with me
The child's life will be short and filled with suffering under the artist's control.
Listen now closely and hear how I've planned it
The artist has premeditated this evil plan.
Please let me tell you just how it will be
The artist wants to boast and explain their cruel intentions.
She'll feel the pain but she won't understand it
The child won't comprehend why she's experiencing so much pain and suffering.
She'll think it's her fate
The child will believe she is destined to suffer in this way.
But we'll know it's me
The singer will revel in their power and control over the child's suffering.
So let me know
The singer is asking for confirmation of your understanding of their wicked plan.
Have I been clear
The singer wants to make sure there is no doubt about their intentions.
That I will magnify each cut and every bruise and every single childhood tear
The artist will intentionally make the child's pain worse by inflicting more harm than necessary.
I'll pick her scabs
The artist will purposely aggravate the child's wounds after they've started to heal.
Cripple a hand
The singer will permanently damage the child's body.
Push a finger in each wound I make
The singer will intentionally hurt the child more by poking their fingers into each wound they create.
Now tell me then
The artist is insisting on receiving confirmation for each step of their evil plans.
Do you understand
The artist wants to ensure you comprehend the gravity of their intentions.
You understand?
The artist repeatedly asks for your comprehension of their evil plan, emphasizing your collusion in their intentions.
And know I will impale her like a knife
The singer reiterates their sadistic plan to inflict harm on the innocent child.
Leave her twisting day after day after day of a very short life with me
The artist will continue to torture the child throughout their short life span, leaving no room for escape.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: . DP, PAUL O'NEILL, ROBERT KINKEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind