Viënna
Trans-Siberian Orchestra Lyrics


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Since I was a child
I've seen her in a dream
A captured fairy tale
That echoes cross my life

And though I've courted her
She's always stayed unseen
Now all at once she
Glitters in the night

But that was yesterday
And that all was before
When she was far away
A silhouette of dreams

But others whispered
That she was so much more
And suddenly I now
Know what they mean

Dreams change
Years strain
Lost illusions
Last stands
God's hand
Absolution
Found

Fairy tale sins
Visions by grimm
All forgiven
Lives spent in vain
Never reclaimed
Take their final bows

Pictures and words
Visions absurd
Maddened poets
All within sight

Failures in life
Who'll never know it
Lazarus cries
There in his eyes

Hope has risen




Depth and facade
All before me now

Overall Meaning

The song Vienna by Trans-Siberian Orchestra is a beautiful and poetic tribute to the power of dreams, memories, and the hope that they bring. The lyrics are about a recurring dream that the singer has had since childhood of a "captured fairy tale" that has always eluded him until one day it suddenly "glitters in the night." The singer expresses his wonder at this sudden revelation and also acknowledges the bittersweet nature of it - the dream was better when it was just a silhouette of dreams, but now that he sees it clearly it is both beautiful and haunting.


The singer then reflects on the fact that dreams change over time and that the passing years can strain their power and illusion. He alludes to the idea of absolution and the possibility of finding redemption and forgiveness for past sins and failures. The song ends on a hopeful note, as the singer proclaims that hope has risen and that he can now see "depth and facade" before him. The song is a powerful meditation on the power of dreams, memory, and the hope that these things can bring, even in the face of loss, pain, and the passing of time.


Line by Line Meaning

Since I was a child
From a young age, I have had a particular dream or vision that has persisted throughout my life.


I've seen her in a dream
This dream involves a certain individual, or perhaps an idea or ideal, that continues to haunt me.


A captured fairy tale
This dream, or the person/idea at the heart of it, feels like a storybook fantasy or myth.


That echoes cross my life
Despite the passing of time, this feeling or vision continues to reverberate throughout my existence.


And though I've courted her
At various points in my life, I have actively sought to make this dream a reality or to find the person/idea that represents it.


She's always stayed unseen
Despite my efforts, this individual or ideal has remained elusive and hard to grasp.


Now all at once she
However, suddenly, something about the present moment or situation has changed to bring this dream or vision to the forefront of my consciousness.


Glitters in the night
Whatever the change is, it has imbued this vision or person/idea with a kind of enchanting allure or sparkling quality.


But that was yesterday
The things that kept this dream or vision out of reach in the past are no longer relevant or current obstacles.


And that all was before
The barriers I faced in the past no longer exist.


When she was far away
At some point in the past, the person/idea at the heart of this dream or vision seemed distant and impossible to reach.


A silhouette of dreams
This person/idea was a vague, hazy figure that embodied my hopes and aspirations for the future.


But others whispered
Despite my own doubts and fears, other people around me have always hinted or outright claimed that the person/idea at the heart of this dream was significant in some way.


That she was so much more
These whispers suggested that there was something unique, special, or powerful about this individual or ideal.


And suddenly I now
Finally, I have come to see what others have hinted at and what I've always hoped for myself.


Know what they mean
I have gained a new perspective or realization that has opened my eyes to the meaning and significance of this dream/vision/person/idea.


Dreams change
Our hopes, aspirations, and life goals can shift over time as we change and grow.


Years strain
The passing of time and the challenges we face in life can wear us down and make us doubt the things we once held dear.


Lost illusions
Sometimes, the things we once believed in or held onto as truths turn out to be false or fleeting.


Last stands
Even when we face adversity or obstacles, we may still cling to the things that matter to us the most.


God's hand
Perhaps there is a higher power or destiny at play in our lives, guiding us towards our true selves or our greatest aspirations.


Absolution
There may come a point when we are able to let go of our doubts, fears, and failures and find peace or forgiveness within ourselves.


Found
Ultimately, after much searching and striving, we may find the answers, connections, or growth we've been seeking.


Fairy tale sins
Perhaps we have committed wrongs or made mistakes that feel like they'd only happen in a storybook.


Visions by grimm
The dreams, visions, or desires we have may resemble something more twisted, dark, or macabre than we'd like to admit.


All forgiven
Even when we've made mistakes or done wrong, there may come a time when we are able to forgive ourselves and others.


Lives spent in vain
Sometimes, we may feel like our efforts, struggles, and sacrifices have gone to waste or been for nothing.


Never reclaimed
There may be things we've lost or missed out on that we can never get back, no matter how hard we try.


Take their final bows
Perhaps it's time to let go of the past, say goodbye to old dreams or habits, and move on to something new and fresh.


Pictures and words
Art, music, literature, and other forms of creative expression can capture the essence of our dreams, visions, and hopes in a way that words alone cannot.


Visions absurd
Perhaps we need to embrace the absurdity or illogical nature of our deepest desires in order to truly understand and accept them.


Maddened poets
Sometimes, it takes the wild, unbridled creativity or madness of a poet or artist to fully explore and express the mysteries of our dreams and visions.


All within sight
Perhaps we need to open our eyes, hearts, and minds to the world around us in order to see and appreciate the wonders and possibilities that exist right in front of us.


Failures in life
We all experience setbacks, failures, and disappointments in our lives, but perhaps these are necessary steps on the path to greater growth and enlightenment.


Who'll never know it
We may never fully understand or appreciate the ways in which our struggles and challenges have shaped us or made us who we are today.


Lazarus cries
Like the biblical figure of Lazarus, perhaps we can experience a kind of rebirth or resurrection after times of great difficulty or suffering.


There in his eyes
By confronting our deepest fears, flaws, and vulnerabilities, we may be able to see ourselves and the world around us with newfound clarity and depth.


Hope has risen
No matter how dark or difficult things may seem at times, there is always the possibility for hope, redemption, and renewal.


Depth and facade
Perhaps the things we once thought were important or real are mere facades or surface-level illusions, and we need to dig deeper to find true meaning and significance in life.


All before me now
At this moment, I can see clearly the path forward and the dreams or visions that will guide me along the way.




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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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