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
What Good This Deafness
Trans-Siberian Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That my whole life I have dread
What good this deafness
With these voices in my head
What good this deafness
If this prattle I must hear
If I were blind I'm sure they wouldn't disappear
Did you really want to believe what you're saying
Did you really want to be here alone
Have I interrupted a moment of praying
While your life's decaying
Your sins are they weighing
While you've been carving your stone
All on your own
Did you really want to sit here in silence
Could it be that brooding is part of your art
Is it an extension of artistic license
A moody defiance
Of all of life's tyrants
While you've been searching your heart
Alone with us in the dark
The lyrics of Trans-Siberian Orchestra's song What Good This Deafness convey a sense of frustration and disorientation caused by the singer's deafness. The repeated question "What good this deafness?" implies a sense of hopelessness and despair. The voices in the singer's head suggest that they are struggling with their inner demons, perhaps as a result of the isolation caused by their deafness.
The lyrics take on a more accusatory tone in the second verse, with the singer questioning the motives and sincerity of those around them. The line "Did you really want to believe what you're saying" suggests that the singer feels that those around them are not being truthful or are hiding something. The final lines of the verse suggest that the singer feels they are carving their own path in life, with little support or guidance from others.
Overall, the lyrics of What Good This Deafness speak to the challenges of living with a disability and the sense of isolation and suspicion that can often accompany it. However, the song also implies a sense of resilience and self-determination, with the singer searching for meaning and purpose in their own unique way.
Line by Line Meaning
What good this deafness
Why is being deaf beneficial?
That my whole life I have dread
I have always feared being deaf.
What good this deafness
Why is being deaf a good thing?
With these voices in my head
Even though I am deaf, I still hear voices in my mind.
What good this deafness
Being deaf has no benefit to me.
If this prattle I must hear
But I still have to listen to this meaningless chatter.
If I were blind I'm sure they wouldn't disappear
If I were blind, I might not be able to see anything, but at least I wouldn't have to hear this noise.
Did you really want to believe what you're saying
Are you really sure about what you're saying?
Did you really want to be here alone
Did you really want to be by yourself in this moment?
Have I interrupted a moment of praying
Did I disturb a moment of prayer or reflection?
While your life's decaying
While you are living a life that is deteriorating.
Your sins are they weighing
Are you burdened by the weight of your mistakes?
While you've been carving your stone
While you have been shaping your destiny or fate.
All on your own
Without help from anyone.
Did you really want to sit here in silence
Did you really want to be here in complete silence?
Could it be that brooding is part of your art
Is your deep contemplation and reflection a part of your creative process?
Is it an extension of artistic license
Does your introspection allow you the freedom to further explore the depths of your creativity?
A moody defiance
An attitude of obstinate rebellion against something.
Of all of life's tyrants
Of all the things in life that hold one back or oppress them.
While you've been searching your heart
During the time you've been introspective, examining your own feelings and beliefs.
Alone with us in the dark
In complete darkness, but with company (presumably the voices in the first stanza).
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: . DP, PAUL O'NEILL, ROBERT KINKEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind