Most of the band's music is written by Hatakka. Waltari's lyrics often deal with personal feelings of anxiety, loneliness and the cruelty of the world, often with heavy irony and sarcasm.
The name Waltari is a reference to the popular Finnish author Mika Waltari, a favourite author of guitarist Jariot Lehtinen.
Waltari was formed in 1986 in Helsinki, Finland, by Kärtsy Hatakka (vocals and bass), Jariot Lehtinen (guitars) and Sale Suomalainen (drums). Sami Yli-Sirniö joined as second guitarist in 1989, a year after the release of their first EP, Mut Hei.
Their first album, Monk Punk was released in 1991. As the title suggests, this album was mostly punk. Their next album Torcha! (1992) and it was with this album that Waltari started blending various musical styles into the sound that would become their own.
After releasing a compilation of early work under the title Pala Leipää (1993), the band went on to release So Fine! (1994), an album similar to Torcha!. Their next album, Big Bang (1995) is to date their biggest success. The album concentrates on mixing techno with heavy metal.
In 1995 Roope Latvala (current second guitarist of Children of Bodom) joined the band, replacing Sami Yli-Sirniö. During this time, Hatakka was working with conductor Riku Niemi on a project combining heavy metal with classical music. This project eventually became known as Yeah! Yeah! Die! Die! Death Metal Symphony in Deep C. The show was performed in 1995, and the album was released in 1996.
The year 1997 saw Space Avenue, a more progressive work containing more electronic drums, as well as a collaboration with Apocalyptica. In 1998, in honour of the band's ten-year anniversary, the band released a compilation titled Decade.
In 1999 Hatakka was working on yet another metal/classical collaboration, and this gave rise to the stage show Evangelicum. This production differed from Yeah! Yeah! Die! Die! in that it contained more than just music: the stage show contained music, ballet and a light show. An album of Evangelicum was not released.
Waltari's next album Radium Round (1999), featured a strong pop influence. After Radium Round, the band passed out of the public eye, working on less main-stream releases such as the Metal / Yoik crossover Channel Nordica (2000) and the punk EP Back To Persepolis (2001). However, these releases were very hard to obtain, and for a while Waltari only survived through its live shows. In 2001, the band's old guitarist Sami Yli-Sirniö returned, and Roope Latvala left the band.
In 2004 Waltari came back with an all-new studio album, Rare Species. The album was well received by critics, and an extensive tour put Waltari back on the map.
Waltari released their newest album called "Below Zero" in fall of 2009.
1986
Helsinki, Finland
Kärtsy Hatakka
Jariot Lehtinen
Sami Yli-Sirniö
Sami Yli-Sirniö
Roope Latvala
Janne Parviainen
Mika Järvelainen
Ville Veikko Vehviläinen
Travel On
Waltari Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just move on, now to make it grow
I will follow if I can
Won't be buried in the sand
Don't be stuck to the gloomy world
It's all in your poor head making it all worth
Save yourself 'cause the truth is close
Travel on from your deadly pose
Move on you wild soldier, travel on
Get it on, move it on, push it on...
Open your dead eyes to see the truth, reality
Which is not in this disguise we're living in
Truth is somewhere else, the place is somewhere near to reach
Destination's known, so no fear, travel on!
You can be buried in the dark doomy sand
Which covers you and freezes the blood in your hand
The stressful routine is killing your brain
It leads you to the real damnation of pain
Move on you wild soldier, travel on
Get it on, move it on, push it on...
Open your dead eyes to see the truth, reality
Which is not in this disguise we're living in
Truth is somewhere else, the place is somewhere near to reach
Destination's known, so no fear, travel on!
I wanna part of me too!
Open your dead eyes to see the truth, reality
Which is not in this disguise we're living in
Truth is somewhere else, the place is somewhere near to reach
Destination's known, so no fear, travel on!
In "Travel On," Waltari encourages listeners to push past their fears, anxieties, and self-imposed limitations in order to reach their true destination. The song begins with the acknowledgement that the singer is "too slow" to keep pace with those who are ready to move forward, but promises to follow at their own speed. They caution against getting "stuck in the gloomy world" created by our own thoughts and remind us that "the truth is close" if we're willing to keep traveling on.
Throughout the song, we're urged to "open [our] dead eyes" and see the reality that lies beyond the "disguise we're living in." This reality is both unknown and hard to reach (it's "somewhere else"), but it's also "somewhere near." Despite the challenges we may face on the journey, the destination is "known" and there's no need to fear.
The repeated refrain of "Move on you wild soldier, travel on / Get it on, move it on, push it on..." reinforces this message of perseverance and encourages the listener to embrace their own inner wildness in pursuit of their dreams. Ultimately, the song is a call to action - to shed the baggage that holds us back and fully embrace the journey ahead.
Line by Line Meaning
Do not wait for me, I'm too slow
Do not pause 'cause of me; I am lacking behind
Just move on, now to make it grow
Advance ahead to enhance the growth
I will follow if I can
I'll chase behind if feasible
Won't be buried in the sand
Won't be trapped in the dreadful situation
Don't be stuck to the gloomy world
Do not confine yourself to a dark hopeless world
It's all in your poor head making it all worth
Your brain gives meaning to everything
Save yourself 'cause the truth is close
Secure yourself since the reality is near
Travel on from your deadly pose
Liberate yourself from the life-threatening stance
Open your dead eyes to see the truth, reality
Perceive the actuality with open, inactive eyes
Which is not in this disguise we're living in
That is not concealed in this fake environment
Truth is somewhere else, the place is somewhere near to reach
Reality is situated nearby at an accessible place
Destination's known, so no fear, travel on!
We are aware of the destination, so move ahead without fear
You can be buried in the dark doomy sand
You might be trapped in the mournful, hopeless sand
Which covers you and freezes the blood in your hand
That shrouds you fully and makes your hand numb
The stressful routine is killing your brain
The tedious, difficult routine is harming your mental health
It leads you to the real damnation of pain
It brings you towards real suffering and agony
Move on you wild soldier, travel on
Keep going, wild warrior, keep moving
Get it on, move it on, push it on...
Start it, pursue it, don't stop
I wanna part of me too!
I also want to explore my true self
Contributed by Madison D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.