After the release of their debut album Enter in 1997, the band became prominent in the Dutch underground scene. It was not until 2001 that they became known to the general public, with the single "Ice Queen" from their second album Mother Earth, which reached No. 2 on the Dutch charts. This was followed by the band winning the Conamus Exportprijs, a Dutch music award, four years in a row, and a fifth in 2016. Their next albums The Silent Force (2004) and The Heart of Everything (2007) debuted at No. 1 on the Dutch charts and expanded their international recognition. In 2008, they released Black Symphony, a live album recorded with the Metropole Orchestra. This was followed in 2009 by An Acoustic Night at the Theatre, another live album, this time with acoustic renditions of the songs.
The band's fifth studio album, The Unforgiving, was released in March 2011 and was one part of a transmedia effort, alongside both a comic book series and a series of short films that together encompass a story. The album saw the band increasingly venturing on new musical territories outside symphonic metal. Their sixth studio album, Hydra, was released in early 2014 in Japan, Europe, and the United States. The album advanced the band's exploration of new musical genres and features guest appearances from various artists: Finnish singer Tarja Turunen, who appears in the lead single "Paradise (What About Us?)"; Howard Jones, former vocalist of American metalcore band Killswitch Engage; Dave Pirner, lead vocalist of American alternative rock band Soul Asylum; and American rapper Xzibit. The band had extensive airplay on BBC Radio 2 in the United Kingdom with one of the songs from the album, "Whole World Is Watching" featuring Pirner.
Their latest studio album, Resist, was released in February 2019 and incorporates influences from other musical styles such as industrial and EDM. By 2016, the band had already sold more than 3.5 million albums worldwide.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Within_Temptation
Studio albums
Enter (1997)
Mother Earth (2000)
The Silent Force (2004)
The Heart of Everything (2007)
The Unforgiving (2011)
Hydra (2014)
Resist (2019)
Bleed Out (2023)
The Swan Song
Within Temptation Lyrics
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The chains to my life are strong
But soon they'll be gone
I'll spread my wings one more time
Is it a dream?
All the ones I have loved calling out my name
The sun warms my face
In my heart I know I can let go
In the end I will find some peace inside
New wings are growing tonight
Is it a dream?
All the ones I have loved calling out my name
The sun warms my face
All the days of my life, I see them passing me by
As I am soaring I'm one with the wind
I am longing to see you again, it's been so long
We will be together again
Is it a dream?
All the ones I have loved calling out my name
The sun warms my face
All the days of my life, I see them passing me by
The song "The Swan Song" by Within Temptation & The Metropole Orchestra is a powerful and emotional ballad that represents the idea of letting go of life's chains and spreading one's wings before leaving the world behind. The winter symbolizes the end of the singer's life, as she is unable to carry on with the heavy chains that burden her. Despite this, she finds comfort in the thought that these chains will soon be gone, and she can spread her wings once more.
She reflects on her life, as she sees it passing her by, and her loved ones call out to her, as if to say goodbye. The warmth of the sun on her face brings her some peace, knowing that even though she must leave, she has lived a full life, and the ones she loved will always be with her. She embraces the idea of letting go, as she believes that in the end, she will find some peace inside, and new wings will grow for her to soar.
As she soars with the wind, she longs to see her loved ones again, knowing that they will be together once more. She wonders if this is all just a dream, but the warmth of the sun and the love of her family and friends call out to her, reminding her that her life was full of love, and she can now let go with the knowledge that she has touched the lives of those she loves. "The Swan Song" is ultimately about the acceptance of death and the comfort that comes with knowing that the ones we love will always be with us.
Line by Line Meaning
Winter has come for me, can't carry on
I am in a state of despair and cannot continue facing the challenges that life has thrown at me.
The chains to my life are strong
I feel trapped and unable to escape the struggles and responsibilities that come with living.
But soon they'll be gone
I am hopeful that a new beginning is on the horizon and that my hardships will soon come to an end.
I'll spread my wings one more time
I am ready to face the unknown and take a leap of faith towards a new chapter in my life.
Is it a dream?
I am wondering if what I am experiencing is real or just a figment of my imagination.
All the ones I have loved calling out my name
I am haunted by memories of the people I have loved and lost, who are now calling out to me.
The sun warms my face
Despite the hardships I have faced, there is still beauty and warmth in the world that I can appreciate.
All the days of my life, I see them passing me by
I am reflective of the time that has passed and how quickly life seems to move, realizing that I must cherish every moment I have left.
In my heart I know I can let go
I have come to the realization that I must release the things that are holding me back in order to move forward towards a new beginning.
In the end I will find some peace inside
I am hopeful that by letting go and moving forward, I will find some inner peace and clarity.
New wings are growing tonight
I am undergoing a process of transformation and growth, preparing to soar to new heights of self-discovery and fulfillment.
As I am soaring I'm one with the wind
I am at peace with the forces that guide me forward, allowing myself to be swept up in the moment and the journey ahead.
I am longing to see you again, it's been so long
I am filled with a sense of longing and nostalgia for the people I have loved and lost, hoping that I will one day be reunited with them in some form.
We will be together again
I am hopeful that one day, in some form, I will be reunited with the people I love and have lost, finding comfort and solace in their presence once again.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARTINUS J. E. MARTIJN SPIERENBURG, SHARON J. DEN ADEL, ROBERT WESTERHOLT, DANIEL GIBSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind