| Symphony X – Set the World on Fire (The Lie of Lies) Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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This song describes the first two books of Milton's epic poem Paradise Lost. Here's a synopsis of them. Book I: In a long, twisting opening sentence mirroring the epic poetry of the Ancient Greeks, the poet invokes the "Heavenly Muse" (the Holy Spirit) and states his theme, the Fall of Man, and his aim, to "justify the ways of God to men."[1] Satan, Beelzebub, and the other rebel angels are described as lying on a lake of fire, from which Satan rises up to claim hell as his own domain and delivers a rousing speech to his followers ("Better to reign in hell, than serve in heav'n"). The logic of Satan (Satanic Logic) is introduced by: "The mind is its own place, and in itself, can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven." Book II: Satan and the rebel angels debate whether or not to wage another war on Heaven, and Beelzebub tells them of a new world being built, which is to be the home of Man. Satan decides to visit this new world, passes through the Gates of Hell, past the sentries Sin and Death, and journeys through the realm of Chaos. Here, Satan is described as having given birth to Sin with a burst of flame from his forehead, before he began open warfare with God–as Athena was born from the head of Zeus. |
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| Symphony X – Paradise Lost Lyrics | 14 years ago |
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I think this represents a multitude of people speaking throughout the story of Adam and Eve eating fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. [Adam or Eve after eating fruit; stranger in this land because they've been ousted from Eden, questioning why they ate the fruit] in the cold misty morning gleaming rays awake the dawn here I stand, a stranger in this land does your conscience betray you? falling from grace, feel the sun on my face does desire still hold true? [FLASHBACK; Satan through snake, about to corrupt Eve] mystified by her beauty does the hunter pity his prey? under starless skies all love must die and fade away [Satan; attempting to sway Eve to eat fruit] take my hand, divine or damned, make a stand, seize the day yours or mine, damned or divine, draw the line, come what may [God; saddened over the mistakes made by mankind] looking down form ethereal skies silent crystalline tears I cry for all must say their last goodbye to paradise [Adam; being persuaded by Eve to try the fruit, his love for Eve triumphs over his logic and reason and leads to his fall] has my yearning been silenced by angelic skin of white love conquers all though heavens fall, this fateful night [God; drawing the line when Adam and Eve eat the fruit...serpentine is a reference to the snake] yours or mine, damned or divine, draw the line, serpentine [Adam; angered and being tricked into eating the fruit] love is a tragedy all that I have, all that I'll ever need is right here inside let the winds of freedom, be my guide [God, saddened by the mistakes of mankind/Adam and Eve] looking down form ethereal skies silent crystalline tears I cry for all must say their last goodbye to paradise [God; throwing Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden] say goodbye... goodbye [Satan; gloating over his victory - He's cheated and lied to Eve through the snake. He's begged Eve to eat the fruit. Crawling is a reference to God removing the legs/feet of the snake after he corrupts Adam/Eve...he's battled God, and resolves to enjoy watching mankind's fall] so I've cheated and I've lied 'been the victim of foolish pride and I've begged and I've crawled and I've battled, and bled for it all so I'll savour the downfall... of paradise [God, saddened by the mistakes of mankind] looking down form ethereal skies silent crystalline tears I cry for all will say their last goodbye to paradise |
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| Symphony X – The Turning Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| The Jeckyl and Hyde theory have merit, with things going for both that and the werewolf interpretation. I've always presumed the werewolf was being talked about in this song. The "feed my soul" part suggests werewolf, because werewolves feed and Jeckyl doesn't really feed. The "beneath an eerie moon" also suggests werewolf because the moon seems to be emphasized. However, "Of my alchemy" and "of my design" both suggest Jeckyl. Both could work. | |
| Symphony X – Accolade II Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| My interpretation is much different. I do agree that this is from the time period of the Crusades, and this is the son of the knight from Accolade. I think that the majority of this song takes place at the place of his father's burial, before a major battle, and then the battle takes place at the end of the song, from the solo onward. He returns to his father's burial place to pray before a major battle in a war against the tyrant talked about later. He is talking to his father's grave, describing what has transpired since his death. I believe he returned from the Crusades and returned to a turning point in history, the end of serfs and feudalism and the rise of kings. This is verified, in my opinion, by the line "The winds of change taint the sweet smell of home." The group returning decides to fight this new tyrant because they do not like this change. At the end, the son wants to stay with his father, his one true source of strength. He then goes off to battle, shown by the solo. The solo sounds during the calm to be almost like marching. Then a battle takes place during the later part of the solo. The song ends with the outcome of the battle unsure. | |
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