The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
High noon, oh I'd sell my soul for water
Nine years worth of breakin' my back
There's no sun in the shadow of the wizard
See how he glides, why he's lighter than air
Oh I see his face
Where is your star?
Is it far, is it far, is it far?
When do we leave?
I believe, yes, I believe
In the heat and the rain
With whips and chains
To see him fly
So many die
We build a tower of stone
With our flesh and bone
Just to see him fly
Don't know why
Now where do we go?
Hot wind, moving fast across the desert
We feel that our time has arrived
The world spins, while we put his dream together
A tower of stone to take him straight to the sky
Oh, I see his face!
Where is your star?
Is it far, is it far, far?
When do we leave?
Hey, I believe, I believe
In the heat and the rain
With whips and chains
Just to see him fly
Too many die
We build a tower of stone
With our flesh and bone
To see him fly
But we don't know why
Ooh, now where do we go
All eyes see the figure of the wizard
As he climbs to the top of the world
No sound, as he falls instead of rising
Time standing still, then there's blood on the sand
Oh, I see his face!
Where was your star?
Was it far, was it far
When did we leave?
We believed, we believed, we believed
In heat and rain
With the whips and chains
To see him fly
So many died
We built a tower of stone
With our flesh and bone
To see him fly
But why
In all the rain
With all the chains
Did so many die
Just to see him fly
Look at my flesh and bone
Now, look, look, look, look
Look at his tower of stone
I see a rainbow rising
Look there, on the horizon
And I'm coming home, coming home, coming home
Time is standing still
He gave back my will
Ooh ooh ooh ooh
Going home
I'm going home
My eyes are bleeding
And my heart is leaving here
A place called home
A place called home
Ooh
Take me back
He gave me back my will
Ooh ooh ooh ooh
Going home
I'm going home
My eyes are bleeding
And my heart is leaving here
A place called home
A place called home
Ooh
Take me back, take me back
Back to my home ooh, ooh, ooh
Nine years worth of breakin' my back
There's no sun in the shadow of the wizard
See how he glides, why he's lighter than air
Oh I see his face
Where is your star?
Is it far, is it far, is it far?
When do we leave?
I believe, yes, I believe
In the heat and the rain
With whips and chains
To see him fly
So many die
We build a tower of stone
With our flesh and bone
Just to see him fly
Don't know why
Now where do we go?
Hot wind, moving fast across the desert
We feel that our time has arrived
The world spins, while we put his dream together
A tower of stone to take him straight to the sky
Oh, I see his face!
Where is your star?
Is it far, is it far, far?
When do we leave?
Hey, I believe, I believe
In the heat and the rain
With whips and chains
Just to see him fly
Too many die
We build a tower of stone
With our flesh and bone
To see him fly
But we don't know why
Ooh, now where do we go
All eyes see the figure of the wizard
As he climbs to the top of the world
No sound, as he falls instead of rising
Time standing still, then there's blood on the sand
Oh, I see his face!
Where was your star?
Was it far, was it far
When did we leave?
We believed, we believed, we believed
In heat and rain
With the whips and chains
To see him fly
So many died
We built a tower of stone
With our flesh and bone
To see him fly
But why
In all the rain
With all the chains
Did so many die
Just to see him fly
Look at my flesh and bone
Now, look, look, look, look
Look at his tower of stone
I see a rainbow rising
Look there, on the horizon
And I'm coming home, coming home, coming home
Time is standing still
He gave back my will
Ooh ooh ooh ooh
Going home
I'm going home
My eyes are bleeding
And my heart is leaving here
A place called home
A place called home
Ooh
Take me back
He gave me back my will
Ooh ooh ooh ooh
Going home
I'm going home
My eyes are bleeding
And my heart is leaving here
A place called home
A place called home
Ooh
Take me back, take me back
Back to my home ooh, ooh, ooh
Lyrics submitted by han2, edited by Ashram, sabsman, DeanGuitars
Stargazer Lyrics as written by Ritchie Blackmore Ronnie Dio
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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It's not just that.
The full story: A wizard is trying to reach a "star" -- representing some form of power, divinity, etc, it's vague. So he enslaves these people to build him a tower to reach it. But the people aren't just slaves, look at the words. ("We believed, we believed", etc., it's the overall tone of the speaker) They're the wizard's followers to some extent. They're not just there cos they're forced to be, they really believe in his cause, at least a little. And after he fails to reach his "star" (could be cos it's a myth, because he hasn't gone far enough, I dunno) a whole sense of hopelessness takes over the tone of the song. The people have lost their direction, their faith, they don't know what to do or believe... "so where do we go?" -- with their faith shattered, they can't even come to terms with their "freedom". The whole idea is continued in " A light in the Black". These 2 have the best songwriting on the album, some of the best stuff Rainbow's ever done. Full of symbolism.
@shadowwiththeeyes The song has been called a "morality tale", and its lyrics are written from the standpoint of a "slave in Egyptian times", according to lyricist Ronnie James Dio. They relate the story of the Wizard, an astronomer who becomes "obsessed with the idea of flying" and enslaves a vast army of people to build him a tower from which he can take off and fly. The people hope for the day when their misery comes to an end, building the tower in harsh conditions ("In the heat and rain, with whips and chains; / to see him fly, so many died"). In the end, the wizard climbs to the top of the tower but, instead of flying, falls down and dies: "no sound as he falls instead of rising. / Time standing still, then there's blood on the sand". The next song, "A Light in the Black", continues the story of the people who have lost all purpose after the Wizard's death "until they see the Light in the Dark", according to Dio.
I interpret this one as a warning against having blind faith in the promises of anyone, even if they look like they know what they are doing. Because the wizard was able to give the impression that he was capable of fulfilling his promise of flight, the people empowered him and were willing to have themselves enslaved towards the goal of seeing his miracle. Then when it came time for him to actually perform, he smashes to the ground. All the work, all the sacrifices, all the suffering of the people was for nothing.
There isn't enough time in the world to list the number of times this has happened throughout history. The message of Stargazer is simply don't be a sheep- hold everything to the light of logic and reason, and hold even those you believe in to accountability.
Also, it fucking rocks and Dio's vocals here are superhuman.
The fifth track on Rising, and the first eight-minute epic. It's about being taken in by your beliefs and then losing out- the song's theme and story continues with the final song, the second 8-minute epic on the album, "A Light In The Black". Amazing song not only lyrically, but also instrumentally; a band at an amazing peak.
@Dreamer Deceiver "A Light in the Black", continues the story of the people who have lost all purpose after the Wizard's death "until they see the Light in the Dark", according to Dio.
I think this song along with Light In The Black has to do with Richie Blackmore (the Wizard). I believe Ronnie James Dio was angry at him for firing his original band, the original Rainbow line-up which consisted of members of the band Elf. That Dio felt this first line up helped build Blackmore's Rainbow ("the tower of stone") and was just let go in Blackmore's quest for musical excellence ("as he climbs to the top of the world"). I think Dio knew he'd be leaving soon too ("I'm coming home") and was singing from his heart that he won't go down without a fight, from this came the amazing lyrics of the last two songs on the album. I think Dio was very sad for the loss of his band mates and when surrounded by the amazing new musicians added gave it a musical depth that probably even left Dio himself in awe what Blackmore just created. Dio was kept in the band because of his lyrical power and vocal ability thus creating the Rainbow Rising masterpiece. The last two songs on the album are well beyond classic.
COZY POWELL LIVES!!
One of the remarkable things about this track (apart from its utter brilliance from guitar, drums and vocals) is that when I first I heard it, it gave me the 'deja vu' sense of having heard the story on some kind of children's programme or other (e.g. jackanory), but as far as I know it was never featured on something like that and the flying wizard, tower of stone, etc. come from Ronnie Dio (pbuh) himself.
The guitar solo, I was told by a guitar player, is basically a load of sharps and flats - is that true?
@jmasl7 dude IDK if you still read replies, but it might've been the Powerpuff Girls episode "See me, Feel me, Gnomey". It's very similar.
Acctually its a story about a wizard who thinks by enslaving people and making thme build him a massive tower he will be able to reach what he thinks is an all powerfull star... And although A light in the black does sound like a continuation according to Mr. Blackmore and Mr. Dio its not....
@Neil_J Apparently, A light in the black is a continuation, and that Dio actually did confirm it. This is the start of the song:<br /> "Can't forget his face, What a lonely place, Has he really let us go?<br /> All the time that's lost, What's the final cost, Will I really get away?<br /> All my life it seems, Just a crazy dream, Reaching for somebody's star<br /> Can't believe it all, Did he really fall, What to do now I don't know"<br /> <br /> It seems to me that the person who's perspective the song is written from is a traumatized slave who helped build the tower, then spent their life feeling lost, doubting everything that's happened.<br /> <br /> And then the end:<br /> "I've got my way back home, To the sky, There in the sky, I see your star"<br /> <br /> This seems that the slave has returned to the tower, and sees the star the "wizard" was trying to reach. Both songs fit very well. However, music is always interpreted in different ways to different people. It could be that A light in the black was never meant to be a continuation.
I am a little confused about the "My eyes are bleeding" line. Overall however, I have to say this is one of my most favorite songs of all time. The lyrics, the guitar, the vocals... everything comes together phenomenally.
@Elora this is about the crucifixion of Jesus.the refuring o the wizard is Jesse.the bleeding in his eye means the he was so worried about dying the his yes bled from worry.the tower of stone was Jesus tomb.and at the and of the song.He said in the lyrics .blood on the sad.is when the stuck him to m17
@Elora
@Elora.but email me if you would like to here my true meaning of the song
The re-assurance of the "I'm coming home" really stands out
Best song ever, its so mystical. because dio often sings about egypt and stuff like that, i think this song is about the egyptians building maybe the pyramids, and the "wizard" is the pharao, or one of their big leaders. and the "tower" is a pyramid. an old legend says that some of the pyramid builders saw a giant rainbow the moment that the great pyramid was finshed. that probably inspired "see a rainbow rising, back there, on the horizon"
Having said that, I still can't beleive I like a band named Rainbow.