Come and dance through my vanity's halls
Welcome to my exhibition

Ornaments fall
The fate of my art, condemned
And the creative seed
That grows to the tune of the harvest song
Embody my lifelong passion
Intertwine with the structures of my art
Those empty frames staring at me

One lonely portrait covers the love starved canvas
In honor of the birthless rebellion within me

Every picture holds a tale
Every shade tells of a thousand words

The artistry of living chaos
Is pictured in the poets tears
Because everything burns
The final concept
Is all but a thought away

Be gone, you foul enchantress of decay!
My thoughts and words will come to right
In my chamber where chaos conveys
Kneel down to my desire
Deep in the vaults of my carnal agony
Emptiness! Orchestration through colors

The gallery

To never return to my guidance
Burning my art


Lyrics submitted by Day_Walker9

The Gallery Lyrics as written by Fredrik Johansson Anders Jivarp

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

The Gallery song meanings
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7 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    I love this song by dark tranquility. I feel the meaning of this song is metaphorical to his life. He is saying he is empty, and that there is more to him than meets the eye.

    Deicideon September 11, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This is one of my favorite Dark Tranquillity songs, and I've been thinking about it a lot lately. I think it's about an artist who creates painting/sculptures, etc. that others see as obscene or offensive, most likely because they don't understand it. He is forced to remove it all from his gallery, but then decides to destroy it all rather than have it rot without having been seen by those who might appreciate it.

    I don't know, I may add to this later, it's a really interesting concept that I think I've just started to figure out.

    Lethe8737on July 05, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This song is amazing. Love the female vocals!

    Ms_Obliviouson February 11, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This song is so amazing... one of the best on this album. as far as meaning, I think the gallery in the song is a metaphor for the singer's life, and all the paintings and works of art within it are representative of the experiences within his life.

    praeyon July 25, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The first DT song I ever heard and it got me hooked on them.

    I view the lyrics as being about someone who doesn't fit in and is outcasted by society. "The fate of my art, condemned". To the people who do know him, he a "gallery" of spectacular qualities. "Every picture holds a tale; Every shade tells a thousand words". Yet he only sees himself as the public does. He get rid of all the qualities that make him unique to try and fit in with everyone. "Burning my art".

    NovembersDoomon May 10, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    All of the above probably apply, but I think it's both deeper and broader than that. I expect the author is "decorating" his main idea with the ideas above. I think there is a stong current of sexual tension in this song And I don't think the author lets on exactly where it comes from or how it manifests. But, think about "Kneel down to my desire" and "deep in the vaults of my carnal agony". Certainly, the lyrics could support any of these idea or of the other posts, but also... This song could also simply be about the frustration of the creative process, about writers block and author coming to tears over the inablility to accurately express his deepest sentiments... This band is so intelligent, so subtle and introspective, I think they craft songs which represent many many differnt meanings simultaneously...

    Buddahon June 02, 2009   Link
  • -1
    My Interpretation

    Best song ever! Talk about his life (he fail) To never return be myguidance burning my art

    develition666on January 19, 2009   Link

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