This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
I believe, nothing ever comes to light
Chasing shadows in the night
In a starless sky and I wonder why
Oh I believe, we will never find a way
The darkness lights the day
We never question why, still I wonder why?
I close my eyes lost in the memory
Just like a candle in the wind
What could have been, with just one kiss goodbye
You spread your wings to fly
Far away, somehow, someday you will understand
I hope you'll understand, someday
Silent pictures like ghosts in the machine
Haunting my reflection in the frame
Chasing down the hopeful child inside of me
Where'd it all go wrong and who's to blame
Oh, we pass the time away
With empty lives, the laughter dies
Oh! Is the all we have to show?
Is this all they'll ever know? Can they find their way?
What went wrong? Where have all the heroes gone?
Trading futures for a song we gave away
Thinking only of myself, I forged ahead
No regrets, no apologies
Bitter tears reward the life that I have led
A world of lies brings me to my knees
I took the road with every twist and every turn
The words of wisdom is the lesson never learned
Lose your fear and free your soul or
The mysteries of life you'll truly never know
You'll never know!
Is the all we have to show?
Is this all they'll ever know? Can they find their way?
What went wrong? Where have all the heroes gone?
Trading futures for a song we gave away
Just gave it away
I close my eyes, lost in that memory
Like a candle in the wind
What could have been, with just one kiss goodbye
You spread your wings to fly far away
I hope you'll understand one day
We pass the time away
With empty lives, the laughter dies
And the colors fade, fade away
Oh daylight fades away
Oh no no no!
Oh! Is the all we have to show?
Is this all they'll ever know? Can they find their way?
What went wrong? Where have all the heroes gone?
Trading futures for a song we gave away
What went wrong?
Where have all our heroes gone?
Trade our future for a song,
We gave it all away
Chasing shadows in the night
In a starless sky and I wonder why
Oh I believe, we will never find a way
The darkness lights the day
We never question why, still I wonder why?
I close my eyes lost in the memory
Just like a candle in the wind
What could have been, with just one kiss goodbye
You spread your wings to fly
Far away, somehow, someday you will understand
I hope you'll understand, someday
Silent pictures like ghosts in the machine
Haunting my reflection in the frame
Chasing down the hopeful child inside of me
Where'd it all go wrong and who's to blame
Oh, we pass the time away
With empty lives, the laughter dies
Oh! Is the all we have to show?
Is this all they'll ever know? Can they find their way?
What went wrong? Where have all the heroes gone?
Trading futures for a song we gave away
Thinking only of myself, I forged ahead
No regrets, no apologies
Bitter tears reward the life that I have led
A world of lies brings me to my knees
I took the road with every twist and every turn
The words of wisdom is the lesson never learned
Lose your fear and free your soul or
The mysteries of life you'll truly never know
You'll never know!
Is the all we have to show?
Is this all they'll ever know? Can they find their way?
What went wrong? Where have all the heroes gone?
Trading futures for a song we gave away
Just gave it away
I close my eyes, lost in that memory
Like a candle in the wind
What could have been, with just one kiss goodbye
You spread your wings to fly far away
I hope you'll understand one day
We pass the time away
With empty lives, the laughter dies
And the colors fade, fade away
Oh daylight fades away
Oh no no no!
Oh! Is the all we have to show?
Is this all they'll ever know? Can they find their way?
What went wrong? Where have all the heroes gone?
Trading futures for a song we gave away
What went wrong?
Where have all our heroes gone?
Trade our future for a song,
We gave it all away
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This is probably one of the best songs on the album, IMHO.
On another note; am I the only one who thinks that this is a better ending to the album than "Reign In Madness"?
Hmm. I don't know. I love both songs, and both seem to end on that note of despair.<br /> I do find Reign In Madness to be a more fitting end as the last chorus seems to fully complete the circle. I think that Reign and Iconoclast follow the same pattern and theme as far as the concept of the album follows. <br /> I also prefer a more pwoerful/heavier song last but all of these things are just opinions.<br /> I love both songs :D
Same here! I mean, it would have been cool if the album ended off right after where he sings; "hit the lights and start the show..." and then faded out with the keyboard line (in 'Reign In Madness'). I'm just not too big on abrupt endings. The only album that's actually worked on was Protest The Hero's "Fortress". :)<br /> <br /> I mean, I loved this album, but I still think they were missing something... I mean, aside from a few tracks, the album was missing some diversity... even though I realize they were taking this album in a heavier direction than Paradise Lost. Maybe I'm just expecting too much :P I suppose the long wait had me hoping for an album that would top "The Divine Wings Of Tragedy". <br /> <br /> This could have topped it, had they incorporated some of the "classic" Symphony X in a darker/heavier way- which they did (for example) on Iconoclast (the song), and I thought that was brilliant!
I have to stop using "I mean,..." so much. LOL
Haha, yeah I loved The Divine Wings, especially the epic song of the same name. The best concieved ending(for any album ever) for me would be Revalation(Divus Pennae Ex Tragoedia) flowing into The Divine Wings Of Tragedy. I wanna see them play that live. I think they've done something similar to that except they didnt play the full divine wings song.<br /> Oh well, I wish they would have repeated that tasty intro keyboard theme on Reign In Madness right at the end. it would have made me even mroe satisfied witht he album :)
My thoughts exactly! I finished listening to the album for a fifth time, and I'd have to agree with you now; Reign In Madness is the better ending. "Revelation" is definitely one of my favourite songs; perfect way to end an album.
Agreed :)<br /> Listening to Reign In Madness atm, god I wish I could have that intro on loop, the keyboard riff is epic, yet so simplistic :P<br /> The lyrics are crazy good too
@jgavinho<br /> <br /> It's funny that you say that. I was just saying the same thing on the way home today listening to it in my car.<br /> <br /> I love the last song too, especially the intro to it, but I felt that the last song should have been second to last, and "When All is Lost" should have definitely been the last song.<br /> <br /> In either case, I remade the cd, putting it last and I like how it turned out :)
This is by far my favorite song of of the album. Its just so epic and beautiful at the same time. Its hard to describe what it's about, not quite sure myself
I too, LOVE this song, it's definetly Symphony X's ballad of the album. I think it's about time passing so quickly and then when your life is over you wonder what people will remember you by.
I think this song is on par with, or just below, Paradise Lost and the Odyssey. The lyrics almost make me cry, no matter how many times I hear it. Russell Allen's voice is ridiculously beautiful, mellodic, and yet metal at the same time.
This is easily one of the best songs Symphony X has ever made. Cheers.
I believe the album this song is from, Iconoclast, is an album about the future of mankind. Probably sooner than later. This song, being the last on the album, is a great closer. This song in particular strikes me a bit about a relationship he was in.. empty lies.. laughter dies.. passing the time away... " what COULD have been w/ just 1 kiss goodbye - spread your wings to fly, etc. This song spoke to me more than like this hardcore love ballad tho.. more about how relationships are becoming as a whole.