A Tyranny of Souls

There's a very obvious reference to MacBeth in here. The first stanza is the intro to the play, with the three witches talking amongst themselves.

I don't know if the song is specifically about MacBeth, or more of the way power can become like a drug and control every aspect of one's life.

This song is all about Macbeth as the above comments mention, as well as "No ocean could wash my sins away" throughout the play Macbeth says that even the sea cannot wash the blood from his hands. Macbeth is also referred to as a tyrant many times in the play. "Who rips the child out from the womb?" No one who was born of woman could kill Macbeth, meaning if the mother should die in child birth, or if there was a c section they would not be born of woman.

there is a bit about macbeth...like RainbowDemon said, the first part is the intro to the play...also there's the line about the child being ripped from the womb, which also played a part in the play...of course, some of the things in the song I cant really relate to macbeth, so I dont know if it really is about the play or not. Anyway, its an awesome song.

I believe that more than the first stanza is about Macbeth. For example: "Speaking tongues of fire, Inflaming our desires, watching as we die" (the witches and MacBeth's wife who all tried and suceesed to increase his desire for the crown) "Who raised the dagger who plays the tune?" (asking who killed the King but who pulled the strings/played the tune the killer danced to)

Don't forget "seeds of betrayal" MacBeth betrayed his king.

or

"Anger is ruler in my land" When MacBeth is king, none of his subjects like him.

Also "anger is ruler in my land" Macbeth is consumed by anger shortly after he kills his king and goes on to continue slaughtering his own people.

Yeah I have to agree,it's definitely Macbeth all the way."When the hurly burly's done".That's all Macbeth.

This song was actually written by Bruce intended for a would-be project featuring Geoff Tate (Queensryche) - Rob Halford (Judas Priest) and Bruce. It was due to be called 'The Three Tremors' and Bruce wrote each verse specially for these singers in mind however the project never went ahead and Bruce ended up recording it himself.