This is one of Symphony X's "epics", about a war between God and Satan/Lucifer, told from Lucifer's point of view. A few parallels can be drawn to "Paradise Lost" or the book of Revelation.
Part I is a quick summary of Lucifer, whose pain has led him to descend into Hell. This Part is first musically, but chronologically comes in the middle of the story, after the "tears of woe" start falling in IV.
Part II is an instrumental which segues into the beginning of the story,
Part III. This describes the Heaven/Paradise that Lucifer fell from. At first, he's uncertain why he feels his wings "slowly fading".
Part IV. Lucifer accepts his fall, and plans a divine war against Heaven. He becomes the ruler of Hell, and starts to mass his forces for the coming holy war. As Part I's "tears of woe" begin to fall, the war begins.
Part V. Heaven & Hell have collided, and the resulting chaos is clearly noticed on Earth. Angels and demons fight in the sky as "the prophet cries", signaling the end of current world order.
Part VI. This long instrumental is the continuing battle between Heaven and Hell. It begins with a heavy & fast section as the battle rages. After several crashing notes, the music subdues as the battle's tide turns(around 13:40). The music soon picks up again (around 14:45), escalating rapidly as the Last Battle occurs.
Part VII: Several "holy notes" precede a calm & tranquil section, then the victor elaborates who won. Peace, truth, and a "blue sky" finally come about, but the last line reveals that Lucifer has defeated Heaven's angels: "All I know/ is MY Paradise has begun".
Depending on how you look at it, this song is either looking at the far past or the far future.
I think that paradise, at the end of this song, may be used as an ironic word. Satan may be using the word paradise to make himself feel better about truly losing. I doubt Satan would "win" in a Symphony X song, given that the keyboardist is Christian. If he takes his faith seriously, I don't think he'd want to have Satan winning. Plus, Paradise Regained may be simply alluding the poem itself, whilst not actually using anything from it. It's based on the Gospel of Luke and deals with the temptations of Christ. This just may be stating that,...
I think that paradise, at the end of this song, may be used as an ironic word. Satan may be using the word paradise to make himself feel better about truly losing. I doubt Satan would "win" in a Symphony X song, given that the keyboardist is Christian. If he takes his faith seriously, I don't think he'd want to have Satan winning. Plus, Paradise Regained may be simply alluding the poem itself, whilst not actually using anything from it. It's based on the Gospel of Luke and deals with the temptations of Christ. This just may be stating that, at the end of his battle with God and Heaven and the Angels, Satan is just saying "Well, crap, I lost. Back to Hell, I feel better there."
This is one of Symphony X's "epics", about a war between God and Satan/Lucifer, told from Lucifer's point of view. A few parallels can be drawn to "Paradise Lost" or the book of Revelation.
Part I is a quick summary of Lucifer, whose pain has led him to descend into Hell. This Part is first musically, but chronologically comes in the middle of the story, after the "tears of woe" start falling in IV. Part II is an instrumental which segues into the beginning of the story, Part III. This describes the Heaven/Paradise that Lucifer fell from. At first, he's uncertain why he feels his wings "slowly fading". Part IV. Lucifer accepts his fall, and plans a divine war against Heaven. He becomes the ruler of Hell, and starts to mass his forces for the coming holy war. As Part I's "tears of woe" begin to fall, the war begins. Part V. Heaven & Hell have collided, and the resulting chaos is clearly noticed on Earth. Angels and demons fight in the sky as "the prophet cries", signaling the end of current world order. Part VI. This long instrumental is the continuing battle between Heaven and Hell. It begins with a heavy & fast section as the battle rages. After several crashing notes, the music subdues as the battle's tide turns(around 13:40). The music soon picks up again (around 14:45), escalating rapidly as the Last Battle occurs. Part VII: Several "holy notes" precede a calm & tranquil section, then the victor elaborates who won. Peace, truth, and a "blue sky" finally come about, but the last line reveals that Lucifer has defeated Heaven's angels: "All I know/ is MY Paradise has begun".
Depending on how you look at it, this song is either looking at the far past or the far future.
I think that paradise, at the end of this song, may be used as an ironic word. Satan may be using the word paradise to make himself feel better about truly losing. I doubt Satan would "win" in a Symphony X song, given that the keyboardist is Christian. If he takes his faith seriously, I don't think he'd want to have Satan winning. Plus, Paradise Regained may be simply alluding the poem itself, whilst not actually using anything from it. It's based on the Gospel of Luke and deals with the temptations of Christ. This just may be stating that,...
I think that paradise, at the end of this song, may be used as an ironic word. Satan may be using the word paradise to make himself feel better about truly losing. I doubt Satan would "win" in a Symphony X song, given that the keyboardist is Christian. If he takes his faith seriously, I don't think he'd want to have Satan winning. Plus, Paradise Regained may be simply alluding the poem itself, whilst not actually using anything from it. It's based on the Gospel of Luke and deals with the temptations of Christ. This just may be stating that, at the end of his battle with God and Heaven and the Angels, Satan is just saying "Well, crap, I lost. Back to Hell, I feel better there."