Sorry, I managed to post this in the wrong box. There were two and I got it wrong the first time.
I tend to agree with a lot of what I've read here. However here are a few points not made. First, what I've seen of Tuomos and Tarja, Tuomas was very much smitten by Tarja, but Tarja didn't return his feelings. In fact Tarja married Marcelo, and this resulted in the song "I wish I had an Angel". Given that Tarja's nickname was Angel, it gives the song a lot of additional meaning. Around the time that song came out, Marcelo had it out with Tuomas which resulted in the ultimatum from Marcelo that "She's mine now, and you can't have her". From that point on (feel free to check this) Tuomas's comments about Nightwish being Tarja etc. all changed to he could go on without her. As things progressed, it brought on much of the fighting that's all too well publicized and I won't replay here. The end result is the dismissal of Tarja and Tuomas going into a deep depression. So with that background this song starts to make a lot of sense.
To start with "the end" obviously indicates the end of Tarja with Nightwish. I will note the line "A widowed writer torn apart by chains of hell" which hasn't been commented on much here. In light of what I've said, the meaning should become apparent.
The verse of "My home was there 'n then
Those meadows of heaven
Adventure-filled days
One with every smiling face"
Is best linked to the song Meadows of Heaven on the same album, which shows Tuomas's desire for the innocence and joy of childhood, a common theme with him.
I have little to add until we get to "the second robber...." There's been some debate as to the meaning here, but I take it to reference the standard story of the Crucifixion. There were two robbers crucified with Christ. The first one mocked him to the end, the second declares Christ is innocent and finally asks "Lord remember me". Christ's response was "today you will be with me in paradise". Tuomos is identifying himself with this second robber, and this has major implications for the end of the song.
Later he refers to the "Dark Passion Play". That's a medieval term for a play depicting the death of Christ and connects strongly with him seeing himself as the second robber. He feels his friends are performing it and as such are partly responsible for his death. Many other comments made here fit with this interpretation.
I really don't have much more to add to the death scene except to note that Tuomas said he would "die alone but loved". That line, when considered with the end as well as the strong religious references previously lead me to believe that the person speaking in the end is God and not his parents. God is often referred to as "our heavenly Father" in the Bible, and that fits in strongly with the prior references. In any case, the song ends as Tuomas finds that he has always been loved by God.
For me, this is one of the most powerful and moving songs I've ever heard.
Sorry, I managed to post this in the wrong box. There were two and I got it wrong the first time.
I tend to agree with a lot of what I've read here. However here are a few points not made. First, what I've seen of Tuomos and Tarja, Tuomas was very much smitten by Tarja, but Tarja didn't return his feelings. In fact Tarja married Marcelo, and this resulted in the song "I wish I had an Angel". Given that Tarja's nickname was Angel, it gives the song a lot of additional meaning. Around the time that song came out, Marcelo had it out with Tuomas which resulted in the ultimatum from Marcelo that "She's mine now, and you can't have her". From that point on (feel free to check this) Tuomas's comments about Nightwish being Tarja etc. all changed to he could go on without her. As things progressed, it brought on much of the fighting that's all too well publicized and I won't replay here. The end result is the dismissal of Tarja and Tuomas going into a deep depression. So with that background this song starts to make a lot of sense.
To start with "the end" obviously indicates the end of Tarja with Nightwish. I will note the line "A widowed writer torn apart by chains of hell" which hasn't been commented on much here. In light of what I've said, the meaning should become apparent.
The verse of "My home was there 'n then Those meadows of heaven Adventure-filled days One with every smiling face" Is best linked to the song Meadows of Heaven on the same album, which shows Tuomas's desire for the innocence and joy of childhood, a common theme with him.
I have little to add until we get to "the second robber...." There's been some debate as to the meaning here, but I take it to reference the standard story of the Crucifixion. There were two robbers crucified with Christ. The first one mocked him to the end, the second declares Christ is innocent and finally asks "Lord remember me". Christ's response was "today you will be with me in paradise". Tuomos is identifying himself with this second robber, and this has major implications for the end of the song.
Later he refers to the "Dark Passion Play". That's a medieval term for a play depicting the death of Christ and connects strongly with him seeing himself as the second robber. He feels his friends are performing it and as such are partly responsible for his death. Many other comments made here fit with this interpretation.
I really don't have much more to add to the death scene except to note that Tuomas said he would "die alone but loved". That line, when considered with the end as well as the strong religious references previously lead me to believe that the person speaking in the end is God and not his parents. God is often referred to as "our heavenly Father" in the Bible, and that fits in strongly with the prior references. In any case, the song ends as Tuomas finds that he has always been loved by God.
For me, this is one of the most powerful and moving songs I've ever heard.