Lyric discussion by Gravzort 

Cover art for The Vice lyrics by Sonata Arctica

Through the night I've come with another idea, since I can't edit my last proposal, here goes the differences for the last part:

Is not about #9 being killed, is about him coming back to the "castle" and delaying his freedom, as he plans revenge to retain his life and walk away with a love.

The changes begin here:

>A broken lock and a twisted dream

-The broken lock could be from the escape and the twisted dream is #9 dream for freedom.

>For an early tomb, destiny's overruled >Trailed it back to the Pagan Cathedral

  • 9 would die, but the last one he faced (the girl) changed his fate, bringing him back to "the castle", that could be the Cathedral.

>Don't love me, don't you dare! From these lines we keep the idea of a love between #9 and another littlermate. She also keeps telling about fidelity, it could be from an oath they made to "the king", or between her and him. "Truth ain't safe..." he is different, want freedom, don't feel reliable.

>In (sane), in (pain) >Ran into a needle >Eye (love), Eye (hate) >Don't need anyone >Lights (on), Lights (out)

These shows his struggle. unsure of his wishes, #9 escaped that day and tasted freedom, now he founds love, described as a weekness, so "ran into a needle", he found a weakspot. In his eyes there's love (for her), but also hate (for the king). And he keeps on thinking that he doesn't need anyone.

>Read it loud and clear >And hear the lion roar.

  • as #9 went back to the castle, he apologizes, takes a new oath and hear is scolded (the lion roar - the king yelling)

>Without my eyes, they failed me, >Knots untied.

  • 9 no longer look to the world outside the castle, he might be a prisioner or is just part of the plan. The knots could be the bonds to the group, after all, they were his family so far.

>I turned my weakness into a Fine profession

  • He tasted love and considered it a weekness, now he turn it to an occupation, something that keeps he going, secretly.

>More I hear, more I see, >I can feel The path I choose

  • He can hear outside the castle, the "free world", and is painful to be stuck inside again.

>What I did was a must,

  • He had to come back.

>Faced the music, away from the light, alone >Without a view.

  • Maybe some kind of celebration in the outside world, but as he can't be part of it, though he can hear the songs alone in the dark, hidden or something.

  • "The king" says at the beginning... "Litter mates, all with different fates". So, he gattered all these people, somehow convinced them that he knew them, gained their trust (someone thought to know me well) by selling lies of better life or something (Drowned me in a wishing well).

>Making mistakes, we all do, >Worst of mine was trusting in a stranger.

  • Here #9 realizes that trusting "the king" (the stranger) was his worst mistake, and now he has no freedom, as stated next...

>for now I'm feeling fine

  • He is ok for the time being, but planning some kind of revenge.

9 had to give up his freedom (Drank poison) and swear loyalty to the king (liked the sign). As a forever servant (Now touch the greatest fear), he has to fake his dissatisfaction (Impaired, to look sincere.)

  • 9 plans revenge, and will stay close to the king (One step behind you) for the opportunity ("turn around and I am gone with what I need) to kill him, and walk away with his freedom(The essence of timely death, cold and dark) and a love (Love Less Hard).

My Interpretation