Inspiring Lyrics

Nobody's Hero

{ 12:45, October 19, 2008 } { 1 comments } { Link }

Recently I have had the pleasure of listening to some lyrics that were very inspiring for me. The album is Beethoven's Last Night, performed by Trans-Siberian Orchestra. The album tells a story, and a very sad one.

The story begins with Beethoven working on his final piece before his death. While sitting at his piano, the devil appears and convinces Beethoven his life has been full of sin, and his soul belongs to the Devil. The devil makes a deal, offering to free his soul in exchange for Beethoven's music, to erase it from the mind of mankind. Beethoven is given one hour to decide.

Fate shows up to help Beethoven decide. She shows how much his music has touched the lives of those around him, and the ones he still has left to reach out to and inspire. Beethoven decides not to accept the deal, believing it would be better to spend eternity in torment than take away all he had accomplished.

When the devil returns, he again offers a new deal, asking only for Beethoven's final piece he was working on, the 10th Symphony. Again Beethoven refuses, so the devil points out a child outside sleeping in a gutter and tells Beethoven he owns her soul as well, and will torment her for the rest of her life but will free her in exchange for the last work. Broken, Beethoven agrees and asks fate to write up a contract to be signed.

Fate, perceiving the devil's perception, tricks him in return. The contract states the soul and work of Ludwig Von Beethoven, the first born son of Johann and Maria. The devil quickly signs it, thinking he had won, but then fate reveals that the composer Ludwig was not the first born. The first born died as a baby and Ludwig was named with the same name. The devil had bought something that did not exist. Furious, he leaves. Fate explains to Beethoven how good his life had actually been, and that despite the devil's best tricks, he had never owned Beethoven's soul to begin with. At peace, Beethoven takes his final sleep.

The lyrics of two songs stand out to me most of all. The first, titled "What is Eternal", is Beethoven contemplating over what in his life he could have possibly done to have lost his soul, and whether he should trade it to leave nothing behind. This verse stands out more for me than any other.

And what good is a life
that leaves nothing behind
not a thought or a dream
that might echo in time

The other song, "Who is this Child," refers to the girl in the gutter. Beethoven tries to tell himself, "She means nothing to me." He tries to justify it by saying "There will be others, there is no way each child can be saved, should I look with regret at every grave? I'm not responsible for this child being born." In the end, all he can see is the face of that innocent child, and knows what he must do. Here are a few verses I feel speak very strongly to me.

Who is this child
That I've never seen before
Who is this child
That I've not seen till this day

I need a moment now
I have to clear my mind
Is there a limit Lord
Just to be kind

There are no guarantees
In life she should be warned
I'm not responsible for
This child being born

She is but one
And there are many more
could this one life
Really matter

Though I try to close my eyes
And pretend that I don't know
In my heart
I just can't let it go

I'm sure my summarized version does not do the story justice. Reading the entire story and lyrics while listening to the music is perhaps the only way to truly feel the despair and the torment, and ultimately the relief and joy in knowing he managed to beat the devil, and his life truly mattered.

If you take nothing else away from my post, take this one last thing. Don't give in to despair. Fight for your life, every day. Make your life matter. Dream to inspire and make every step echo as a guide for those that come after you.
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Wow

{ 13:02, October 27, 2008 } { Posted by Nightfire91 }
I no that is just one of your many entries but all of them are brilliant. You really have a talent for writing and you are able to captivate the reader. I have really enjoyed reading your blogs and i cant wait to read your next one!

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