Passion And The Opera

Nightwish's 'Passion And The Opera' delves into the complex interplay between desire, purity, and corruption. The song's lyrics paint a vivid picture of a character who embodies both innocence and seduction, a 'Princess of lust' whose dignity is 'put to dust.' This juxtaposition of purity and corruption is a recurring theme, symbolized by the 'virginal sight' and the 'apple to bite,' a clear reference to the biblical story of Adam and Eve and the loss of innocence.

The imagery in the song is both haunting and provocative. Phrases like 'Drink from my thighs' and 'The rain of lies' suggest a sense of betrayal and deceit, while 'Breasts which never nursed' evoke a sense of unfulfilled potential and lost purity. The character is likened to Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty, but in a twisted, mortal form that plays 'hide and seek in lecherous roles.' This duality highlights the tension between the sacred and the profane, the divine and the earthly.

The chorus further explores this theme, with the character's 'tearless weep' and 'infinite sleep' symbolizing a state of emotional numbness and eternal dissatisfaction. The line 'Your God is me in all that you see' suggests a usurpation of divine power, where the character becomes an object of worship and desire, yet remains unfulfilled. The song's dark, gothic tone is a hallmark of Nightwish's style, blending symphonic metal with poetic, often mythological, storytelling. 'Passion And The Opera' is a powerful exploration of the darker aspects of human desire and the eternal struggle between purity and corruption.