The Crow, the Owl and the Dove

Album: Imaginaerum (2011)
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Songfacts®:

  • This is the only track on Imaginaerum that Nightwish keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen penned with bassist-vocalist Marco Hietala. Speaking on a track-by-track video, Holopainen pointed out that it's "kind of funny that the most poppy song on the album is composed by the most metalhead dude in the band."
  • The song's lyrics were inspired by American author Henry David Thoreau's book Walden, which is a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings. Holopainen admitted to Metal Hammer magazine: "I have to admit it's a bit of a rip-off, because I'm a big fan of Henry David Thoreau, the poet from the 19th Century. I read his book 'Walden', where he said, 'I don't care about the love, the beauty, the pride or anything, just give me the truth. I thought there was a big philosophy behind that, and I started to think I could make a song about it. The crowd represents pride, the owl wisdom and the dove love and peace."

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