The Crow, the Owl and the Dove

Album: Imaginaerum (2011)
Play Video

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."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

They Might Be Giants

They Might Be GiantsSongwriter Interviews

Who writes a song about a name they found in a phone book? That's just one of the everyday things these guys find to sing about. Anything in their field of vision or general scope of knowledge is fair game. If you cross paths with them, so are you.

Sending Out An SOS - Distress Signals In Songs

Sending Out An SOS - Distress Signals In SongsSong Writing

Songs where something goes horribly wrong (literally or metaphorically), and help is needed right away.

Five Rockers Who Rolled With The Devil

Five Rockers Who Rolled With The DevilSong Writing

Just how much did these monsters of rock dabble in the occult?

Yacht Rock Quiz

Yacht Rock QuizFact or Fiction

Christopher Cross with Deep Purple? Kenny Loggins in Caddyshack? A Fact or Fiction all about yacht rock and those who made it.

N.W.A vs. the World

N.W.A vs. the WorldSong Writing

How the American gangsta rappers made history by getting banned in the UK.

Sam Phillips

Sam PhillipsSongwriter Interviews

Collaborating with T Bone Burnett, Leslie Phillips changed her name and left her Christian label behind - Robert Plant, who recorded one of her songs on Raising Sand, is a fan.