1983- This is heavy metal
Before we argue over clean and dirty vocals-before we get into speed metal or death metal or black metal.
If you reached for the pure stuff back then- you reached for Ronnie James Dio
The keyboards sound like trumpets to usher in the new age.
“When there’s lightning – you know it always bring me down
Cause it’s free and I see that it’s me
Who’s lost and never found”
From Zeus to Thor to the Almighty himself-lightning has been used to signify a supreme deity in all cultures since the beginning of time.
The special relevance we put on this force of nature does speak volumes about what is rejected in this song. He is alone in the dark and wants to keep it that way.
Well…almost alone…
“Do your demons – do they ever let you go
When you’ve tried – do they hide – deep inside
Is it someone that you know”
He knows his demons and knows he can’t escape them. (I hold out hope in the belief that everyone can get to a place where the hounds of hell will stop their pursuit and give each person some peace-it goes beyond the scope of this post and they don’t ever stop until we make a choice to face them down—-but I digress…)
“There’s no sign of the morning coming
You’ve been left on your own
Like a Rainbow in the Dark
A Rainbow in the Dark”
Rainbows need light to exist or more accurately they need light to appear to exist since they are more optical illusion that actual entity.
Often seen as a sign of hope and renewed spirit after a storm has passed.
There must be some light in Dio’s dark place to make a rainbow-even if it is just the light of creative energy——-that wonderful thing that happens when pain and struggle produces an artistic array of spirit.
The force that turns inspiration into magic.
A power so great that it can take depression and form a wave that a whole crowd can be swept up in.
Power to take many who feel alone and connect all the dots to bring them together with one voice.
This music seems to emanate from depression and anger.
Emotional anguish turned and polished until it shines clean.
Dio makes metal out of rock.
Cave of Fame 
I should listen to more music, it always helps me. Absolutely love the picture
sorry I missed this reply- thanks for stopping by the cave 🙂
Awesome Wayne, “Dio makes Metal out of Rock” that at least makes him a Blacksmith, but I like to think of him as an Alchemist, turning simple things into Gold. Let me know when you tackle ‘Man of the Silver Mountain’ if you haven’t already (live version of that is better than the studio version).
I am working on a “lighter” piece about Elton John as lifting all that heavy metal has drained me right now! 🙂
Lol 🙂
Wayne, this is a great post with strong-as-the-storm writing. Nice.
Now, get down from that mountain. It looks dangerous up there.
Thank you Natalie! This blogging thing has been great for me. A few mountains and also some deep valleys but we press on with the journey.
This is an amazing post, you write in ways I never will be able to. Always smart and honest and pure, you did a great job.
Thank you-this is one I wrote and wrote and was still not happy, but needed to hit the publish button for my own sanity. I made a cartoon that I was also not happy with and decided to just throw myself on the precipice with a little Photoshop. That part was enjoyable. 🙂
A long awaited post and well worth it. Thank you for this Wayne. It was nothing short of beautiful and honestly brought tears to my eyes.
Thanks Marissa
That means a great deal because I struggled with this post so much. Some posts seem to write themselves and some like this force you to take a ride.
So true! Well done.
Thanks Mike and that dude in the picture is me taken yesterday-Rainbow and lightning added for dramatic effect!
This was great 🙂
Rock on!