Deconstructing Dio
Does anyone write more passionate gibberish than Ronnie James Dio?
Now, you can easily count me as a Dio fan just for the fact that he plays 1980s metal, in the style of Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath (and I don’t mean the 1970s sludge-rock they put out either, nor do I mean to suggest that I dislike the sludge: Sabbath was and is a HUGE influence on my playing and musical preferences). While on tour with UncleFucker, we’d pull into venues blasting either Waylon Jennings or Dio. We played “Holy Diver” so many times, Jack wouldn’t let us put it in the tape player by the time we got to Colorado. Dio’s has a very wide vocal range, and his delivery is so sincere and passionate that you understand the importance of his lyrics and how much he believes in what he’s singing. I have one question: What the fuck is Dio talking about?
Holy Diver
Holy Diver
You’ve been down too long in the midnight sea
Oh what’s becoming of meRide the tiger
You can see his stripes but you know he’s clean
Oh don’t you see what I meanGotta get away
Holy DiverShiny diamonds
Like the eyes of a cat in the black and blue
Something is coming for you (NO! NO!)Race for the morning
You can hide in the sun ’till you see the light
Oh we will pray it’s all rightGotta get away-get away
Between the velvet lies
There’s a truth that’s hard as steel
The vision never dies
Life’s a never ending wheelHoly Diver
You’re the star of the masquerade
No need to look so afraidJump on the tiger
You can feel his heart but you know he’s mean
Some light can never be seenRepeat verse 1
Huh?
it’s the title cut to the album. Here’s the cover: maybe we can glean something from the artwork.
OK, so I guess we can assume that the Holy Diver is a priest who’s been thrown into “the midnight sea”, right? Maybe? And perhaps “what’s becoming of me?” is the priest’s thoughts as he’s propelled, like the rock in David’s sling, into the sea.
But as for the rest? I got nothing.
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