Theatre of Tragedyis a Norwegian band from Stavanger, originally assembled in 1993 by Hein Frode Hansen, Raymond István Rohonyi and Lorentz Aspen, together with Tommy Lindal, Pål Bjastad and Liv Kristine Espenæs. They are probably best known for their earlier albums, which provided a great deal of influence to the gothic metalgenre. The band was one of the first ones who made use of contrasting vocals - male bass vocals and death growls and female soprano singing, today sometimes referred to as the "Beauty and the Beast" vocals. On their first three albums ( Theatre of Tragedy, Velvet Darkness They Fear, Agis) Theatre of Tragedy presented lyrics written predominantly in a form of Olde English, an early form of the language prior to Shakespearean times. Starting from the album Musique, however, the band made drastic changes to their style, which became significantly inspired by the industrial rockgenre, abandoning Olde English writing, heavier guitar riffing and death growls in the process.
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Cheerful Dirge Lyrics

Theatre Of Tragedy

Hap mirthfulness! - Oh joy of grand riddance;
Undress me my hauberk! - the wyvern hath errant'd.
-- Ire of yore - bard of e'eryears -
-- I deem the brood hath wan'd - foe'ermore?!
Fro the chasm of the bosom, I hand back.
Hark! my dove - henceforth I bulwark thee! -
Feathers of swans in my pillow - I cede my heart.
Make haste! - I pray - respond my plea!
-- Lo! - a sire of great awe - a knight of many battles!
...And of kinsmen weeping for the slain!
Please! - heed my words;
In thy sorrow I will kiss thy tears -
In the bliss I will take thee by thy hand -
The sapor of grapes thou shalt savor -
And harken the nightingale sing oh so blithely!
-- On his knees... A plea to harvest roses;
-- No heed for the thorns yon count!
-- Wherefore vow me?
-- Wherefor this gildd proffer?
-- Wherefore not pay court to a maid more fair? -
-- Morn of a joyous day! Flower 'twixt weed!
-- Fertile desert! Cheerful dirge!
-- Misery me not! - man nor beast; envy me;
-- Lest 'tis an act of wont!
-- Many are the drapes that my past bury -
-- Ineffable feeling indulgeth in battles!
Tisn't what thou vambrace'st thy words with!!;
I bethink dotingly only thy weal -
Therein abdiding with thee
Is for me the grandest boon!
-- Forgive me for deeming thee direfully -
-- Yet I was a triffle daunt'd