Nightwish Storytime

“Storytime” is a single by the Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, released in 2011 as the lead single from their concept album Imaginaerum. The song serves as an introduction to the album’s cinematic universe, combining symphonic metal, orchestral arrangements, and a strong sense of fantasy-driven storytelling.

Musically, Storytime blends heavy guitar riffs with sweeping orchestration, choirs, and dynamic tempo changes, creating a theatrical and immersive listening experience. The song reflects Nightwish’s transition from traditional symphonic metal toward a more cinematic and narrative-focused sound, heavily influenced by film scores and musical storytelling.

Lyrically, Storytime explores themes of imagination, escapism, childhood wonder, and the power of stories as a refuge from reality. Written by Tuomas Holopainen, the lyrics function as both a celebration of creativity and a personal reflection on the importance of fantasy and inner worlds. The recurring imagery of books, dreams, and fictional realms reinforces the album’s overarching concept.

Vocally, Storytime features Anette Olzon, whose bright, melodic delivery brings accessibility and emotional warmth to the song. Her performance contrasts with the darker orchestral undertones, highlighting the balance between innocence and melancholy that defines much of Imaginaerum.

The song was accompanied by a visually rich music video, emphasizing fairytale aesthetics and cinematic symbolism, further reinforcing Nightwish’s identity as a band that merges music with visual and narrative art. Storytime was well received by fans and critics alike, praised for its catchy chorus, orchestral depth, and strong conceptual role within the album.

As the opening chapter of Imaginaerum, Storytime stands as a defining example of Nightwish’s artistic ambition—bridging symphonic metal with film-like storytelling and setting the tone for one of the band’s most imaginative and ambitious works.

Storytime

It was the night before
When all through the world
No words, no dreams
Then one day
A writer by a fire
Imagined all of Gaia
Took a journey into a child-man’s heart

A painter on the shore
Imagined all the world
Within a snowflake on his palm
Unframed by poetry
A canvas of awe
Planet Earth falling back into the stars

I am the voice of Never, Never Land
The innocence, the dreams of every man
I am the empty crib of Peter Pan
A silent kite against the blue, blue sky
Every chimney, every moonlit sight
I am the story that will read you real
Every memory that you hold dear

I am the journey
I am the destination
I am the home
The tale that reads you
A way to taste the night
The elusive high
Follow the madness
Alice you know once did

Imaginarium, a dream emporium!
Caress the tales
And they will dream you real
A storyteller’s game
Lips that intoxicate
The core of all life
Is a limitless chest of tales

I am the voice of Never, Never Land
The innocence, the dreams of every man
Searching heavens for another earth

Imaginaerum Album

Nightwish page