Released	1986
Genre	Heavy metal Hard rock Pop rock
Length	37:54
Label	Atlantic
Producer	Stephan Galfas

Fight for the Rock is the fourth album released by the band Savatage, their first with new bass player Johnny Lee Middleton, who has since become the only ever-present member on each Savatage record released since.

Released in 1986, it is largely regarded as the band’s worst ever release by both fans and band members alike, with the band referring to it as Fight for the Nightmare.^[3] Jon Oliva went as far to say in October 1994, “I’ve never really been fond of that album. WE’VE never been fond of that album”.^[4]The band said that they were driven to make the record by their label, Atlantic Records, particularly Jon Oliva began writing pop-rock songs for other artists on the label such as John Waite. However, the label eventually turned around and told the band to record the music that Jon had written for other artists themselves. This destroyed the band’s credibility in the eyes of the press and reviews were not kind to the band. It not only destroyed the band’s image, but the negative critical reaction has been cited as a cause of Jon Oliva’s bout of drug and alcohol depression which eventually drove him from the fore of the band.

Atlantic also wanted the band to have photos taken since none of their previous releases had included any. The band hired a friend to do the photography work, one of the photos, featuring the band re-recreating the famous photo Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima. The band agreed this was a good idea at the time, but look back with the same feelings on the photos taken as they do the album.

Interestingly, when initially released, the album featured a Parental Advisory label on the front cover, despite having no “nasty words”, as Jon Oliva puts it, featured anywhere on the record. This was largely done to please the label, as they felt that putting the sticker on the record would drive up record sales. Although it did chart, the band have been extremely reluctant to perform any of the songs live, and haven’t done so since the early 90s. Even on the tour in support of the album, the band only performed Hyde, The Edge of Midnight and few others.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	“Fight for the Rock”	Criss Oliva, Jon Oliva, Steve “Doc” Wacholz	3:55
2.	“Out on the Streets”	Criss Oliva, Jon Oliva	3:58
3.	“Crying for Love”	Criss Oliva, Jon Oliva	3:27
4.	“Day After Day” (Badfinger cover)	Pete Ham	3:40
5.	“The Edge of Midnight”	Criss Oliva, Jon Oliva, Steve “Doc” Wacholz	4:52
6.	“Hyde”	Criss Oliva, Jon Oliva, Steve “Doc” Wacholz	3:51
7.	“Lady in Disguise”	Jon Oliva	3:08
8.	“She’s Only Rock ‘N Roll”	Criss Oliva, Jon Oliva	3:14
9.	“Wishing Well” (Free cover)	John “Rabbit” Bundrick, Paul Kossoff, Simon Kirke,Paul Rodgers, Tetsu Yamauchi	3:20
10.	“Red Light Paradise”	Johnny Lee Middleton, Criss Oliva, Jon Oliva	3:56

Lyrics

1. Fight For The Rock

Warriors of the night
You’re here in force tonight
Stand up, raise your fist ’cause you believe
You will never fade away
Rock is here to stay
That’s why you’re gathered here tonight
Pledge allegiance to the rock
Together you are strong

Fight for the rock
You know you better fight for the rock
Fight for the rock ‘n roll

Stand up, be counted child
Don’t slip away
Don’t ever let it get you down, no
Don’t live your life in frustration
Get rock dedication

That’s why you’re gathered here tonight.

Piercing sound the thunder clouds explode into the night.

Fight for the rock
You know you better fight for the rock
Fight for the rock ‘n roll

Warriors of the fight soldiers of the night
Stand up, raise your fist because you believe
We will never fade away
Rock is here to stay.
Let the torches light the sky

Fight for the rock
You know you better fight for the rock
Fight for the rock ‘n roll

Fight for the rock
You know you better fight for the rock
Fight for the rock ‘n roll

2. Out On The Streets

Far, far away I’d like to touch you
But you’re not here today
And now’s the time I need you most
I think about the days we were close
Baby I need you here.

I’m out on the streets alone tonight,
Looking for you it don’t seem right
Baby don’t you know I’m falling apart
How could you break my heart?

Walking down the avenues
The ones I would walk with you
It’s funny how the nights last so long
And with the dawn comes another day
Why won’t you call me babe,
You see I can’t hold on

I’m out on the streets alone tonight
Looking for you it don’t seem right
Baby don’t you know I’m falling apart
How could you break my heart?

3. Crying For Love

Never thought you’d go away
Did not believe the things you’d say
Now you’re gone
I don’t understand why you’d leave for some distant land
Could you ever feel the same
I’m calling out your name
I still feel the pain

Crying, crying for your love
I’m crying, crying for your love

Still I look all over for you
There’s nothing left that I can do, yeah babe
You’re on the streets
You know it’s wrong
It’s not where a woman belongs
Better run while you can
I’m calling out your name
I still feel the pain

Crying, crying for your love
I’m crying, crying for your love

Why’d you lead me to the door
Can I see you anymore

Crying, crying for your love
I’m crying, crying for your love

4. Day After Day

I remember finding out about you
Every day my mind is all around you
Looking out of my lonely room
Day after day
Bring it home, baby make it soon
I give my love to you

I remember holding you while you sleep
Everyday I feel the tears that you’d weep
Looking out from my lonely gloom
Day after day
Bring it home, baby make it soon
I give my love to you

Looking out of my lonely room
Day after day
Bring it home, baby make it soon
I give my love to you

I remember finding out about you
Everyday my mind is all around you
Looking out of my lonely room
Day after day
Bring it home, baby make it soon
I give my love to you

Day after day Day after day Day after day

5. The Edge Of Midnight

Can’t bite the hand that feeds ya
Cause you’re a woman of needs, don’t bite, no, don’t bite
Been robbed of your freedom, break the chains and be free
Life’s not worth living when you can’t have what you want

Beware the edge of midnight,
Telling you your dreams
Don’t touch the doors of daylight
Cause you will never be free
Never ever be free

I think that you were born on the black side of the moon
Yes, you know it’s true
Can’t control your palace of pleasure
Outreached hands to the loom
On your horizon lie a thousand broken dreams

Beware the edge of midnight
Telling you your dreams
Don’t touch the doors of daylight
Cause you will never be free
Never ever be free

I’d say you’d better listen to the power of the night
Believe it’s right
Midnight spirits rage in your mind
Can’t control the hands of time
And the days are slipping away

6. Hyde

A solitude of horror in his hours off guard
Nature took her hideous revenge
Out of the black abyss came
the creeping madness that was his other self

Hyde, Hyde

A good man to evil
From the potion on the table
Sampled by mistake
But now it’s far too late
A cause for alarm
He can do you harm,
Man into beast Prepares for his feast

Hyde,Hyde

Stalking the neon city
Standing in the shadow’s
Crimes of wrong nature on the twisted mind
Black satin cape
Eyes of insane fire
Lurking in the darkness
A killer on permanent hire

For some he’s but a tale
For others just a legend
Madness, myth and magic
Worth a warning mention
The change has taken place
Running from mankind
He may be after you
In his other state of mind

Standing in the shadows
Stalking the neon city
Crimes of wrong nature on the twisted mind

So if you care to wander
In a chemical adventure
It might be a mistake
The one you shouldn’t make.

7. Lady In Disguise

She’s not what she seems
Just a vision in my dreams
I wonder why
Face to face she appears quite strange
Never ever got her name
I’m a fool inside

Her eyes cried lady in disguise
Lady in disguise

I knew from the moment I saw her face
To the edge of the world I would chase her again
And when I’m out walking the town
There’s never a doubt that she’ll be around with another guy

Her eyes sighed, lady in disguise
Lady in disguise

I was captured from the start
Bodies touching heart to heart
I was holding her for long
Then I woke and she was gone
Then a voice called from the night
I’m still into the night

I sat up in my bed
Sweat was running off my head
This must have been a dream
It took me a while, then I realized
I still could feel her crystal eyes haunting me

I died, lady in disguise
Lady in disguise

Lady in disguise
Why, why

8. She’s Only Rock’N’Roll

She’s so tough
You better not try to rough her up
She’ll slap you in the face
She struts off to grace
A heavy night of rock ‘n roll
Killer, lady, child
Driving me wild

She’s only rock ‘n roll
She’s only rock ‘n roll
She’s only rock ‘n roll, yeah
Only rock ‘n roll

Oooh, when she’s bad she’s bad
A teasing whisper in the ear will drive you mad
She’ll get hot on the spot
She’ll give you what she’s got
If you can make the right connection
Killer, lady, child
Driving me wild

She’s only rock ‘n roll
The lady – She’s only rock ‘n roll
Oh, She’s only rock ‘n roll
Only rock ‘n roll, yeah

She’s only rock ‘n roll
She’s got the music in her soul
She loves it when it’s loud
Loves to mingle with the in crowd
This woman’s got style
Killer, lady, child
Driving me wild

She’s only rock ‘n roll
No, She’s only rock ‘n roll
The lady – She’s only rock ‘n roll
Oh no – She’s only rock ‘n roll, yeah

9. Wishing Well

Take off your hat, kick off your shoes
You know you ain’t going anywhere
You spend all your time singing your blues
You know you ain’t going anywhere

You’ve always been a good friend of mine
Your heart it bids farewell
The only time you’re satisfied
Is with your feet in the wishing well

Throw down your gun, you might shoot yourself
Or is that what you’re trying to do?
Put up the fight you believe to be right
And one day the sun will shine through

You’ve always got something to hide
Something you just can’t tell
The only time you’re satisfied
Is with your feet in the wishing well, yeah

You know what you’re wishing for
Love in a peaceful world
Love in a peaceful world
Love in a peaceful world, yeah

You’ve always been a good friend of mine
Your heart it bids farewell
The only time you’re satisfied
Is with your feet in the wishing well, yeah

No, everybody has a dream, yeah
Oh no, no, no, oooh
I wish you well, yeah
I know, know
All you’re looking for is love

10. Red Light Paradise

You long for the touch of the metal man
But on nights like this any man would do
You’re a lady of the night, a guardian of the light
It’s burning hot in you
Feel it burn inside you, yeah

Red light paradise
Red light in paradise
Red light paradise
Red light paradise
Oooh yeah

How long do you think you can carry on your wicked ways of love
Does it ever ever bring you down?
Is this why you were made, for this you’re getting paid
And you really like the foolin’ around
Sometimes you feel like running but you never will

Red light paradise
Red light paradise
Red light paradise
Red light in paradise
Oooh yeah, yeah

You’re hot and ready for love tonight
You’re always eager to be amused
Turn on the light in your window
At times it’s blazing bright
You scream for love tonight
It’s hot and it’s burning in you