Glimmer Of Hope
Anneke van Giersbergen: Through their eyes we will see
Bob Catley: With their hands we will create
Anneke van Giersbergen: In their world we will be free
Bob Catley: With our minds we'll shape their fate
Steve Lee:
Now the die is cast, the first step taken
A glimmer of hope lights up our lives
Visions of the past, dreams forsaken
Forming right before our eyes
We're alive
Anneke van Giersbergen: Through their pain we'll learn to live
Bob Catley: Remember all life has to give
Jorn Lande:
Now the die is cast, the first step taken
A glimmer of hope lights up our lives
Visions of the past, dreams forsaken
Re-ignite the sparkle in our eyes
We're alive! So alive!
World Of Tomorrow Dreams
Tom Englund:
I see a planet, perfect for our needs
Behold our target, a world to plant our seeds
Steve Lee:
There must be life, first remove any trace of doubt!
They may all die, don't you think we should check it out?
Daniel Gildenlow:
We have no choice, we waited far too long
This is our planet, this is where they belong
Jorn Lande:
We may regret this, is this the way it's supposed to be?
A cold execution, a mindless act of cruelty!
Bob Catley, Hansi Kursch:
In the World of Tomorrow Dreams, our future lies
In the World of Tomorrow Dreams, our hopes will rise
Tom Englund:
I see mainly reptiles, a lower form of intelligence
Mere brainless creatures with no demonstrable sentience
Jorn Lande:
What makes us superior, we did not do so great ourselves!
A dying race, imprisoned in restricted shells
Bob Catley, Hansi Kursch:
In the World of Tomorrow Dreams, our future lies
In the World of Tomorrow Dreams, our hopes will rise
Derek Sherinian: Synth solo
Collision Course
From The Ashes
Tom Englund: And as the smoke slowly rises
Jonas Renkse: Our planet's bare and cold
Tom Englund: But as the black sky brightens
Jonas Renkse: A wondrous world unfolds
Daniel Gildenlow: We're at the dawn of a new age
Bob Catley: As we hear the final cries
Daniel Gildenlow: Ready to enter the next stage
Bob Catley: From the ashes we will rise
Steve Lee: And as the smoke slowly rises
Hansi Kursch:Our planet's bare and cold
Steve Lee: But as the black sky brightens
Hansi Kursch: A wondrous world unfolds
Floor Jansen: We're at the dawn of a new age
Jorn Lande: As we hear the final cries
Floor Jansen: Ready to enter the next stage
Jorn Lande: From the ashes we will rise!
Glimmer Of Hope Reprise
Daniel Gildenlow:
Now the die is cast, the first step taken
A glimmer of hope lights up our lives
Visions of the past, dreams forsaken
Re-ignite the sparkle in our eyes
[A. METAMORPHOSIS]
"For the first time during my journey, the Migrator communicates with me. He speaks to me
directly, but without words. The Migrator tells me that my corporeal body inside the
Dream Sequencer has died. While my body will now sleep forever, my conciousness must
awake to eternity that lays before me ... for I am the new Migrator!"
[B. SLEEPER AWAKE]
[Ian Parry, Lana Lane]
Atomically into existence
A creator of life was born
This universal migrator
In his celestial form
Astronomical segmentation
A division from which I came
To go forth with a task bestowed me
And seek out new worlds for all
Fly up into the skies
A sea of blue has crossed thine eyes
A quest to save mankind is made
Just one earthly being his soul shall remain
My power of thought calls you
Sleeper...sleeper awake, oh you sleeper
Open your mind hear me sleeper
Sleeper awake, come alive
Our spirits they can never die
Sleeper...sleeper awake, oh you sleeper
Dormant inside, hear me sleeper
Sleeper awake, come alive
Your body is dead not your mind
A cataclysmic end for many
Annihilated Earth to the core
But one soul survives in stasis
A colonists spirit the source
You're the one not I, the chosen
With visions, a bright new dawn
To cross the starlit systems
A place where new planets are born
Rise up, you must awake
The here and now shall separate
The body frees the soul and mind
Your spirit will join me in time
Jorn Lande: Find your way home, little extremophiles
Floor Jansen: Fly, beloved sons
Tom Englund: Find your way home, donors of life
Floor Jansen: Fly, my chosen ones
Jonas P. Renkse: You're on your own, little extremophiles
Floor Jansen: Ride your frozen ark
Bob Catley: You're on your own, cleaving the skies
Floor Jansen: Ride into the dark
Chorus
Magali Luyten:
Carry out your dangerous task, sail uncharted spheres
Live out our dreams, ride the comet
Journey on the Migrator trail, cross the new frontiers
Pass on our genes, ride the comet
Jorn Lande: You are the future, little extremophiles
Floor Jansen: Fly towards the sun
Tom Englund: You are the future, you know what to do
Floor Jansen: Fly, it has begun
"It is 50000 B.C. The world is almost empty; nature is still untouched by man. Off in the
distance, a clan of ape-like creatures gather near a cliff side. But I am the first to
stand. I must be..."
Neil Morse, Mark McCrite
In fields of green, vast as the oceans
Is this a dream, is it evermore?
A million years, fast as a notion
I stand alone here on the silent shore
I'm after prey in the fields
Shelter in a cave from the cold and lonely nights
And now it all seems so real
Warming at the fireside beneath the pale moonlight
This is the dawn of time
I am the first to stand
Looking through the eyes of the primal man
This is the dawn of time
Witnessing the birth
I am the first man on earth
The skies of blue reach to the heavens
They go on and on forevermore
No avenues, no city sidewalks
Planet Mars is but ancient lore
This place has all that I need
No computers glowing screens, no industrial machines
Somehow it all seems surreal
Memories of days gone by, a slowly fading scene
No one here to blame me
No one here to hurt
So much space here to occupy my mind
I can breathe the breath of virgin land
The firefly at nighttime
The sounds of nothing known
And I belong here like I never have before
The wandering child returning home
When twilight falls, red is the sunset
Planets appear across the colored sky
No prison walls, no war, no bloodshed
Hard to believe this new world will die
I wish that I could stay for a while
In the dream world that the sequencer creates
And though it all seems so real
Now I fear the time is gone, I feel its heavy weight
Hold on to this moment in time
Savor a life how it used to be
Hold on to the world in its prime
THE VILLAGERS ACCUSE AYREON OF BEING THE DEVIL'S SPAWN, BUT AYREON PERSISTS
IN HIS INNOCENCE.
VILLAGERS:
Have you seen his eyes
Up in the skies
Like hypnotized
And he never smiles
He never cries
Have you heard his song
Fierce and strong
Right or wrong
Should he be condemned
For he doesn't belong
AYREON:
What have I done
VILLAGERS:
You've aroused the forces of destruction
AYREON:
What have I done
VILLAGERS:
You've unleashed the rage of the gods
AYREON:
What have I done
VILLAGERS:
You've denounced the wonder of creation
AYREON:
What have I done
VILLAGERS:
You've betrayed your own,
Now you have to pay
It has been foretold
In days of old
'N evil soul
Will corrupt the world
To achieve his goal
He's the devil's seed
An evil breed
He's gonna make you bleed
He'll take all he needs
With uncontrolable greed
AYREON:
I've done nothing at all,
Father Look at you, lying there, defenceless and alone
See I am no fool, I always knew you wouldn't make it on your own
Cos you're just like your mother, well, where is she now?
You'll end up like her soon, 6 feet under ground, loser!
I came here to watch you bleed, oh how I love to gloat
If you had any balls at all, you'd grab me by the throat
You don't even look like me, ha! Not even close!
You're an aberration, some freak...I suppose, loser!
I had my fun, I'm going back to the place I don't call home
There's no one there who waits for me, but you won't hear me moan
My ex-wives all sue me, and with half my kids in jail
I'll still come out laughing, cause me? I never fail, loser!
Rage NEVER! NEVER! NEVER! NEVER! NEVER! NEVER! NEVER! NEVER!
You're killing it from afar, go tell it in a bar
Agony You're alone in your bedroom
Hiding from the world, staring at the ceiling
Me Mother said 'he'll be home soon'
But he never was, and I knew how she was feeling
Fear You always let him down; 'you'd never be like him'
He'd always break you, never let you win
No matter what you said, he'd always disagree
You swore that one day you would be
better than him...one day you'd win
Agony You're hiding out in the cellar
Aching and ashamed, covering up the bruises
Me And then he would tell her
How I tripped and hurt my head, how I'd always be a loser
Fear You always let him down; 'you'd never be like him'
He'd always break you, never let you win
No matter what you said, he'd always disagree
You swore that one day you would be
better than him...one day you'd win
Agony You're all alone in your bedroom
How could you learn to care, when nobody cares for you
Me Mother said he'd be home soon
Arjen Anthony Lucassen ist Ayreon, Ayreon ist Arjen Anthony Lucassen! So isses und
doch wieder eigentlich fast gar nicht. Denn der Gitarrist ist der geistige Vater
dieses Projekts, die komplette Musik stammt aus seiner Feder, er spielt einiges an
Gitarren, Bass, Keyboards und ist doch nur einer unter vielen. Einer unter vielen
namhaften Musikern, die Schlange stehen, um auf einer von Arjens Ayreon Scheiben
mitwirken zu dürfen. Die Liste der beteiligten Künstler ist ewig.Vor seinem Baby
Ayreon stehen aber noch die Bands Bodine, mit der er zwei Alben einspielte, und die
deutlich bekannteren Vengeance, mit denen er es auf insgesamt fünf Alben bringt.
Natürlich erscheint der Name des Holländers auch auf unzähligen anderen
Veröffentlichungen und eine Scheibe unter seinem eigenen Namen ist auch zu
finden.Mit "The Final Experiment" startet also die Geschichte von Ayreon
und beweist, dass Rock Opern durchaus ihre Daseinsberechtigung haben. Die Story
handelt von einem Computer, der 2084 n. Chr. entwickelt wird, um Bilder vom
Untergang der Menschheit zurück durch die Zeit zu senden, um eben dies zu
verhindern. Der Mann, der im 6. Jahrhundert diese Visionen empfängt, ist blind und
hört auf den Namen Ayreon. Der Konflikt zwischen ihm und seiner Umwelt wird dann von
verschiedenen Sängern vertont. Der Erfolg ist enorm und die Musikwelt gespannt, ob
sich ähnliches wiederholen lässt. Es funktioniert. Zwar ist "Actual
Fantasy" nicht ganz so üppig und konzeptionell nicht so ausgearbeitet wie
"The Final Experiment", aber das '98er Werk "Into The Electric
Castle" stellt beide Scheiben in den Schatten. Musikalisch etwas progressiver
geworden, schart der Holländer wieder jede Menge Stars um sich und vertont eine
Story, in der er die Seelen oder Geister von acht Personen aus unterschiedlichen
Zeiten zusammen führt, deren Aufgabe es ist, sich aus dem Web of Wisdom zu lösen und
das Electric Castle zu betreten. Very strange but very interesting! Als SängerInnen
treten unter anderem der Ex-Marillion Sänger Fish, The Gathering Sängerin Anneke von
Giersbergen und Arjen selbst auf.Was aber zwei Jahre später erscheint toppt den
ohnehin schon starken Vorläufer scheinbar wieder um ein Leichtes. The Dream
Sequencer und Flight Of The Migrator legen die Messlatte für alle ähnlich angelegten
Projekte wie Nostradamus, verdammt hoch. Thematisch führt der Meister hier einen
Marskolonisten mit Hilfe des Dream Sequenzers in die Vergangenheit und veredelt das
Ganze musikalisch eher ruhig, bevor er im zweiten Teil bis zum Anfang des Universums
zurück reist und deutlich härter wird. Hier melden sich dann Sänger wie die beiden
Deutschen Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear) und Helloween Fronter Andi Deris zu Wort. Am
eindrucksvollsten ist aber der Auftritt von Bruce Dickinson, noch bevor er seinen
angestammten Platz bei Iron Maiden wieder eingenommen hatte."Ayreonauts
Only" ist dann eine "Best-Of" bevor Arjen sich mit "Fate Of A
Dreamer" unter dem Namen Ambeon eher den ruhigen Tönen widmet und mit nur einer
Sängerin, Astrid van der Veen, beinahe minimalistisch vorgeht. Doch 2002 muss es
wieder Metal sein, denn "Star One-Space Metal" geht etwas härter als die
Ayreon Projekte zur Sache, weshalb Arjen das Ganze auch namentlich abgrenzt. Die
Umsetzung ist aber wieder ähnlich ausgearbeitet, ähnlich komplex und entsprechend
ähnlich stark, wie alle andern Outputs des Multiinstrumentalisten.2002 Star
One-Space Metal2001 Ambeon - Fate Of A Dreamer2000 Ayreonauts
Only2000 The Dream Sequencer2000 Flight Of The Migrator1998 Into The
Electric Castle1998 Strange Hobby1996 Actual Fantasy1995 The Final
Experiment
"Finally we are approaching our own familiar solar system. But there is something wrong.
Reality begins to break through the illusion. I have an unsettling premonition that even
here inside my virtual journey I will never reach the Earth..."
Robert Soeterboek
A. PLANET OF BLUE
I can feel the sun burning on my skin
I can feel the sun from deep within
I can hear the earth calling out my name
I can hear the earth crying out in pain
I'm coming home to the planet of blue
Our own sun is coming into view
I'm reaching out to the planet of blue
Can you see me fly?
Can you feel me die?
I can almost touch the glorious rings of Saturn
But then I feel them slip away
I can almost see the yellow clouds of Venus
But then the sequence slowly fades
I'm coming home to the planet of blue
Is this the end, can it be true?
I'm reaching out to the planet of blue
Can you see me try?
Can you feel me die?
B. SYSTEM ALERT
Dream Sequencer system alert
warning - core processor buffer overload
please abort Universal Migrator sequence
System failure imminent
AYREON UNDERSTANDS THAT HE WAS NOT INDIVIDUALLY CHOSEN
FOR THE 'TIME TELEPATHY EXPERIMENT',
BUT THAT HE UNINTENTIONALLY RECEIVED ITS TRANSMISSIONS.
THIS COULD BE BECAUSE OF A MORE DEVELOPED SIXTH SENSE
AS A RESULT OF HIS BLINDNESS.
HE ALSO REALISES THAT HE CAN NEITHER ACCOMPLISH HIS MISSION,
NOR STOP THE VISIONS FROM PENETRATING HIS MIND.
HIS SOLE ESCAPE IS TO SUBMIT TO THE MAGIC CHARM OF THE GREAT SEER MERLIN.
AYREON:
I've been lost in the valley of nightmares
I've been found in the garden of dreams
speak thy charm, I know you are out there
cast thy spell and silence the screams
but as I poise on the edge of life
where time disappears
I bow in fear
to the charm of the seer
I've seen fear in valiant faces
I've seen hope in desperate eyes
lead me home to familiar places
lead me back to crystalline skies
and as I poise on the edge of life
where time disappears
I bow in fear
to the charm of the seer
I have failed, I have been forsaken
I've been scorned and misunderstood
I have lost, my life has been taken
Welcome! You have entered the cranial vistas of psychogenesis. This is the place of no-time and
no-space. Do not be afraid for I am merely the vocal manifestation of your eternal dreams. I am
as water, as air - like breath itself. Do not be afraid.
Look around, but linger not. Where I lead you will follow. Mark these words well. Ignite my
anger with your delay and punishments will come your way.
You are eight souls of the flesh, chosen from different eras ancient and modern. The trivia of
your mortal lives is unimportant to me... Indeed, some may die...
You have a task: to release yourselves from this Web of Wisdom, this knotted Maze of Delirium,
Reason Now you know the truth, what will you do?
Me I still can't believe it's true...
Passion You better believe it, and make them pay!
Me There has to be another way...
Pride You cannot take this lying down!
Me I gotta stand up, can you show me how?
Love You must forgive them and open your heart
Me It's all my fault, it tears me apart!
Agony It would have been better if you would have just died!
Me No, I've got to win this fight!
Fear But can you face them after all you did?
Me I gotta reveal the feelings I hid
Best Friend See him fight, he's all on his own...
Me I need your help, can't do it alone!
Wife Listen to me, can you hear me shout?
"It is the 21st century. The Final Experiment has failed. The final devastating war that
was foretold by the blind minstrel Ayreon has indeed come to pass. The war has destroyed
all life on Earth, making it completely uninhabitable. I hover above my own dead body..."
Lana Lane
Silence fills the air
Echoes fade away
Of sadness and despair
On that cruel and fateful day
My body lies motionless
Upon the kitchen floor
The Earth has died, the world's at rest
2084
Many centuries ago
In a dark enchanted land
Our fate had been foretold
By a poor misguided man
We carried on down the road we chose
The path of nevermore
The journey ends, the book is closed
2084
And now I have to leave, my work on earth is done
I'm heading for the planet known as Mars
To the last of its race, the final newborn son
"I join the Migrator on its long journey through time and space in search of the planet
Earth. On my journey I encounter many fantastic astronomical phenomena."
Ralf Scheepers
Fly me across the sky
Fly me to the edges of space
Show me the wond'rous sensations
And mysteries of aeons gone by
Guide me through a maze of stars
Guide me to the birth of my race
Give me the answers to questions
Reveal to me secrets of life
Journey on the waves of time
Lead me through the centuries
Lead me to places unknown
Sail me away on the x-rays
Of quasars that died long-ago
Carry me through the universe
Carry me back to my home
In search of the gateway
That leads us into the black hole
Journey on the waves of time
Our quest for life has now begun
The die is cast
Our voyage leads us to the sun
From the wind-torn ramparts of the Tower of Hope we survey a thousand futures. Release your
dreams from this electric pinnacle. You must have hope...
hippie
we're climbing up the stairs
and hope is flowing through our veins
futureman
there's magic everywhere
we've been released of all our chains
hippie
we're taking in the view oceans of blue,
fields of green
futureman
I fear this can't be true
we're still inside this dream machine
chorus
hippie I only felt what I wanted to feel
futureman I only saw what I wanted to see
hippie I'm at the end of my rope
bot] lost in the tower of hope
hippie
I see a brand new age
where peace and harmony prevail
futureman
but we're still in this cage
destined to die here if we fail
chorus & repeat second verse
hippie I only felt what I wanted to feel
futureman I only saw what I wanted to see
hippie I only went where I wanted to go
futureman I only knew what I wanted to know
both and we became who we wanted to be
hippie I only felt what I wanted to feel
futureman I only saw what I wanted to see
hippie I'm at the end of my rope
[Instrumental]
"It is the 8th century. I am a Mayan girl heading for the Jaguar Temple in Tikal on the
central American continent."
Jacqueline Govaert
Shine down on me, Sun of the Underworld
Set me free, chase away the night
Proud Jaguar, king of the Mayan Gods
Shining star, light up the sky
And guide me to the Temple of the Cat
Heart-of-Sky, Maker and Hurricane
Mighty eye, harvester of life
We were born solely to speak your name
Bring the dawn, we'll praise the sky
Here inside the Temple of the Cat
Upon his throne the High priest addressed the crowd
Now carved in stone his holy name
Beads of jade adorn his cotton shroud
His silvery blade on a golden chain
He lies here in the Temple of the Cat, dead
Best Friend Did he open up his eyes?
Did he try to touch my hand
Or is my mind playing tricks on me...
Do you think he hears us cry?
Does he understand
We are here by his side
[Wife] Why are you so concerned?
Do you really care
Or do you feel responsible?
Now the tide has turned
Won't you try to clear the air?
"It is the 6th century. This is where it all began. My tired body has passed away, but my
once-tortured spirit is finally free now. My name is ... Ayreon."
Arjen Lucassen
I've crossed the edge where time disappears
My life has been taken by the charm of the seer
My conscience is clear, I committed no sin
My spirit roams free now, carried by the wind
My mission has failed, the spell has been cast
I wasn't the first one and I won't be the last
This can't be the end, so let it begin
My message will reach you, carried by the wind
Out here on Mars I now realize
Mankind has vanished, tears fill my eyes
There must be a world I can live in
a new horizon
hear the travellers call
behold there lies a kingdom
go forth ye minstrel tall
sing of your wisdom
spread tidings of joy
a feast of song and laughter
ye courtyard minstrel boy
o'dance thee 'round the table
for conquerors and kings
thou muist win the heart of Gwenhwyfar
fair maiden of the king
thy lord thy master
Arthur thee so bold
heed the words of Ayreon
and thy future will unfold
sing ye tales of wonder
whilst ye hide behind the joy
cast thy spell asunder
ye courtyard minstrel boy
sing ye, oh sing ye, courtyard minstrel boy
a day of splendour
how beautiful birds sing
ladies, lords and masters
and rainbows he would bring
a child's sadness
sweet dreams, oh princely boy
let thyn eyes reveal the madness
futureman
from the cities underseas
to the skyways in the east
from the stations on the moon
to the planet of neptune
I'm a sophisticated man
and you would say I'd understand
is it a virtual design?
are we launched into a time beyond time
space beyond space
we are lost here in this cyberworld
is there no way out?
knight
I don't understand your words
they strike as hard as steel
I'm sworn to the sacred quest on the isle of Avalon
to retrieve the magic chalice
which holds the power to heal
only the pure of heart are received into the realm
roman
just look around you now and tell me what you see
a world full of treachery
skies of silver and seas of gold
the past is young and the future old
we're closed in by iron gates
beyond them Elysium waits
far away on the edge of the world in a time beyond time
space beyond space
we are lost here in the underworld
is there no way out?
futureman
from the birthcry of our race
to the mysteries of space
I'm an educated man
and you would say I'd understand
1. Echoes On The Wind
Tom Englund:
It's the calm before the storm
It's the quiet before the war
It's the time when all will be decided.
Steve Lee: All will be decided
Tom Englund: If nobody hears the echoes on the wind
Tom Englund: It's the end of the chain
Steve Lee: Destruction of the fittest
Tom Englund: It's the end of our reign
Steve Lee:] We've seen it all before
Tom Englund: It's the end of man's evolution
Steve Lee: The end of evolution
Tom Englund: For nobody heeds the echoes on the wind
2. Radioactive Grave
Hansi Kursch Do you hear the sirens?
Daniel Gildenlow: Do you see them burst?
Steve Lee: Do you feel the fire?
Jonas Renske and Floor Jansen: All the world's a radioactive grave!
Tom Englund: I can hear them crying
Bob Catley: can see the fear
Jorn Lande: I can see them dying
Jonas Renske and Floor Jansen: Washed away by deadly gamma waves!
Hansi Kursch: Do you hear them calling?
Daniel Gildenlow: Do you see them hurt?
Steve Lee: Do you feel them falling?
Jonas Renske and Floor Jansen: All the world's a blazing funeral pyre!
Tom Englund: I can hear the wailing!
Bob Catley: I can see the wrath!
Jorn Lande: I can see them failing
Jonas Renske and Floor Jansen:] Washed away by a scorching sea of fire!
repeat *
3. 2085
Jonas Renske: Silence's so loud, not a soul... left alive
Darkness's a shroud
2085
All our dreams have disappeared
They burned down... tree of life
Confirming all that we feared
2085
Bob Catley:
Don't give up, remember how we felt
Fire rushing through our veins
Now it's the time to rise up from our hell
Now it's the time to free our brains
Steve Lee:
The meaning of life is to give life meaning
Go too fast, move too slow.
Restore the balance between thinking and feeling
Open up and let it flow
Jonas Renske:
No side has won, struggle to... survive
Our quest here is done
2085
All our hopes have disappeared
Our race will... not thrive
Time will not recall the year
2085
Daniel Gildenlow:
Don't give in, remember all we learned
The spark of life if did ignite
We regained the rage for which we yearned
We regained our will to fight
Jorn Lande:
We must resolve this human equation
We're already dead if we don't try
To welcome challenge, genetic variation
Stop the machines, prepare to die!
4. To The Planet Of Red
Instrumental
5. Spirit Of The Wind
Tom Englund He's the last man alive
Steve Lee: Searching for the answer
Tom Englund: Knowing he won't survive
Steve Lee: To the mystery of live
Tom Englund: Relives the past, and dreams of the future
Steve Lee: Dreaming of the future
Tom Englund: And soon he'll set free
Steve Lee: And the sleeper will awake
Tom Englund: The spirit of the wind
6. Complete The Circl
Make us whole, migrator soul
Follow you home, complete the Circle
We must survive, restore our lives
The way I'll show, complete the circle x2
Hansi Kursch:
Send back visions
Into the past
Of war and decay
Floor Jansen:
Hear the final cries!
I can see the fear
In a world without walls
Anneke van Giersbergen: Through their eyes
Tom Englund:
I see them dying
We have to teach them
Migrator soul
Daniel Gildenlow:
We will gain our will to fight
We're at the dawn
We found a way
Steve Lee:
I know we'll make it in the end
Listen to the one man
Bob Catley:
We gave them language
What did they say?
What did they learn?
Jorn Lande:
We have no choice
We are the future
We are the pain
Complete the Circle!
Best Friend It's been 10 days
It shouldn't last this long
The doctor's mystified
Nothing's physically wrong...
Wife But maybe in his head
He's struggling to survive
Would it help if we talk to him?
Bring him back to life...
Best Friend and Pride Do you remember that time
We were showing off our brand new flashy bikes
Wife and Love You looked so fine
Until you both fell over and then started to cry!
Best Friend and Pride Do you recall that day
Fearlessly we climbed the highest tower
Wife and Love Then you became afraid
Too scared to climb down you stayed up there for hours!
Best Friend and Pride Do you remember that time?
Wife and Love Do you recall that day?
Wife and Love Do remember that time
Alone at last, naked by the fire
Best Friend and Pride Then all your friends came by,
They rushed in the room and you had no time to hide
Wife and Love Do you recall that day,
You proposed to me, and fell down to your knee
Best Friend and Pride You didn't know what to say,
So she knelt down to for she thought you'd lost your keys!
Wife and Love Do you remember that time?
Best Friend and Pride Do you recall that day?
Passion Can you see her light
Shining through the black
She's reaching out to you
What's holding you back?
Reason Can you feel her warmth
Glowing on your skin
Don't repress the memories
Lying on my back on a railway
Looking at the sky and its full moon
In the back of my head I feel the rumbling wheels
Shaking my memories
It's getting darker and darker and darker
My hands are frozen and steam comes out of my mouth
As I whisper my last words
Seem to fade away
The train is moving forward and closer
Can't stand up and walk away
Once I made my mind up so long ago
Now I can't change
It is just too bad
I feel so left alone, so forgotten
Nobody knows where I am, no one misses me
Cold water runs from my eyes
And the cold is freezing my last tears
Like I'm only half in my body, I can't feel
I think I'm already half gone, I can't think
It's getting colder and colder and colder
I can't breathe
The train is moving forward and closer
Can't stand up and walk away
Once I made my mind up so long ago
Now I can't change
It is just too bad
Cold metal - burning in my back
Cold cold metal - freezing
Cold cold metal - my head will burst open
Cold cold metal - it's been too much
egyptian
my journey's over
I'm standing on the edge
and close my eyes
to this world of lies
my will is broken
it's the end of all my dreams
my soul yearns
for the valley of the queens
my rose has withered
it will never bloom again
the soil is dry
time has come to die
my faith has left me
they've stolen all my dreams
oh lay me down
in the valley of the queens
my search has ended
my name is carved in stone
on the temple wall
beyond Osiris hall
no holy sunrays
will light my tomb of dreams
I won't return
Ah, my friends! So light of foot. So swift. You have come this far. And now - here beneath the
ancient, omniscient boughs of the Decision Tree - one of you must depart this world of flesh.
Only seven may continue. Only you can decide...
barbarian
let it be known I won't be the one to die here
honour and glory are heaped upon my name
let it be clear I'm not the one who cries here
what about the tall one, the one who's lost to shame
highlander
I've followed princes, I've raised their bloody banners
I've killed and wounded on the side of right
I've reaped the harvest, scattered fields with ashes
I've buried children, sowed the seeds of hate
all (chorus:)
we're alive
we'll survive
we will strike for
our freedom
we're alive
we'll survive
we'll arrive in our
eden
highlander
I've followed princes
I've followed kings
I will take their lead no
more
I will not lie
in shallow graves
(I'm nobody's slave)
barbarian
let it be known, by Thor the god of lightning
I have been chosen to do battle at his side
let it be clear I was born to go down fighting
what about the craven, the one who's lost his pride
highlander
don't speak to me of homour, pride and glory
I've tasted blood, seen your type before
you talk of battle but all you tell are stories
you'd see me buried in a shallow grave
At last! you enter the Electric Castle! Here in this vast hall where even shadows fear the
light - here you must confront your past. If you have killed, beware of the Gathering of Spirits
for they do fish for men. Here, the disembodied Astral World becomes flesh once more. I pity the
men of swords.
For here blood runs cold...
barbarian
cries from the grave resound in my ears
they hail from beyond my darkest fears
faces of the past are etched in my brain
the women I raped, the men I've slain
shades of the dead are sliding on the wall
demons dance in the castle hall
knight
I call upon the sword, the mighty Excalibur
grant me the skill to fulfill my quest
I call upon my king and the knights of the table round
grant me the courage to stand to this test
I call upon the seer, Merlin the sorcerer
grant me the magic to end my pain
I call upon the spirit that lives in a noble heart
grant me the passion that's within my veins
shades of the dead are sliding on the wall
demons dance in the castle hall
A. I SOAR ON THE BREEZE
indian
spirits-flying
I soar on the breeze
mortals-dying
I soar on the breeze
into the sun
lovers-crying
I soar on the breeze
demons-sighing
I soar on the breeze
into the sun
I'm drawn towards the sun
and then we will be one
my soul will melt into the universe
futureman It's all a lie
roman you will just die
futureman so don't give in
roman for we can win
B. DEATH'S GRUNT
death
I am the breeze
the bringer of rest and ease
I am the wind
the forgiver of those who've sinned
I am the storm
I blow the devil's horn
I am the fire
the source of lust and desire
I am the sun
the joining has begun
I am your fate
the guardian at the gate
I am death and I claim your final breath!
C. THE PASSING OF AN EAGLE
More than a million years ago it came To earth out of the sky from whence it Came is still
unknown and still we Don't know why
Way beyond infinity where time is lost And life has ceased to be there's a Cosmic entity a
bringer of life for all Eternity is this how it all began? the Dawn of man
More than a million miles from earth Somewhere in outer space behold a Planetary birth making
In a dusty room on a stormy night Away from all the crowds I rise above The clouds
Into a world once so bright where now The shadows fall and a thousand Voices call
Dream on forevermore our future's in Your hands close your eyes close Your eyes and fantasise
Only one boy whose heart is pure can Save them from the curse that's upon This universe
He's on a quest for the secret cure Across the burning sand to the edge Of the fairy-land
Dream on forevermore our future's in Your hands close your eyes close Your eyes and fantasise
This world was built upon human Dreams on hopes instead of fears now It slowly disappears
Scream as loud as you can scream For the empress needs a name or Nothing will remain
Dream on forevermore our future's in Your hands close your eyes close Your eyes and fantasise
A black shadow is crawling like a Deadly spider we're all waiting in Silence for the lonely
rider fore he will Lead the way for he will save the town We have to leave today before the Moon
is down
I'm haunted by dreams of a holy Mission I follow the signs of my magic Vision
We have to dig a hole and he will be Our eyes we have to reach a goal Before the sun will rise
Journey to the farside of the world no One will catch me when I fall follow the Trail of fire
no one will hear me when I Call journey to the farside of the world A distant place a future
time we'll Climb the tallest spire I will raise the Cross and the bells will chime
We'll pass over the river to the silver Tower run before the clock strikes the Final hour
He saw it in a dream he knew he had To die we never heard him scream we Never heard him cry
Journey to the farside of the world Make them believe the dream is true Follow the trail of
fire the moon came Down my time is through journey to The farside of the world this is the way
I overheard the elders telling each Other stories about the days when They were young back on
planet earth
I wish to learn the secrets of those Who lived before me so I program my Computer for a flight
to planet earth
Blue skies over the oceans sail on the Wind to the valley below rise high over The hills to
where the wildflowers grow
And I ride ride ride the waves of time Fly fly fly beyond the sky
We've abandoned all emotions Whether good or bad up here in this Station far from planet earth
I can't tell if I'm happy I don't know if I'm sad but I do know I'd have been at Home back on
planet earth
Black clouds over the debris storm is Raging over the land no life left on this Planet now you
will understand
And I ride ride ride the waves of time Fly fly fly beyond the sky
Blue skies over the oceans sail on the Wind to the valley below rise high over The hills to
Sit back and relax
Crawl into the maze
Within your mind
Leave it all behind
Now allow yourself to
Slide into a world
As real as you want it to be
A. The premonition
A STRANGE SENSATION COMES OVER AYREON,
AS IF SOMETHING MYSTERIOUS IS ABOUT TO OCCUR.
B. Dreamtime (words become a song)
SUDDENLY A VISION EMERGES IN AYREON'S EVER-BLACK WORLD
AND HE FINDS HIMSELF SINGING ABOUT THE HORRID PROJECTIONS
ETCHED INTO HIS BRAIN.
AYREON:
a cry in the silence
a shine in the dark
like a rising star
the dream is coming
images of violence a flight through time and space
it's such a lonely place
the dream has started
the smoke is rising
the vision's getting clearer
and words become a song
in the dreamtime
I've lost control
marooned and cold
I suffer the fears
of a future untold
I cannot change
the shape of things to come
the smoke is rising
the vision's getting clearer
the hands of time are whirling around
I'm realising
the future's getting nearer
and words become a song
C. The awakening
MERLIN GRANTS AYREON HIS LAST REQUEST:
TO EXPERIENCE ONE LAST BRIEF MOMENT OF SERENITY.
A. The time telepathy experiment
THIS IS THE VOICE OF MERLIN. LISTEN WELL,
FOR IT CONCERNS YOU. THIS CHRONICLE COMMENCES IN THE YEAR 2084 A.D.
MANKIND HAS VIRTUALLY DESTROYED ITSELF.
IT'S SURVIVAL DEPENDS ON 'THE FINAL EXPERIMENT'.
SCIENTISTS FROM THE 21ST CENTURY HAVE DEVELOPED
A NEW COMPUTERPROGRAM CALLED 'TIME TELEPATHY'.
BY USING THIS TECHNIQUE THEY HAVE SENT VISIONS OF HUMANITIES'
DECLINE BACK IN TIME. THESE TRANSMISSIONS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED BY THE MIND
OF A BLIND MINSTREL WHO LIVES IN 6TH CENTURY GREAT BRITAIN. HIS NAME ....
IS 'AYREON'.
B. Overture
C. Ayreon's quest
IT SHALL BE AYREON'S QUEST TO SING OF THESE VISIONS AND THUS WARN THE WORLD
OF ITS IMPENDING DOWNFALL IN ORDER TO CHANGE ITS FUTURE IN A LONG
MERLIN, WHO IS UNAFFECTED BY -AND THEREFORE IGNORANT
OF- THE 'TIME TELEPATHY' EXPERIMENT,
ASSUMES THAT AYREON'S PROPHECIES ARE DECEPTIVE,
AND SO AYREON MUST BE SILENCED.
OR COULD THERE BE AN UNDERTONE OF ENVY IN HIS WORDS?
MERLIN:
Ayreon, don't you know who I am
Ayreon, I'll have you know that I can
charm you with a wave of my hand
you bow to my command
Ayreon, you're an evil stranger
Ayreon, you've become a danger
your words are all but a lie
I vow that ye shall die
KNIGHTS:
it's Merlin's will, his will be done
the end has come for Ayreon
it's Merlin's will
and his will be done
MERLIN:
Ayreon, you're in my domain now
Ayreon, I renounce your name now
no one will know who you are
"It is the 20th century. I am a little boy peacefully asleep. My father comes to wake me
so that I can witness an historic event in the finite story of mankind."
Edward Reekers, Lana Lane
On an early summer morning, July '69
As I dream of the planets
I hear a voice softly whisper: 'son, it is time
It's happening soon'
It's a quarter to four now and he carries me down
To our place by the telly
I see lights on in houses all over town
For the man on the Moon
One small step for man
But a giant leap for mankind
The mighty Apollo prevailed
The Eagle has landed
I go back to my warm bed, back to my dreams
But not the one of the planets
I decided this morning I don't want to be
The man on the Moon
As I lie here in this cold tank, living a dream
I'm the last on the planets
I decided this morning I don't want to be
"It is the 16th century. I am Queen Elizabeth sending out the brave Sir Francis Drake to
defend the English realm against the invading armada."
Lana Lane
Times are dark now, our empire's gone astray
Forces from down south, armada on the way
So we call our greatest men to run the barricade
Shine your light where shadows fall and wash the night away
Sail on for your queen
Sail into history
You will never be the same
Sail on for country
Into our memory
Time will remember your name
Dragon on the sea
Fires burn now in once our tranquil bays
Tall ships that rain down thunderbolts and flames
Go and raise your pirate flag, cast the lines away
Take your fleet where darkness falls and turn the night to day
The sun never sets on the empire won
But wise men say never say never
It slips through our hands just like sand in sun
We thought it would go on forever
Dragon ships they keep on sailing, on to Nova Albion
[Instrumental]
Shine down on me, Sun of the Underworld
Set me free, chase away the night
Proud Jaguar, king of the Mayan Gods
Shining star, light up the sky
And guide me to the Temple of the Cat
Heart-of-Sky, Maker and Hurricane
Mighty eye, harvester of life
We were born solely to speak your name
Bring the dawn, we'll praise the sky
Here inside the Temple of the Cat
Upon his throne the High priest addressed the crowd
Now carved in stone his holy name
Beads of jade adorn his cotton shroud
His silvery blade on a golden chain
He lies here in the Temple of the Cat, dead
He will rise again from the Temple of the Cat
Tom Englund:
We have to teach them all that we know
Their evolution moves far too slow
Expand their minds and reject compliance
Upgrade their knowledge, upload our science
Steve Lee:
This revolution will lead to their demise,
We should not make the same mistake twice
We're kept alive by artificial means
We've lost our souls to a world of machines
Jorn Lande: Listen to the warning 8X
Tom Englund:
We need to teach them to fight disease
They seem so helpless and need our expertise
I see them dying all across the globe
Their greatest foe is but a small microbe
Steve Lee:
The sudden change leads to overpopulation
Shifting the balance, destructive habitation
Killing a live biological invasion
Consuming it by ruthless exploitation
Jorn Lande: Can you see the fire in their eyes?
Bob Catley: Can you hear the anguish in their cries?
Jorn Lande: Can you see the beauty in their eyes?
Bob Catley: Can you sense the love within their hearts?
Jorn Lande: I can taste the freedom we once had
Bob Catley: I can touch their pain when they feel sad
Jorn Lande: I can smell the fragrance of the air
Bob Catley: I remember times we used to share
Hansi Kursch:
Don't want to live in a world that's dying
I want to die in a world that's living! 2X
Jorn Lande: Listen to the warning 8X
(Before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction. - JFK)
(Humankind has acquired a collective power and ability to dramatically alter the environment of the entire planet - Gore)
(This will not be another Vietnam - Bush)
(The only thing we have to fear is fear itself - Roosevelt)
(Our task is not only to win the battle, but to win the war - Churchill))
Bob Catley: We gave them feelings - what did they sense?
Steve Lee: Shout out the world and put up a fence!
Bob Catley: We gave them science - what did they do?
Steve Lee: They built a bomb and they used it too.
Bob Catley: We gave them reason - what did they learn?
Steve Lee: Warmed up the planet and made it burn!
Bob Catley: We gave them art - what did they make?
Steve Lee: Nuclear weapons for their own sake!
Bob Catley: We gave them insight - what did they see?
Steve Lee: Degrade the noble, enslave the free!
Bob Catley: We gave them wisdom - what did they teach?
Steve Lee: Destroying all that's within their reach!
Bob Catley: We gave them language - what did they say?
Steve Lee: They put the planet in disarray!
Bob Catley, Steve Lee: We gave them dreams - and what did they dream?
Hansi Kursch:
Don't want to live in a world that's dying.
I want to die in a world that's living!
Jorn Lande:Listen to the warning 4X
Jonas Renkse:
A chain on guilt around our neck
A planet straying in darkness
Can we save the lives we wrecked?
I say we should find a way
I say stop this decay
Jorn Lande: Can you see the fire in their eyes?
Bob Catley: Can you hear the anguish in their cries?
Jorn Lande: Can you see the beauty in their art?
Bob Catley: Can you sense the love within their hearts?
Jorn Lande: I can taste the freedom we once had (freedom, freedom)
Bob Catley I can touch their pain (oh, can you feel the fire?)
Jorn Lande: I can smell the fragrance of the air.
Bob Catley: I relive the times we used to share (yeah).
Jorn Lande: Can you see the fire in their eyes? (Oh!)
Bob Catley: Can you hear the anguish in their cries? (Can you fee the fire?)
Jorn Lande: Can you see the beauty in their art?
Bob Catley: Can you sense the love within their hearts? (Can you feel the beauty?)
Hansi Kursch:Don't want to live in a world that's dying!
Jorn Lande: Oh yeah, so beautiful!
[Hippie]
Hey dude, you're so uncool
But hey, that's alright
Like there's no need to get uptight
My eyes reflect the stars
And a smile lights up my face
We're on an amazing flight in space
It's kinda groovy in this world of fantasy
Where no one else can go
Within these boundaries I'm shielded from reality
Without a care or woe
[Egyptian]
Amon-ra, have you come to seal my fate?
In the garden of emotions
Free my ka, how much longer must I wait?
In the garden of emotions
[Hippie]
I roam the universe in cosmic meditation
To find my inner me
I'm getting high on love and spiritual vibrations
To set bad karma free
[Egyptian]
Amon-ra, have you come to seal my fate?
In the garden of emotions
Free my ka, how much longer must I wait?
In the garden of emotions
[Hippie]
Mirror mirror I can see a lonely child, he kinda looks like me
Staring out into infinity
His father lies, his mother cries, his spirit flies up in the skies
Wandering off to another galaxy
[Futureman]
Secret fears we all try to hide
Lie dormant deep inside us
Defy the ghosts of long forgotten days
Here inside the mirror maze
[Hippie]
Mirror mirror I can see an angry boy, oh well I guess he's me
Rising up to the society
He's aware that no one cares and life's unfair so he grows his hair
And takes a trip into eternity
[Futureman]
Secret fears we all try to hide
Lie dormant deep inside us
Defy the ghosts of long forgotten days
Here inside the mirror maze
"It is 2800 B.C. I quietly witness the astounding secret behind the creation of a
mysterious monument in Wiltshire, England."
Damian Wilson
The moon sheds no light on Salisbury plain
The day turns to night and the bonfires cease burning
The druids gather round and the chants fill the air
Their echoes resound and the living world stops turning
The magic words are spoken
As we leave the plain in silence
Now the circle stands alone
And the druids turn to stone
The dawn shines its light on Salisbury plain
The day floods the night with gilded rays of sunshine
The magic words were spoken
As we left the plain in silence
Then the circle stood alone
And the druids turned to stone
The rising sun is dancing on the edges of the stones
Casting shadows, creeping down the Avenue
Into the heart of the sarsen trilithons
I marvel at this mystery, beholder of the stars
A holy temple, a sacred burial ground
[Instrumental]
"As we continue on our journey, we dive into a black hole -- a spiraling wormhole. As it
sucks us in, time slows and images become distorted. Reality itself twists and bends. We
leave the galaxy where our journey began, headed for the unknown. Where will it take us?"
Fabio Lione, Lana Lane
Hold on tight, we've reached the gate that leads us to the mystic zone
What a sight! I cannot wait to cross the bridge to the unknown
Defy the laws of relativity, gravity will be our guide
Surrender to the sea of energy that drives us to the other side
Faster than light, we're traveling time through the wormhole
Out of the night, into a vortex of fire
Time slips away as we plunge into unknown dimensions
A brilliant display, quenching my deepest desires
Will it take us where we want to be?
Will it show us what we want to see?
Through the wormhole
We're crashing down to our goal that lies beyond this cosmic gate
Ready for the enemy hungry for the battle
Fighting hard for victory in the army of the king
Armed with shield and sword we mounted our horses
Leaving on a sacred quest
On our way to fight the holy war
They attacked from different sides
Hard pressed with numbers
Could not even run nor hide
We had to stand and fight
Then I felt a blade of steel
Penetrate my armor
I did not dream the pain was real
As I went down I knew my time had come
And then he rode into the night
Towards that eerie distant light
That seemed to charm him
Until he came to a road that disappeared
Beyond the last horizon
He knew there'd be no way back
Once he had vanished in the blackness of infinity
And so he gathered all his strength not to descend
Into the valley of death
Into the valley of death
I opened up my weary eyes
The haze slowly lifted
The mighty roar of battlecries
Stopped ringing in my ears
I gazed upon a friendly face
He carried me to safety
I told him of this frightening place
And of my journey back from the other side
And then he rode into the night
Towards that eerie distant light
That seemed to charm him
Until he came to a road that disappeared
Beyond the last horizon
He knew there'd be no way back
Once he had vanished in the blackness of infinity
And so he gathered all his strength not to descend
Into the valley of death
Into the valley of death
And then he rode into the night
Towards that eerie distant light
That seemed to charm him
A force so seductive
And yet so destructive and cruel
Until he came to a road that disappeared
Beyond the last horizon
He knew there'd be no way back
Once he had vanished in the blackness of infinity
And so he gathered all his strength not to descend
Into the valley of death
Into the valley of death
I followed that road to the edge of eternity
He knew there'd be no way back
Once he had vanished in the blackness of infinity
I fought for my life
For I had to survive the ordeal
And so he gathered all his strength
Not to descend into the valley of death
Into the valley of death
Me Friday night, I had a few
There she was, out of the blue
Thunderstruck, nailed to the floor
I couldn't move, couldn't talk...anymore
Love Of all these guys it's you she desires
Secretly her heart is on fire
Waiting for you to ask her to dance
Go ahead, make your move...now's your chance
Passion Do it right, do it right, we ain't got all night
Do it now, do it now, I think you know how
[Pride] Let it out, let it out, now don't mess about
Let her in, let her in, let the party begin!
Me There I was, nervous and shy
Struck with awe as I caught her eye
I mustered up courage and walked her way
Figuring out what to do...what to say
Love Her heart sings as she sees you come near
The music fades, the crowd disappears
She weeps in silence as you pass her by
And she's wondering why...oh why
Passion Do it right, do it right, we ain't got all night
Do it now, do it now, I think you know how
Pride Let it out, let it out, now don't mess about
Let her in, let her in, let the party begin!
Agony Remember your father, well you're just like him
Nothing but violence and fury within
Remember your mother, so lonely and sad
This will be her fate if you treat her as bad
Fear You're afraid she might turn you down
All your hopes dashed to the ground
Nobody loved you, nobody will
Why should you even try...but still...
Me Friday night, I had a few
Wife There was no need to talk
Me There she was, out of the blue
Wife We just started to walk
Me Hand in hand, we took the floor
Wife And we danced, and we danced, and we danced
Me I could move, I could talk...even more...
Passion Do it right, do it right, we ain't got all night
Do it now, do it now, I think you know how
Pride Let it out, let it out, now don't mess about
Let her in, let her in, let the party begin!
Agony Remember your father, well you're just like him
Nothing but violence and fury within
Remember your mother, so lonely and sad
This will be her fate if you treat her as bad
Passion Do it right, do it right, we ain't got all night
Do it now, do it now, I think you know how
[Pride] Let it out, let it out, now don't mess about
Let her in, let her in, let the party begin!
Agony Remember your father, well you're just like him
Nothing but violence and fury within
Remember your mother, so lonely and sad
This will be her fate if you treat her as bad
Passion Do it right, do it right, we ain't got all night
Do it now, do it now, I think you know how
Pride Let it out, let it out, now don't mess about
Simone Simons:
Dear PX, I feel you are the one
What's your name? Where are you from?
I'm in love, though we never met
Looking for clues, I search the net
Dear PX, I'm waiting for your mail
Check every hour, to no avail
Been up all night, couldn't get to sleep
No way out, I'm in too deep
Dear PX, it's been 11 days
I'm kind of lost within this maze
Are you there? Give me but a sign
Are you at home? Are you on-line?
Phideaux Xavier:
Dear Simone, sorry for the wait
I've seen your pics, you're looking great
I'm all alone, dying for a date
I think we match, it must be fate
Simone Simons:
Dear Ol, I feel you are the one
what's your name? where are you from?
I'm in love, though we never met
Hansi Kursch: Is it too late to prevent their fall?
Bob Catley: Are they ready for the key to it all?
Hansi Kursch: The mystery solved, the answer to life
Bob Catley: The final solution, a chance to survive
Bob Catley, Hansi Kursch:
We can save this ill-fated race
Who are lost in the ocean of space
Show them the way to reverse their decline
Guide them back on a river of time
Hansi Kursch: Follow the wave, speed up the flight
Bob Catley: Slow down time, faster than light
Hansi Kursch: You might let the forces take a giant leap
Bob Catley: And the stream dive into the deep
Bob Catley, Hansi Kursch:
We can save this ill-fated race
Who are lost in the ocean of space
Show them the way to reverse their decline
Guide them back on a river of time
Hansi Kursch: Send back visions of war and decay.
Bob Catley: Paradigms of fear in a world of dismay.
Hansi Kursch: Shape the present, alter the past.
Bob Catley: Create a new future, one that would last
Bob Catley, Hansi Kursch:
We can save this ill-fated race
Who are lost in the ocean of space
Show them the way to reverse their decline
