• Biographie - Ayreon
• Carried By The Wind - Ayreon
• Day Ten: Memories - Ayreon
• Day Sixteen: Loser - Ayreon
• Day Six: Childhood - Ayreon
• Day One: Vigil - Ayreon
• Day Nine: Playground - Ayreon
• And The Druids Turn To Stone - Ayreon
• Day Eleven: Love - Ayreon
• Day Eighteen: Realization - Ayreon
• 2084 - Ayreon
• Journey On The Waves Of Time - Ayreon
• Tower Of Hope - Ayreon
• The Dream Sequencer Reprise - Ayreon
• Temple Of The Cat - Ayreon
• One Small Step - Ayreon
• Dragon On The Sea - Ayreon
• Temple Of The Cat (Acoustic Version) - Ayreon
• Original Hippie's Amazing Trip - Ayreon
• Carpe Diem (Chaos) - Ayreon
• Beyond The Last Horizon - Ayreon
• Ambeon Preview: Cold Metal - Ayreon
• Valley of the Queens - Ayreon
• The Decision Tree (We're Alive) - Ayreon
• The Castle Hall - Ayreon
• Cosmic Fusion - Ayreon
• The Dawn Of Man - Ayreon
• Forevermore - Ayreon
• Farside Of The World - Ayreon
• Back On The Planet Earth - Ayreon
• Actual Fantasy - Ayreon
• The Awareness - Ayreon
• Swan Song - Ayreon
• Prologue - Ayreon
• Merlin's Will - Ayreon
• Web Of Lies - Ayreon
• Ride The Comet - Ayreon
• Unnatural Selection - Ayreon
• Ye Courtyard Minstrel Boy - Ayreon
• Welcome To The New Dimension - Ayreon
• To The Solar System - Ayreon
• Time Beyond Time - Ayreon
• Through The Wormhole - Ayreon
• The Sixth Extinction - Ayreon
• The Charm Of The Seer - Ayreon
• The First Man On Earth - Ayreon
• The Fifth Extinction - Ayreon
• The Accusation - Ayreon
• Sleeper, Awake - Ayreon
• River of Time - Ayreon
• Magic Ride - Ayreon
• Listen To The Waves - Ayreon
• Come Back To Me - Ayreon
• Into the Black Hole - Ayreon
• How You Gonna See Me Now - Ayreon
• Eyes of Time - Ayreon
• Comatose - Ayreon
• Elected - Ayreon
• Day Two: Isolation - Ayreon
• Day Seventeen: Accident? - Ayreon
• Day Nineteen: Disclosure - Ayreon
• Day Four: Mystery - Ayreon
• Age Of Shadows - Ayreon
• Day Eight: School - Ayreon
• Connect The Dots - Ayreon
• Computer Reign (Game Over) - Ayreon
• Beneath The Waves - Ayreon
• August Fire - Ayreon
• Amazing Flight - Ayreon
• Abbey Of Synn - Ayreon
• Chaos - Ayreon
• When I'm Sixty-Four - Ayreon
• Waracle - Ayreon
• Waking Dreams - Ayreon
• Tunnel Of Light - Ayreon
• To The Quasar - Ayreon
• Sail Away To Avalon - Ayreon
• The Two Gates - Ayreon
• The Truth Is In Here - Ayreon
• The Stranger From Within - Ayreon
• The Shooting Company Of Captain Frans B. Coco - Ayreon
• The New Migrator - Ayreon
• The Mirror Maze - Ayreon
• The Garden Of Emotions - Ayreon
• The Dream Sequencer - Ayreon
• The Banishment - Ayreon
• Space Oddity - Ayreon
• Out Of The White Hole - Ayreon
• No Quarter - Ayreon
• Newborn Race - Ayreon
• Nature's Dance - Ayreon
• My House On Mars - Ayreon
• Dreamtime - Ayreon
• Liquid Eternity - Ayreon
• Isis and Osiris - Ayreon
• "Forever" Of The Stars - Ayreon
• Evil Devolution - Ayreon
• Epilogue: The Memory Remains - Ayreon
• Day Twenty: Confrontation - Ayreon
• Day Twelve: Trauma - Ayreon
• Day Three: Pain - Ayreon
• Day Thirteen: Sign - Ayreon
• Day Seven: Hope - Ayreon
• Day Fourteen: Pride - Ayreon
• Day Five: Voices - Ayreon
• Day Fifteen: Betrayal - Ayreon
• Dawn of a Million Souls - Ayreon
• Computer Eyes - Ayreon
• Beyond The Last Horizons - Ayreon
• Ayreon's Fate - Ayreon
• Another Time, Another Space - Ayreon
• Across The Rainbow Bridge - Ayreon

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

"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

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

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

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?

[Instrumental]

"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

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

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

"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

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

[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

[Instrumental]

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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,

"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

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

"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

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!

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

"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

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

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,

[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

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

SOMEHOW AYREON SENSES THAT HIS FATE IS UPON HIM,
AND HE IMPLORES,
NO HE COMMANDS HIS FUTURE TORMENTORS
TO GRANT HIM ONE LAST MOMENT OF SPLENDOUR IN PLACE OF ALL THE MISERY
THAT HAUNTS HIS MIND. BUT NO ONE HEARS HIS PLEA...
AYREON:
I sense a fear
deep inside
the end is near
I cannot hide
blood is spilt
my quest is unfulfilled
there's still so much
I long to see
I need to touch
I wish to be
I can't believe
this is all I can achieve
hark me now and let me go
to far-away lands and distant shores
an angel at my side
no evil plans or future wars
take me high on a magic ride
did you ever care
how I could feel
as you dreamt up
this one-way deal
my lords of time
don't you understand
my life's been rough
I was born to lose
I've had enough
of them future-blues
grant my wish
my wish is your command
THE GREAT MERLIN, ARTHUR'S MAGICIAN AND PROPHET,
HAS OBSERVED AYREON'S ENDEAVOURS ARGUS-EYED,

AYREON WARNS THE PEOPLE THAT IF MAN DOES NOT MEND HIS WAYS,
MAN WILL CONTAMINATE THE SKIES, SO THERE WILL BE NO MORE AIR TO BREATHE,
HE WILL POISON THE SEAS,
SO THERE WILL BE NO MORE WATER TO DRINK AND HE WILL POLLUTE THE LAND,
SO THERE WILL BE NO MORE FOOD TO LIVE ON.
AYREON:
all the trees have fallen
the soil is scorched and dry
I can't respire
a storm of fire
is raging in the sky
where is all the wildlife
extinct from pole to pole
the hunt for skin
a deadly sin
took it's heavy toll
the seas are red, the skies are grim
the soil is filled with graves
the earth is dead, the sun is dim
listen to the waves
we befoul the air
and burn a hole in the sky
deadly rays
from outer space
cause our race to die
standing at the crossroads
a choice of life and death
we'll take more care
and clear the air

Let me take you back
To the time when we were chasing all the girls
Two maniacs
Indulging in the pleasures of this world
So much to see, so much to live for
Questions to answer, places to go
So much to be, so much to care for
Deep down inside I think you know
You are free...come back to me!
Look ahead and see
There are still so many borders we could cross
Just you and me
Making up for all the time that we have lost
So much to see
He may be right
so much to live for
I've got to fight
Questions to answer
I will pull through
places to go
take me with you
So much to be
I will not break
so much to care for
I must awake
Deep down inside I think you know
I think I know
You are free
I am free
Come back to me!
Aaaah, aaaah come back to me
There's no way out, my whole world is black!
Aaaah, aaaah come back to me
I try to shout, something's holding me back!

"We have reached our first destination: the black hole in the Virgo cluster of galaxies.
But what will we find inside? Its power is immeasurable. Our hopes and fears intermingle
as we stand at the event horizon. Will its
doorway transport us to our faraway planet Earth, or will its fury mercilessly tear us
apart?"
Bruce Dickinson, Lana Lane
A. THE EYE OF THE UNIVERSE
A dark sphere surrounds us
Surreal...oblivious...
In the centre of the galaxy
A hidden force has found us
Powerful...mysterious...
At the boundary of eternity
Nothing escapes, not even light
Beyond the mystical horizon
We surrender to its might
Gazing into the eye of the universe
A deep roar is sounding
Deafening...thunderous...
As if the universe were crying
My heart is pounding
Frantic...delirious...
My every nerve is dying
B. HALO OF DARKNESS
I hear screams of fallen souls, sad cries of agony
Within the void of this evil hole, deep inside the black
Could it be my imagination, the mirror of my fantasy?
A fear-induced hallucination
Or is there no way back from the halo of darkness?
Spirits - apparitions - misery - suffering
Horrid dreams and dire visions rising up from the black
Look away in disbelief, this cannot be happening
The end has come, I bow in grief
There is no way back from the halo of darkness
C. THE FINAL DOOR
Now silence devours us
Massive...suffocating...
The calm before the storm
Gravity overpowers us
Invincible...dominating...
And leads us through the final door
Feed me light, I'm the halo of darkness

originally by Alice Cooper
Dear darlin' surprised to hear from me?
Bet you're sittin' drinkin' coffee, yawnin' sleepily
Just to let you know
I'm gonna be home soon
I'm kinda awkward and afraid
Time has changed your point of view
How you gonna see me now
Please don't see me ugly babe
'Cause I know I let you down
In oh so many ways
How you gonna see me now
Since we've been on our own
Are you gonna love the man
When the man gets home
Listen darlin' now I'm heading for the west
Straightened out my head but my old heart is still a mess
Yes I'm worried honey
Guess that's natural though
It's like I'm waiting for a welcome sign
Like a hobo in the snow
How you gonna see me now
Please don't see me ugly babe
'Cause I know I let you down
In oh so many ways
How you gonna see me now
Since we've been on our own
Are you gonna love the man
When the man gets home
And just like the first time
We're just strangers again
I might have grown out of style
In the place I've been
And just like the first time
I'll be shakin' inside
When I walk in the door
There'll be no place to hide
How you gonna see me now
Please don't see me ugly babe
'Cause I know I let you down
In oh so many ways
How you gonna see me now
Since we've been on our own
Are you gonna love the man

A. Eyes of time
IT SLOWLY DAWNS ON AYREON THAT THESE VISIONS HE IS EXPERIENCING
ARE VISIONS OF THE FUTURE BUT HE DOES NOT FULLY COMPREHEND
THEIR IMPORTANCE YET.
AYREON:
I cannot see with these eyes
my world is dark
like a cold eternal night
I could not tell you no lies
my words are lost
in a shroud of mysery
VILLAGERS:
tell me what you see
[AYREON:]
I cannot tell you now
I see the world through the eyes of time
VILLAGERS:
tell me what you feel
AYREON:
I wouldn't know how
I cannot free my mind
from the eyes of time
I do not know where I am
I'm lost in time
drifting in eternity
I cannot tell if it's real
or fantasy
or a view of things to come
I'm still trying to understand
why do I see the things I see
could it be a future world
that's warning us through me
I'm still trying to understand
why do I know the things I know
doe it mean I'm a god
will nobody tell me so?
B. Brainwaves
IT ALL GETS TOO CONFUSING FOR AYREON AND THE THIN LINE BETWEEN

Anneke van Giersbergen:
No need x5
No need to feel the pain
No need to feel betrayed
No need to feel inane
No need to feel afraid
Jorn Lande:]
Wake me up before I die, hold me close
As I gaze upon to the sky, comatose
No reason to survive, I suppose
Wake us up before we die
Anneke: No need to feel desire
Jorn Lande: But I need you with me
Anneke: No need to feel so small
Jorn Lande: But I need to feel secure
Anneke: No need to feel the fire
Jorn Lande: But I need to feel free
Anneke: No need to feel at all
Jorn Lande: But I need to know for sure
Jorn Lande:
Wake me up before I die, hold me close
As I gaze upon the sky, comatose
No reason to survive, I suppose

I'm your top prime cut of meat, I'm your choice,
I wanna be elected,
I'm your yankee doodle dandy in a gold Rolls Royce,
I wanna be elected,
Kids want a savior, don't need a fake,
I wanna be elected,
We're all gonna rock to the rules that I make,
I wanna be elected, elected, elected.
I never lied to you, I've always been cool,
I wanna be elected,
I gotta get the vote, and I told you 'bout school,
I wanna be elected, elected, elected,
Hallelujah, I wanna be selected,
Everyone in the United States of America.
We're gonna win this one, take the country by storm,
We're gonna be elected,
You and me together, young and strong,
We're gonna be elected, elected, elected,
Respected, selected, call collected,
I wanna be elected, elected.
And if I am elected
I promise the formation of a new party
A third party, the Wild Party!
I know we have problems,
We got problems right here in Central City,
We have problems on the North, South, East and West,
New York City, Saint Louis, Philadelphia, Los Angeles,
Detroit, Chicago,
Everybody has problems,

Me I can't move, I can't feel my body
I don't remember anything
What place is this...how did I get here?
I don't understand, what's happening...
Am I alone?
Fear You've been deserted, everyone has left you
You know it's always been that way
Those frantic years, the people you've neglected
Now the time has come to pay
You're alone
No one here is dancing to your tune
Me Is this a dream or is it real?
Reason Sometimes the dream becomes reality
Me But I don't know what to feel
Reason Then I will guide you through this haze
Me But who are you, why are you here?
Reason I am you and you are all of us
Me I can't think, my mind ain't clear
Reason Then I will free you from this maze
Passion Can't you feel it burn
Deep down inside?
Won't you ever learn
Don't try to hide
Can't you feel that fire?
Scorching your soul?
A wounded man's desire
Out of control
Pride I can't believe you're giving up
That's not your way
I can't believe you'd pass the chance to make them pay
You've always had complete control
Never thinking twice
You always called the shots, a heart as cold as ice
Me You're delusions of my mind
Reason And so we are, we're all a part of you
Me Am I a part of some design?
Reason The one design is in your head
Me How can it be you look so real...
Reason We are as real as you imagine us
Me I can touch you, I can feel...
Reason Then take my hand and follow me
Passion Can't you feel it burn
Deep down inside?
Won't you ever learn
Don't try to hide
Can't you feel that fire?
Scorching your soul?
A wounded man's desire
Out of control
Pride I can't believe you're giving up
That's not your way
I can't believe you'd pass the chance to make them pay
You've always had complete control
Never thinking twice
You always called the shots, a heart as cold as ice
Love Close your eyes, listen to your heart beat
Surrender to its soothing pulse
Silence the cries, gentle and carefree
Good or bad, true or false...
You're not alone
You'll find me here whenever they oppose you
I am the strongest of them all
No need to fear these feelings that enclose you
I'm here to catch you when you fall
You're not alone
I am here dancing to your tune
Passion Can't you feel it burn
Deep down inside?
Won't you ever learn
Don't try to hide
Can't you feel that fire?
Scorching your soul?
A wounded man's desire
Out of control
Pride I can't believe you're giving up
That's not your way
I can't believe you'd pass the chance to make them pay
You've always had complete control
Never thinking twice

Reason You're driving home, It's one PM
You cannot function, you're a broken man
Your past is catching up with you
Only her tenderness can help you through
you see her smile, at another man
Wife Did you see me smile at another man?
It was only us, please understand...
Reason
You see him hold her, in his arms
Wife Did you see him hold me in his arms?
We needed warmth, we meant no harm...
Agony Love left you, without me you're all alone!
Reason Tears of sorrow fill your eyes
Your cold and wretched life flashes by
Is that your father standing there?
You turn the wheel, you no longer care...
You saw her smile at another man
Wife Did you see me smile at another man?
It was only us, please understand...
Reason You saw him hold her, in his arms
Wife Did you see him hold me in his arms?
We needed warmth, we meant no harm...
Agony Love left you, without me you're all alone!
Love wrecked you!
Passion You saw her smile at another man
Now you finally understand
He held her in his arms
You've nothing left, it's gone too far...
Agony Your memory begins to clear
Now you see what brought you here
You try to open up your eyes
But the doubts leave you paralyzed
Wife I smiled at another man
Please understand...
He held me in his arms
We meant no harm...
Agony Love left you, without me you're all alone!

Best Friend My good friend, I hope you hear my voice
I must alleviate this ache
I've thought about this and found I have no choice
I have to tell you this for conscience sake
I felt alone, forsaken and afraid
Out of work and out of love
I needed someone to ease some of the pain
And she was there for me when times were rough
Wife My sweet love, my heart belongs to you
But I was lonely and the need for passion grew
You were never here, and even when you were
Most of my words would go unheard
Best Friend I'd be there to comfort her
Wife We'd share our distress
Best Friend But we were never in love
Wife Can you forgive us?
Best Friend My good friend, well maybe I am wrong
I think you saw us on that day
I want you to know, she loved you all along
I hope that this will help you in some way
Wife My sweet love, my heart belongs to you
But I was lonely and the need for passion grew
You were never here, and even when you were
Most of my words would go unheard
Best Friend I'd be there to comfort her
Wife We'd share our distress
Best Friend But we were never in love
Wife Can you forgive us?
Love Don't be afraid, her heart belongs to you
Passion Don't be afraid, don't keep her waiting
Love It's time to rise, and tell them what you feel
Passion You have to let them know
Love Here the dream ends, this is real
Me I'll be there to comfort her
Passion I know you will be!
Me I'll come back to life

Best Friend No, I can't seem to figure out what happened
On the brightest hour of day, no car in sight
No, I can't seem to accept these strange conditions
No matter what they say, it doesn't feel right
Wife Do you think he's seen it?
Best Friend I don't think he did
Wife Do you think he knows it?
Best Friend I don't think he knows
Wife Do you think he's been there?
Best Friend I don't think he was
Wife Do you think he'll die?
Best Friend I don't think he will
[Wife] No, could it have been a moment of distraction?
A creature on the road, a plane in the air...
Best Friend Do you think he's seen it?
Wife I don't think he did
Best Friend Do you think he knows it?
Wife I don't think he knows
Best Friend Do you think he's been there?
Wife I don't think he was
Best Friend Do you think he'll die?
Wife I don't think he will
Wife and Best Friend No, will we ever understand what happened
Will the mystery be unveiled, or die with him?
Best Friend Do you think he's seen it?
Wife I don't think he did
Best Friend Do you think he knows it?
Wife I don't think he knows
Best Friend Do you think he's been there?
Wife I don't think he was
Best Friend Do you think he'll die?
Wife I don't think he will
Passion Do you think you've seen it?
Me I don't think I did
Pride Do you think you know it?
Me I don't think I know
Love Do you think you've been there?
Me I don't think I was
Agony Do you think you'll die?

Tom Englund:
We never saw this coming
Pride comes before a fall
We never heeded the warnings
Buried deep within us all
Chorus:
Steve Lee: The age of shadows has begun
Daniel Gindelow: Giant machines blot out the sun
Steve Lee:] Frozen minds becoming numb
Daniel Gindelow: The age of shadows has begun
Steve Lee: The age of Shadows has begun
Daniel Gindelow: I won't accept what we've become
Steve Lee: We stand to lose more than we've won
Daniel Gindelow: The age of Shadows has begun
Tom Englund:
Our quenchless thirst for knowledge
Our urge to change and grow
Our need to expand the nation
Made us rise from the depths below
Chorus
Hansi Kursch: No more aggression
Floor Jansen: No more initiative
Hansi Kursch: No more suppression
Floor Jansen: No more emotions
Hansi Kursch: No more resection
Floor Jansen: No more of all the feelings that shaped our hearts and made us who we are
Hansi Kursch: No more possessions
Floor Jansen: No more suspicious
Hansi Kursch: No more obsessions
Floor Jansen: No more sensations
Hansi Kursch: No more depression
Floor Jansen: No more of all the passions that shaped our hearts and made us who we are
Jonas Renkse:
Time (time, time) but a passageway (a passageway, a passageway)
The beginning of the end (of the end)
An end that never was (was, was, was)
Time (time, time) but a curve in space (curve in space, curve in)
We are forever (we are forever, we are forever) eternal prisoners in time (in time, in time)
We are forever (we are forever) caught in our cold inertia
Longing, hoping, waiting, for no one...
Anekke van Giersberg:
Forever we yearn, forever we learn
Forever we live a lie, forever sleeping by and
Forever we flee (forever we flee), forever we will be,
Forever is but a dream, forever is but a scream and
Forever we try, forever we die,
The spell of love wore off
The zest for life not enough
Longing, hoping, waiting, for no one
Never enough
Zero (one) one (zero) one (zero) zero (zero)
zero (one) one (zero) zero (one) zero (one)
zero (one) one (zero) one (one) zero (zero)
zero (one) one (one) zero (zero) zero (zero)
Zero (one) one (zero) one (zero) zero (zero)
zero (one) one (zero) zero (one) zero (one)
zero (one) one (zero) one (one) zero (zero)
zero (one) one (one) zero (zero) zero (zero)
off (on) on (off) off (on) on (off)
off (on) on (off) on (on) on (on)
off (on) on (on) off (off) on (off)
off (on) on (off) off (on) off (on)
off (on) on (on) off (on) on (off)
off (on) on (off) off (on) off (on)
off (on) on (on) off (off) on (off)
no (yeah) yeah (yeah) no (no) yeah (yeah)
no (yeah) yeah (no) yeah (yeah) yeah (yeah)
no (yeah) yeah (yeah) no (no) yeah (yeah)
no (yeah) yeah (yeah) no (no) yeah (yeah)
no (yeah) yeah (no) yeah (yeah) yeah (yeah)
no (yeah) yeah (yeah) no (no) yeah (yeah)
Longing, hoping, waiting, for no one
Forever we try, forever we die, forever, forever
Forever we try, forever we die, forever, forever
Forever we tie, forever we die, forever, forever
Jonas Renkse: Longing... hoping... waiting... for no one...
Jorn Lande - ad libs in last chours of Age of Shadows:
No more aggression
(No more initiative)
No more suppression
(no more emotions)
No more resection
(no more of all the feelings that shaped our hearts and made us who we are)
No more possessions
(No more suspicious)
No more obsessions
(No more sensations)
No more depression
(no more of all the passions that shaped our hearts and made us who we are
The age of shadows has begun
(Giant machines blot out the sun)
Frozen lands becoming known
(The age of shadows has begun)
The age of Shadows has begun
(I won't accept what we've become)
We stand to lose more than we've won
(The age of Shadows has begun)
The age of shadows has begun
(Giant machines blot out the sun)
Frozen lands becoming known
(The age of shadows has begun)
The age of Shadows has begun
(I won't accept what we've become)
We stand to lose more than we've won
(The age of Shadows has begun)
We never heeded the warning

Fear It's time to leave your sheltered cage
Face you deepest fears
The world is against you
You're fighting back the tears
Me All the kids were watching me
I felt very small
I could hear the laughter
As I stumbled down the hall
Rage (human) Seeking to find
deep in the trauma as it leaves you behind
(human) Bleeding it gone
into the profit of the competition
(human) Loving today,
all of the feelings are they going away
(human) Ending it now,
I'd rather hear about the where and the how
Agony The bigger boys they beat you up
Out here you cannot hide
No friends to help you
No father at your side
Me I swore that I'd get back at them
But I was just a kid
One day I'd show them
I wouldn't rest until I did
Rage (human) Seeking to find
deep in the trauma as it leaves you behind
(human) Bleeding it gone
into the profit of the competition
(human) Loving today,
all of the feelings are they going away
(human) Ending it now,
I'd rather hear about the where and the how
Pride You've got to prove you are not like the rest
Reason There's no need if you know you're the best
Pride That's not enough, let the other kids know
Reason What's the use, go with the flow
Pride Be a man, give into hate
Reason You better learn to communicate
Pride Better to learn to protect yourself
Reason That's not the way to get out of this hell
Pride See that kid, wipe the smile off his face
Reason He's just like you, feeling out of place
Pride Well I don't care, let's show him who's boss
Reason That's not the way to get your message across
Pride Be a man, give into hate
Reason You better learn to communicate
Pride Better to learn to protect yourself
Reason That's not the way to get out of this hell
Passion Don't rack your brain, let it all go
Savour the moment and feel your blood flow
Me Then I got back at them
Still acting like a kid
Then I showed them
But when I had I could not quit...
Rage (human) Seeking to find
deep in the trauma as it leaves you behind
(human) Bleeding it gone into the
profit of the competition
(human) Loving today,
all of the feelings are they going away
(human) Ending it now,

Ty Tabor:
I hugged the wife and drove to work today
It was only a few miles
Was in no hurry but the lights were changing up ahead
So I stepped on the gas
I checked the web and left it on over night
Downloading all the latest files
Peer to peer, the torrent flows into my life
And I disconnect
Chorus:
Ty Tabor: We all know
Arjen Lucassen: We all know, no need to remind us
Ty Tabor:We all know
Arjen Lucassen: We all know but won't connect the dots
Ty Tabor: We all know
Arjen Lucassen: We all know, locked away inside us
Ty Tabor, Arjen Lucassen:
We are dying for tomorrow
We are living for today
Ty Tabor:
I rushed back home to my family
I got my son a brand new game
No need to cook,
I picked up fast food on the way
And it's finger-licking good
Have you seen little Steve today?
Guess he's still up there in his room
But if he comes down to
I'll be right here just staring at the tube
Playing his game
Chorus
Ty Tabor:
Don't you think it's rather warm tonight
Especially for the time of year
I turn up the air
Pull the sheets up to my chin
And I close my eyes
Can't relax, can't fall asleep
Should I take another pill?
I turn up the lights, light up a cigarette and smile
I've got it made
Chorus:
Ty Tabor: We all know
Arjen Lucassen: We all know, no need to remind us
Ty Tabor: We all know
Arjen Lucassen: We all know, but won't connect the dots
Ty Tabor: We all know
Arjen Lucassen: We all know, locked away inside us
Ty Tabor, Arjen Lucassen:
We are dying for tomorrow
Ty Tabor: We all know
Arjen Lucassen: We all know, no need to remind us
Ty Tabor: We all know
Arjen Lucassen: We all know, but won't connect the dots
Ty Tabor: We all know
Arjen Lucassen We all know, locked away inside us
Ty Tabor, Arjen Lucassen:
We are dying for tomorrow

AYREON DESCRIBES A DISTANT FUTURE IN WHICH TECHNOLOGY TRIUMPHS OVER PASSION,
AND 'SERVING' COMPUTERS WILL GRADYALLY GAIN CONTROL OVER MANKIND.
AYREON:
I see a future cold as ice
where all the love has gone
I see a race that pays the price
for everything it's done
I see shadows of giant machines
cast upon the land
I see a world where kings nor queens
but chips are in command
COMPUTER...COMPUTER...COMPUTER...
COMPUTER-REIGN
now the end has just begun
technology has won
and it cannot be undone
there will be nowhere to run
now the damage has been done
GAME OVER! GAME OVER!
I see a game gone out of hand
and memories erased
I see a programmed masterplan
and man will be replaced
I see a planet die in space
and slowly fade away
I see the end of the human race

Beneath The Waves
Daniel Gindelow:
The water breaks the golden sunrays
Silver dances on the wave
But a memory...
I often dream about the old days
Playing hide and seek within the caves
But a memory...
Bob Catley:
I still feel the rising tides embrace me
Carrying me to a place unknown
But a memory...
I remember all the love they gave me
In this fluid world we call our home
But a memory...
Anneke van Giersbergen, Floor Jansen: Beneath the waves we were invincible
Floor Jansen: In a world without frontiers
Anneke van Giersbergen: World without walls
Anneke van Giersbergen, Floor Jansen: Beneath the waves we were inseparable
Floor Jansen: In a world without walls
Steve Lee:
Faces of cerulean oceans
Mirroring stars and sable skies
But a memory...
How I miss the sense of sweet emotions
Of a world so pure, devoid of cries
Blind a memory...
Jorn Lande: Beneath the waves we were unbeatable
Floor Jansen: In the silence of the sea;
Jorn Lande: In a world without frontiers
Floor Jansen: World without walls
Jorn Lande: Beneath the waves we were untouchable
Floor Jansen: In the kingdom of the free;
Jorn Lande: In a world without walls
Steve Lee: Beneath the waves we were invincible
Floor Jansen: In the silence of the sea;
Steve Lee: In a world without frontiers
Floor Jansen: World without walls
Steve Lee: Beneath the waves we were inseparable
Floor Jansen: In the kingdom of the free;
Steve Lee: In a world without walls
Face The Facts
[Hansi Kursch, Anneke van Giersbergen, Floor Jansen:]
Face the facts, there is no way back
Arise! It's time to act
Face the acts, our future is black
Our eyes were on the wrong track x3
But A Memory...
Tom Englund:
Water breaks the golden sunrays
Silver dances on the wave
But a memory...
I often dream about the old days
Playing hide and seek within the caves
But a memory...
World Without Walls
Jorn Lande: Beneath the waves we were unbeatable
Floor Jansen: In the silence of the sea
Jorn Lande: In a world without frontiers
Floor Jansen: World without walls
Jorn Lande: Beneath the waves we were untouchable
Floor Jansen: In our kingdom of the free
Jorn Lande: In a world without walls
Floor Jansen: World without walls
Jorn Lande: Beneath the waves we were invincible
Floor Jansen: In the silence of the sea
Jorn Lande: In a world without frontiers
Beneath the waves we were inseparable
Floor Jansen: In our kingdom of the free
Jorn Lande: In a world without walls

Meet me where the river flows deep and wide
Run while the august fire is burning
In the waning light of the setting sun
Run down to the river
We'll go sailing home
Underneath a crimson red harvest moon
Run with the amber light unfurling
While the sleeping lilies still perfumed
Chaperon our path
Which goes sailing home
We'll underneath a star clad blanket fly
Out through the veil of night
Where the willows blow
In the waking light of the morning sun
There'll be no more need
To go sailing home
In the waking light of the morning sun
We'll bow to the river

There is danger ahead.
But do not be afraid.
For I am with you like breath itself.
Darkness will lead to light - colour will bleed into the night.
Beautiful colours, the like of which you
have never seen. Let the dream of confusion lead you into the virgin light!
Be gone!
Be all-seeing, be brave...
Be gone!
A. AMAZING FLIGHT IN SPACE
barbarian
I'm lookin' 'round bewildered
is this some dark and evil jest?
what brought me to this cursed keep
perchance some crazy quest
god forbid I am no coward!
pitted against monster, man or ghost,
I'd wield my blade with crimson gusto
for I'm the proud barbarian host!
hippie (chorus:)
hey dude, you're so uncool
but hey, that's allright
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
barbarian
I shook city, walls and towers
wreaking havoc in the streets
burned palaces of cow'rdly kings
not a one stood up to me
bear bloody banners in blazing skies!
brandish battle-axe and broadsword!
let drums of glory sound like thunder!
hail!! barbaric warlord!!
hippie (chorus)
barbarian
I load my black stallion
With grim determination
I found a kingdom
Where I chose to settle down
Righteous men would hang me
But I've given hell to pay
Cause nothing is as dangerous
As a barbarian warlord
B. STARDANCE
indian
chanting
C. FLYING COLOURS

Once upon a time as in Ancient history
High upon a hill in a shroud Of mystery
Loomed the abbey as we Journeyed through the night
And wended our way Towards the light
As we entered through the Gates
We heard the silent calls
There was something evil
That lurked within these Walls
As I relive my days in this Godforsaken place
All that appears before me Now...is her face
Another man died today like The ones before
With blackened tongue and Blackened finger
Within the labyrinth behind The bolted door
Lies the answer to our Mystery
Heed the book that kills -
It holds an evil power
Those who turn the leaves Wither like a flower
Well guarded by the seer Inside the abbey tower
For laughter kills the fear Within
The abbey of synn
We found the secret path That led us here to you
Give us the deadly book of Laughter
Too many men have died for A teaching of the few
Open up your heart reveal The mystery
Heed the book that kills -
It holds an evil power
Those who turn the leaves Wither like a flower
Well guarded by the seer Inside the abbey tower
For laughter kills the fear Within
The abbey of synn
And then she came 2 me Like a creature from the Dawn
Enchanting as the moon - Radiant as the sun
She took the boy in me and Gave me back the man
With a force I could not Withstand
The seer burned the abbey Down and perished in the fire
We couldn't save the book The flames were rising Higher
So many died in vain for an Ancient discipline
Laughter kills the fear within The abbey of synn
Heed the book that kills -
It holds an evil power
Those who turn the leaves Wither like a flower
Well guarded by the seer Inside the abbey tower
For laughter kills the fear Within

"I am the last human being alive. I am inside a machine called the Dream Sequencer on a
deserted Mars colony. I have selected the program called "The Universal Migrator". This
program creates a form of hypnosis which allows me to return to the very beginning of
life itself. From the safety of the energy tank in which I lie, I travel all the way back
to the period before The Big Bang where matter, energy and time itself all intermingle in
the chaotic unformed vacuum of proto space."
Lana Lane (voice)
Dream Sequencer system online
I will now take you back to the time before the big bang and the birth of the very first
soul called the Universal Migrator. However, system protocols require confirmation of
risk factor. No user has ever preincarnated back this far before.

When i get older losing my hair,
Many years from now.
Will you still be sending me a valentine
Birthday greetings bottle of wine.
If i'd been out till quarter to three
Would you lock the door,
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When i'm sixty-four.
You'll be older too,
And it you say the word,
I could stay with you.
I could be handy, mending a fuse
When your lights have gone.
You can knit a sweater by the fireside
Sunday mornings go for a ride,
Doing the garden, digging the weeds,
Who could ask for more.
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When i'm sixty-four.
Every summer we can rent a cottage,
In the isle of wight, if it's not too dear
We shall scrimp and save
Grandchildren on your knee
Vera chuck & dave
Send me a postcard, drop me a line,
Stating point of view
Indicate precisely what you mean to say
Yours sincerely, wasting away
Give me your answer, fill in a form
Mine for evermore
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,

AYREON SINGS OF THE USELESSNESS OF THE COUNTLESS WARS TO COME,
AND THE ABSURDITY OF THE FINAL ANNIHILATION BY THE PUSH OF JUST ONE BUTTON
BY JUST ONE MAN.
AYREON:
echoes of a thousand screams
smoke, blood and fire
a deserted battlefield
millions of men will die
at one man's desire
and the docile mass will yield
all through the ages
men will die before their time
in an everlasting war
as long as man is taught
that war is not a crime
man will fight for evermore
out of the ashes
a war-lord will arise
and tyrannize the land
his reign of terror
will cost many a sacrifice
an inferno is at hand
all through the centuries
men will be caged
in the name of liberty
as long as man shall live
wars will be waged
or will we ever be set free?
Set me free!
the road to ruin
gets shorter all the time
as technology will improve
it takes but one man
to commit the ultimate crime

Jonas Renkse:
Life, imagination
Missing link in the chain
We'll fuel your minds
Color your thoughts
Come to you waking dreams
Fire, inspiration
Missing branch on the tree
We are your rule, we are your blood
Come to you in waking dreams
Anneke:
Sail the stream as I dance upon the waves of a waking dream
As it passes you by.
Ride the beam as I rise upon the wings of a waking dream
As it fades in the sky.
Jonas:
Mind transformation
You were chosen
Live the the dream that we have been dreaming
Now is a time to come together and make it come true
Oh me and you
Anneke:
Sail the stream as I dance upon the waves of a waking dream as it passes you by.
(Dancing on the waves)
Ride the beam as I rise upon the wings of a waking dream as it fades in the sky.
solo keyboard: Tomas Bodin
solo guitar: Arjen
Anneke:
Sail the stream as I dance upon the waves of a waking dream as it passes you by.
(Dancing on the waves)

Be joyful, my friends! You will now enter the Tunnel of Light. Let brilliance suffuse your
souls! Make your choice. Your path is incandescend.
highlander
don't offer me the light, when I only know the darkness
thats where I want to hide
there's a chill in my bones, that I recognise from another life
that's why I'm heading home
egyptian ra - heliopolis, ka - anenti
roman into Elysium!
knight the isle of Avalon!
egyptian in the tunnel of light
highlander
don't tempt my heart with hope, in the shadows of broken promises
I guard my dreams
in the bend of a swollen river, in the roots of weeping willows I choose to lie
egyptian ra - heliopolis, ka - anenti
roman into Elysium!
knight the isle of Avalon!
indian the legend has begun!
futureman our one and only sun!
egyptian in the tunnel of light
egyptian ra - heliopolis
highlander I rest my broken heart, where the willows weep
egyptian ka - anenti
roman into Elysium
knight the isle of Avalon!
indian the legend has begun
egyptian in the tunnel of light
highlander
I will lay me down
I will rest my head

"We are on our way to the quasar, an object as bright as a galaxy. Our hope is that the
quasar may contain an unfathomable source of power and peril at its center ... a black
hole."
"On our journey, we receive the radio emissions of a pulsar -- an imploded neutron star."
A. THE TAURUS PULSAR
Within a distant nebula in the Taurus zodiac
I hear the wailing of a star, the weak pulse of a fading sun
All its fuel is burning out and its light will fade to black
I can't ignore its hopeless shout as it fires its death cry out in space
A star in Taurus lights up and outshines the galaxy
A fleeting moment of glory in time and space
A supernova resounds, a desperate symphony
Leaving behind a beacon fallen from grace
Lift your head up to the sky
And hear the faraway cry of a dying star
I heard its message from afar
A frequent surge of sight and sound
We approach the fallen neutron star
Spinning round and round and round
We attend this cosmic mass and we hear its sad lament
But even stars and planets pass in this cold and everlasting place
Lift your head up to the sky and hear the cry...
"We have encountered a quasar in the constellation Virgo. But does it really contain a
black hole, the portal to our final destination?"
B. QUASAR 3C273
Andi Deris, Lana Lane
Heading off into the core of a newborn galaxy
We have reached a brilliant star-like source of energy
This cosmic spectacle of radiance was formed
Fifteen billion years ago when the universe was born
To the quasar
Beyond the milky way
The redshift is high, a bright light in the sky
To the dark star
Beyond the light of day
The gravity's high, a black sun in the sky
3C273
As we approach the sea of light I'm forced to close my eyes
I can feel the vibrant waves of centuries go by
Then the pull of an unseen force is tearing us away

TO ENTERTAIN THE COURT,
AYREON MAKES UP A SONG ABOUT THE BRAVE KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE
AND THEIR JOURNEY TO THE ISLE OF AVALON IN SEARCH OF THE HOLY GRAIL.
AYREON:
noble men in shining armour
knights of the table-round
go out and ride like thunder
cross the sky at the speed of
sound the horn, 'n blow the trumpets
upon the castle wall
now the quest has started
listen to the prophet's call
sail away
sail away to Avalon
the journey has begun
sail away through the night
sail away, never die
the gods are at your side
sail away through the night
ride on the road to glory
find the holy grail
and learn the ancient story
's more than just a fairy-
tale about the key to life
and all its mysteries
you'll find the grail within you

And so it's come to this.
Two Gates - two portals await.
Let your choice be guided by collective wisdom.
Ah, hath the prospect of freedom ever tasted so good?
One gate completes the circle;one step away from your own dimension, your cherished time.
One gate severs all connections: one step away from the dreamworld of everlasting ebony.
You call it Oblivion.
It is a brave soul who makes the first choice.
barbarian
behold these gates, the first one plain and old
behold these gates, the second forged of gold
the gate of old spells out disgrace and shame
the one of gold cries out my noble name
I challenge death to meet me at this gate
I challenge Odin to pronounce my fate
and if I thrive I've overcome this land
but if I fail I'll die a worthy man
chorus
roman open the gate, we're now on our own
all enter the gate to your destiny
roman will it be fortune or fate, the truth shall be known
all enter the gate to your destiny
barbarian
cowards whine beyond the olden gate
Valhalla shines beyond the golden gate
I walk alone so dare not follow me
but choose your own and die in agony
chorus
barbarian (fading into oblivion)
What evil place might this be?
Why are the heavens so black?
Eternity threatens,
Darkness crashes down upon me, ohh!!
Like a big black bat of death, it smothers my senses,
Makes me lose my sense of time,
This cannot be a dream!
I need to be wide awake, wide awake!
When Valkyries come to take me,
To my place among the warriors,
To my place at Odin's side!
Aaaahh!!!
knight
we have been saved, our journey has ended
but tell us why, why this ordeal?
what was your aim, or was it just some game
have we've been humbled, or did we prevail?
we've been enslaved, our wounds have not mended
and who are you, what magicians or gods?
what was your plan, we don't understand
did we pass, or did we fail?

Arjen Lucassen:
Last night I had that dream again
My world was black as night
Plagued by visions of a future world
Liselotte Hegt: Mr L, did you take your meds?
Arjen Lucassen:
I sang about these dreams
Warning man of his demise
Wasted words that no one heard
Liselotte Hegt: Won't you please relax? I'll make your bed
Arjen Lucassen:
Today I had that dream again
I roamed among the stars
On the wings of an amazing flight
Liselotte Hegt: Mr L, do you feel OK?
Arjen Lucassen:
To a place beyond our time
Where the sunlight doesn't warm
And colour bleeds into the night
Liselotte Hegt: We may have to increase your dose today
Arjen Lucassen:
I know the truth is out there
Didn't you want to see?
I know the truth is in here
Liselotte Hegt: Why should we believe you?
Arjen Lucassen: If you want to feel
Arjen Lucassen:
Now I have that dream again
I live beneath the waves
In a realm of grace and majesty
Liselotte Hegt: Mr L, can I ease your mind?
Arjen Lucassen:
In the distant shadows loom
Cold machines rise from the deep
In a world once proud and free
Liselotte Hegt: Would you free your thoughts, let it all abide
Arjen Lucassen:
I hate to have that dream again
They live inside my head
Feeling everything I feel inside
Liselotte Hegt: Mr L can you please be still?
Arjen Lucassen:
They speak to me in dreams
They can see all I can see
They have always been my guide
Liselotte Hegt: Gotta hush now, please have another pill!
Arjen Lucassen: I know the truth is out there
Liselotte Hegt: Why should we believe you?
Arjen Lucassen:
If you want to see
I know the truth is here
Liselotte Hegt: Why should we deceive you?
Arjen Lucassen: If you want to feel?
Liselotte Hegt:
We are all alone
There's no one there
You don't have to be afraid
Arjen Lucassen: Can't you see through this masquerade?
Liselotte Hegt: We are all alone
Arjen Lucassen: We are all clones
Liselotte Hegt: There's no one there
Arjen Lucassen: I am so scared
Liselotte Hegt: You don't have to be afraid
Arjen Lucassen:
Last night I had that dream again
My world was black as night
Plagued by visions of a future world
Liselotte Hegt: Mr L, would you take your rest?
Arjen Lucassen:
They speak to me in dreams
They could see all I can see
They have always been my guide
Liselotte Hegt: Won't you please relax? I'll make your bed
Arjen Lucassen: I know the truth is out there
Liselotte Hegt: Why should we believe you?
Arjen Lucassen: If you want to see
Liselotte Hegt:Why should we deceive you?
Arjen Lucassen: I know the truth is in here
Liselotte Hegt: Why should we believe you?

He's a stranger I don't know Where he's coming from
Is he a danger to me or just Another man
He knows magic or maybe He's a charlatan
Is it a sly trick he plays does He have a plan
He said he came from a World beyond my dreams
From the depths of my mind
He said he'd burn like star And disappear
But leave his spirit behind
He's a stranger a man with a Destiny
A rearranger of fate a Changer of lives
They will erase him for they Are all afraid of him
They're gonna trace him and Then cause him to die
He said he'd cure me I do Not have to die
I hold my fate in my hands
He said he'd always be there Everytime I'd cry
One day I would understand
He was a stranger they shot Him and now he's dead
I'm out of danger he lives on Inside my head
He said he came from a World beyond my dreams
From the depths of my mind
He said he'd burn like star And disappear
But leave his spirit behind
He said he'd cure me I do Not have to die
I hold my fate in my hands
He said he'd always be there Everytime I'd cry

"It is the 17th century. I am a noble ensign-bearer posing with my guild for the Dutch
master painter, Rembrandt van Rijn, in Amsterdam."
Mouse, Lana Lane
I'm standing proud
In this noble crowd
My banner raised high the coat of arms of Amsterdam
To the mystic sky a magic light enchants the land
We're marching on
The shooting company of Captain Frans B. Cocq
My uniform shines the livery of a high-born man
The Claw-guild signs immortalized by the master's hand
Light and shade with colors rich and brushwork bold
Night and day with shadows black and amours gold
We're marching on
The shooting company of Captain Frans B. Cocq
I'm standing proud
In this noble crowd
In our golden age eternalized by the artist's hand
A glorious page in the history of our tiny land
We're marching on
Up to the battlefield to where the spirits walk

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 consciousness 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

It is time to reflect upon your "ego-self". Nowhere to hide when the walls echo the you that we
all see. Ah, the smiles dissolve! The pulse begins to race; the face a flush of fear so plainly
painted. The Mirror World - the Mirror Maze: Confrontation...
A. INSIDE THE MIRROR MAZE
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 growa 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
B. THROUGH THE MIRROR
roman I see a man, who's unable to withstand his fears inside
knight inside we're all but frightened men
but we have to fight until the end is here
roman hear what I say: I am doomed,
I have to pay, I can't go on
knight go on and persevere
for we have to make it out of here alive
roman a life is but a dream,
for in the mirror I have seen what lies within
knight within this armour cold and bright
lies a noble heart with the will to fight the pain
roman the pain cannot be healed,
I'm surrounded by this shield I cannot break
knight break through the mirror now
follow me, I will show you how
roman we've reached the other side,
I have overcome my pride and made it through
knight we threw aside our darkest fears
and stepped across these new frontiers of time
roman time can only tell what awaits us in this hell full of deceit
knight deceit, guile and treachery
will they ever set us free again?

Behold: the Star Towers of the Electric Castle! See how it embraces the sky! How insignificant
the mere mortal, dwrfed by the majesty of its electric edifice! But first, my seven searchers -
you must meander through the verdant vines of the Garden of Emotions. Succomb to its allure.
Breathe deep the intoxicating aroma of endless, entwined emotions...
A. IN THE GARDEN OF EMOTIONS
hippie
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
B. VOICES IN THE SKY
roman
take up arms and follow
[barbarian]
hey, who are you to take the lead?
roman
I will keep you all from harm
barbarian
so what kind of god do you think you are?
roman
a warrior is what I am
[barbarian]
no I'm the wolf and you are but a lamb
roman
if you doubt my force you'll live no more
[barbarian]
you will end your war upon my sword
indian
"and voices in the sky
shall cause the soul to die"
roman
we'll break away by my command
barbarian
no we'll crush our foe and quell this land
roman
you cannot kill what's already dead
barbarian
whoever rivals me will lose his head
roman
you'll endenger all our precious lives
barbarian
well I don't care, I will survive
roman
I'm the only one who can set us free
[barbarian]
go and chase your ghosts and leave me be
indian
"and voices in the sky
shall cause the soul to die"
C. THE AGGRESSION FACTOR
indian
fury and fear
futureman
it must be feeding on our negative emotions
knight
chivalrous and bold
pitiless and cold
indian
destiny's near
futureman
we're at the mercy of some vile computerscheme
knight
valiant and true
treacherous and cruel
indian
spirits appear
futureman
we'll have to try to hide our antagonistic notions
knight
chivalrous and bold
pitiless and cold
indian
the legend is here
futureman
if we ever want to end this future dream
knight
valiant and true
treacherous and cruel
indian
fury and fear
futureman
we have to free our minds from anger and aggression
knight
chivalrous and bold
pitiless and cold
indian
destiny's near
futureman
it's the only way to defy this cold machine
knight
valiant and true
treacherous and cruel
indian
spirits appear
futureman
if we're to stand up to to this emotional oppression
knight
chivalrous and bold
pitiless and cold
indian
the legend is here
futureman
we had better stand together as a team
knight
valiant and true
treacherous and cruel
egyptian
Amon-ra, have you come to seal my fate?

"It is the 22nd century. I am the last of the Mars Colonists. The air
supply has almost run out on this desolate Mars colony, and the food
supplies from Earth have stopped arriving since the final war of 2084. I
am walking through the tunnel towards our recreation machine called the
Dream Sequencer. I hope it will sweeten my final days..."
Lana Lane (voice)
(Dream sequencer system online)
Good morning colonist. You have selected the Universal Migrator program.
Please lie down in the energy tank and place the electrodes on your temples.
Think of your designation number and drink the fluid from the vessel at the left
terminal.
(Program loaded, commencing U.M. preincarnation protocol)

A. A new dawn
A PERCEPTABLE TENSION IS HOVERING ABOVE AYREON'S HOMETOWN.
SOMETHING IS AT HAND.
B. The gathering
THE TOWNSPEOPLE GATHER ON THE MARKET SQUARE TO JUDGE OF AYREON.
IS HE A PROPHET OR A CHARLATAN, OR EVEN WORSE: AN APPARITION MOST UNHOLY?
C. The accusation
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,
no nothing at all
D. The banishment
WITH STICKS AND TORCHES IN HAND,
THE ANGRY VILLAGERS DRIVE AYREON OUT OF THEIR DEMESNE.
E. Oblivion
COMPLETELY EXHAUSTED AYREON ROAMS THROUGH THE FOREST,
ONLY AN INDISTINCT SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT SUSTAINS HIM.
AYREON:
if I have died, then this must be hell
if I'm alive, I cannot break this gruesome spell
I am seeking relief and finding none
I have fallen into oblivion
a force within dominates my tormented soul
and empowers me to regain absolute control
I shall not yield, for I am the chosen one
who shall rise from oblivion
GOOD FATE HAS GUIDED AYREON TO CAMELOT, KING ARTHUR'S CASTLE,

Ground control to major tom
Ground control to major tom
Take your protein pills and put your helmet on
Ground control to major tom
Commencing countdown, engines on
Check ignition and may gods love be with you
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five,
Four, three, two, one, liftoff
This is ground control to major tom
You've really made the grade
And the papers want to know whose shirts you wear
Now its time to leave the capsule if you dare
This is major tom to ground control
Im stepping through the door
And Im floating in a most peculiar way
And the stars look very different today
For here
Am I sitting in a tin can
Far above the world
Planet earth is blue
And theres nothing I can do
Though Im past one hundred thousand miles
Im feeling very still
And I think my spaceship knows which way to go
Tell me wife I love her very much she knows
Ground control to major tom
Your circuits dead, theres something wrong
Can you hear me, major tom?
Can you hear me, major tom?
Can you hear me, major tom?
Can you....
Here am I floating round my tin can
Far above the moon
Planet earth is blue

"We come out of the white hole into the M31 galaxy, which is also known as Andromeda. We
see a planet that looks much like Earth. Could it sustain life? And if, who lives there?"
Timo Kotipelto
A. M31
And out of nowhere we materialize
From a blaze of fire to a world of ice
We folded space to a distant sun
Inside the heart of M31
On a steady course to the planet Y
Circling round a star in Sirrah's eye
The search for life has now begun
In the constellation M31
Light years away, beyond our Galaxy
I see a planet like our own
A golden sun is shining down on me
Could it be that we are not alone?
We're passing Sirrah in Alpha Pegasi
Into the atmosphere of planet Y
What will we find? chances almost none..
Will there be life in M31?
B. PLANET Y
We're diving through the nebulae and arrive on planet Y
A hundred thousand hollow eyes are gazing at the sky
There seems to be no motion, no pleasure and no pain
No symptoms of emotion, no loss and no gain
Solar screens and cold machines are covering up the ground
Crystal covered fields of green and oceans underground
Countless different entities but they all look the same
But then one of the entities is crying out its name:
Forever...
Remember Forever...
C. THE SEARCH CONTINUES
It's time to leave and carry out our quest
Miles to go and things to see before we rest
We came in vain, our search is not yet done

Close the doors, put out the light
You know they won't be home tonight
The snow falls hard and don't you know
The winds of Thor are blowing cold
They're wearing steel that's bright and true
They carry news that must get through
They choose the path where no-one goes
They hold no quarter,
They hold no quarter.
Oh...
Walking side by side with death
The devil mocks their every step
The snow drives back the foot that's slow
The dogs of doom are howling more
They carry news that must get through
To build a dream for me and you
They choose the path that no one goes
They hold no quarter,
They ask no quarter,
They hold no quarter,
They ask no quarter...they think about no quarter...With no quarter quarter.

The Incentive
Daniel Gindenlow:
There must be a way to enrich our lives.
A way to awaken a nation that dies.
There must be a way to revive our past.
A way to break free from a world that won't last.
Floor Jansen:
Take me back to when we lived another life
Back to when we had no plan
Take me back to when we struggled to survive
Back to when it all began
Daniel Gindenlow:
There must be a way to reverse history
A way to resume life, return to the sea
There must be a way to win back what we lost.
A way to escape this, whatever the cost
Floor Jansen:
Take me back to when we lived another life
Back to when we had no plan
Take me back to when we struggled to survive
Back to when it all began
The Vision
Tom Englund:
Explore the vastness of space
Discover a wonderful grace
Enter a brand new face
See the world with a a newborn race x2
The Procedure
Jonas Renkse:
We have no choice
Life is passing us by
We should rejoice
I say we should try
Bob Catley:
Every million cycles
shooting stars rip our sky.
We could divert them
on the day they pass us by.
Hansi Kursch:
And on that shining day there is a way
For our DNA to reach a world to stay (world to stay!)
Jorn Lande:
Hmmm..
Do we have the right to create life?
And do we have the right to take it? Yeah
Can we decide who lives and dies?
Do you think they would even make it
Jonas Renkse: We have no choice, life is passing us by
Bob Catley:
We all plant our seeds
And guide them to their goal
We cannot fail
We have absolute control
Hansi Kursch:
And on that shining day there is a way
For our DNA to reach a world to stay (world to stay!)
Jorn Lande:
Hmmm...
Do we have the right to play gods?
I strongly feel I have to make a stance
Do you think we should take the odds? Yeah.
Would they even stand chance?
I don't think they ever will.
Ever will...
No...
Another Life
Daniel Gildenlow:
Take me back to when we lived another life
Back to when we had no plan
Take me back to when we struggled to survive
Back to when it all began
Bob Catley:
Take us back to when we lived another life
Back to when we had no plan
Take us back to when we struggled to survive
Back to when it all began
Floor Jansen:
Take me back to when we lived another life
Back to when we had no plan
Take me back to when we struggled to survive
Back to when it all began
Newborn Race
Jorn Lande:
Explore the vastness of space
Discover a wonderful place
Enter a brand new phase
Jonas Renkse: We should rejoice!
Jorn Lande: See the world with a newborn race
Jonas Renkse: I say we should try
Jorn Lande:
Explore the vastness of space
Discover a wonderful place (do we have the rights?!)
Enter a brand new phase
See the world with a newborn race (we cannot fail!)
The Conclusion
Daniel Gindenlow:
We found a way to enrich our lives

AYREON RETIRES IN THE GARDEN OF DREAMS SURROUNDING CAMELOT,
ENJOYS THE WONDERS OF NATURE AND REFLECTS ON HIS FATE.
HE NOW FULLY UNDERSTANDS, AND RELUCTANTLY SUBMITS TO HIS DESTINY.
AYREON:
I can smell the grass
and touch the flowers
among the trees
I pass the hours
and fantasize
I let the dance of nature
inspire me
now my mind is free
from apparitions
I switch off like a 'television'
and close my eyes
and I wish that I could see
like everybody can
how I wish that I could be
like any other man
I can't see the sun
but I sense its glow
I hear the sound of water flowing
down the stream
and my heart cries out
for a little bit love
but I know that it was not meant to be
so I'll fulfil my destiny
and accept my fate
still I wish that I could see
like everybody can
how I wish that I could be
like any other man
THE TIME HAS COME FOR AYREON TO SET ABOUT HIS MISSION.

"It is the end of the 21st Century. I have returned to my own childhood. I remember it
all as the Dream Sequencer images mix with my own recollections. This is the day my
sister and I realised that we would never see the planet Earth."
Johan Edlund, Floor Jansen
Daddy where are you now
Forgot about your vow?
You promised you'd return and take me to Earth
Did you have to fight that war
What was it all for?
The honor of one's name, what is it worth?
I'm all alone - we're all alone
My future's unknown - our future's unknown
I reach out to the stars out here in my house on Mars
Mother did you hear me cry?
You never told me why
You put me in this world of rock and dust
No friends for playing games
No foes who scorn my name
Computerized machines of steel and rust
Is this my home? - this is our home
This desolate dome - this desolate dome
I call out to the stars: I'm alone in my house on Mars
I'll never smell the ocean breeze
I'll never climb the highest trees
I'll never feel the burning sun
I'll never meet my chosen one... in my house
Daddy I forgive you now
You could not keep your vow
You will never return, I'll never see Earth
My time has come - our time has come
I'm emotionally numb - emotionally numb
I'm headed for the stars, I'm leaving my house on Mars
No friends in my house on Mars
No foes in my house on Mars
I was born in my house on Mars

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
And words become a song
In the dreamtime
the smoke is rising
the visions getting clearer
the hands of time running around
realising the future's getting nearer

Jonas Renkse:
Once a world, endless and free, horizons unbroken
Now a world of bounded frontiers, the elders have spoken
(our home)
Daniel Gindelow:
Once a world, eternal and blue, floating, escaping
Now a world that's blinding my view, shadows shaping
(alone)
Chorus:
Magali Luyten:
Liquid eternity crosses through our veins
Liquid eternity nourishes our brains
Liquid eternity, a world that does not live
Liquid eternity, a life that does not yield
Bob Catley:
Once a world of fear and dismay of fleeing and hiding
Now a world that's peaceful and safe, so caring and providing,
our home...
Chorus
Tom Englund:
Would you prefer the pain and suffering we had?
Would you prefer to be in peril, even dead?
Would you prefer to live the life we've learned to dread?
Would you prefer to live a mortal life instead?
Jonas Renkse: Our home
Jorn Lande: I'm losing my reason to live, the essence of life
Floor Jansen: But the system's got so much to give or would you rather die?
Jorn Lande: I'm losing my pride and my joy, my will to believe
Floor Jansen: Why would you come back and destroy all we have achieved?
Chorus
Tom Englund:
Would you prefer the pain and suffering we had?
Would you prefer to be in peril, even dead?
Would you prefer to live the life we've loved to play?
Would you prefer to live a mortal life instead?
Chorus
Tom Englund:
Would you prefer the pain and suffering we had?
Would you prefer to be in peril, even dead?
Would you prefer to live the life we've learned to dread?
Would you prefer to live a mortal life instead?

A. LET THE JOURNEY BEGIN
highlander
what heathen place is this that I've arrived in
is now the time I pay for all my sins
I can't believe that this is God's creation
this realm was fashioned by the Deil's ane hand
indian (chorus)
no it has been foretold, in our legends of old
wake the spirit within, let the journey begin
highlander
this quest you speak of is for redemption
how can we travel when our souls are lost
you think we find ourselves at gates of new salvation
when I can only sense the end is here
indian (chorus)
knight
we're at the gates of Avalon, the island of spirits,
we're at the gates of Avalon, in search of the grail
B. THE HALL OF ISIS AND OSIRIS
roman
there's no way out, slaves for eternity
down in the underworld, the jaws of Orcus
I call on Jupiter, the ruler of the gods
show us the way, from damnation to salvation
egyptian (chorus)
the fields of Yaaru lie waiting for us all
rejoice! the judges have ruled
we have been chosen to enter the great hall
of Isis and Osiris
roman
no you're wrong, we're trapped here in darkness
among departed souls, and mislaid spirits
I call on Mars, the ancient god of war
grant me the power, to free me from this evil
egyptian (chorus)
C. STRANGE CONSTELLATIONS
[highlander]
can you see the stars? can you recognize the constellations?
if I could only see the hills that we're supposed to climb
even the sunlight.....it doesn't
warm.....doesn't wam
how are we gonna find our way?
if we can't recognize the stars, if we can't recognize the constellations
where do we go?
D. REPRISE
highlander
the quest you speak of, it isn't bound for glory
no grail exists within this heathen land
you think we find ourselves at gates of new salvation

I am of the stars. I am called "forever". Eternity courses through my veins. It is cold beyond
your sun where we come from. We seed the universe with the milk of a million moons. You are that
seed. Your earth is our experiment. We vanquished the dinosaurs with the careless trajectory of
a child's lost meteorite. We peopled your planet to experience your emotions - such feelings
lost to us aeons ago. How we envied you your loves and passions, your dangerous desires.
The fires of your emotions gleamed like lost beacons in the darkened depths of the fathomless
universe. And eight of you, plucked from Time. Not randomly, you understand. Representatives of
your world's turbulent history. We have observed your tribulations from nameless nebulae.
The experiment is over. I am weary now. So tired. I too am far from home. Open the gate -
complete the circle. You won't remember - you won't recall - for I am only the air that you

The future's doored ingress! What lies beyond? One of you - ah, survived so much! - are you man
enough to force this door upon its golden hinge? You craved the answer - but can you bear the
truth? The door --! The Future --!
futureman
our hope's dissolved
for man's evolved into another state of being
have we "progressed" beyond the need of feeling?
a cyber-brain
the last in the chain of man/machine allience
have we become the victims of our science?
evil devolution
is this an illusion
out here in space
human humiliation
this mutation
of our human race
is this the end
will we transcend the need for human pleasures?
will we abandon all our earthly treasures?
will mankind yield
on the battlefield of natural selection
to an inorganic digital perfection?
evil devolution
is this an illusion
out here in space
human humiliation
this mutation

[The last human on the Mars Colony had died, but his consciousness is transformed into the New Migrator. He follows the Migrator Trail to Planet Y, where he breathes life into the comatose Forever race by rekindling their emotions, thus ensuring that the spirit of man will live on. In the end, Mankind's brief existence has served a purpose after all.]
a] Epilogue
b] The memory remains
And in the end
when all the dreams are dreamt
All your desires have long dissolved
A feeling free, surreal serenity
A desperate search
for truth resolved
All hope dispelled,
forgotten dreams unquelled
The frailest link within the chain
Once brisk with life,
too fragile to survive
A barren world devoid fo pain...
but the memory remains
Starlight breaks,
the sleeper is awake
You understand your timeless quest
A dormant race,
a cold forsaken place
Their bodies numb,
their minds suppressed
You felt the screams,
you have dreamt the dreams
But most of all you lived the pain
They will revive,
you will make the thrive
Your hopeless lives not lived in vain...
for the memory remains
Can you feel them cry inside,
can you feel them die inside,
You can still the screams in you,
you can make their dreams come true
Dream Sequencer system offline

Best Friend See his mouth, he tries to speak
He cannot move, his voice is weak...
Me My dear friend can you hear me now?
I'll try to tell you how I feel
Best Friend I feel the pain inside of you
Tell me please, what can I do?
[Me Listen well to what I have to say
I have to tell you...of my betrayal
Me I revealed the facts, it was clear
It spelled the end of your career
Best Friend Yes, I always felt that it was you
I repressed the thought although I knew the truth
Me The truth is out, I feel relieved
You hate me now, you've been deceived?
Best Friend Oh no, in a way we are even now
Come back to us...somehow
Wife and Love Cross that bridge to the other side
Follow your heart, you can't go wrong
Come with me, I will be your guide
And lead you back where you belong
Agony Welcome to reality, be ready for the pain
Welcome to reality, will it be in vain
Welcome to reality,
Nothing much has changed since you were gone
Passion Rise up and show the world you can be a better man
Rise up and show the world you care, yes you can
Rise up and show the world you're taking your chance
Rise up and show the world!
Agony Welcome back!
Reason Welcome to reality, wake up and rejoice
Welcome to reality, you've made the right choice
Welcome to reality, and let them hear your voice, shout it out!
Pride Rise up and show the world your battle is won
Rise up and show the world the old you is gone
Rise up and show the world your new life has begun
Rise up and show the world!
[Reason and Agony] Welcome back!
Fear Here inside the question burns
Are you sure of your return?
Me I am sure I deserve this chance
Now I understand it all
Fear It all seems so unreal to you
Can you decide what to do?
Me Yes I can, oh I will survive
Look at me...I'm alive
Wife and Love Cross that bridge to the other side
Follow your heart, you can't go wrong
Come with me, I will be your guide
And lead you back where you belong
Best Friend There is so much to see, there is so much to live for
Wife Come with me, my love
Reason You feel her warmth, glowing on your skin
Love You're never alone, I knew we could make it
Fear Aaaaaaaaarrrrgh!
Passion Can't you feel that fire, can't you feel it burn?
Agon] Be ready for the pain, ready for the pain!
Pride Well rise up, your battle has been won, your new life has begun
Me I'm alive, I won't look back, aaaaah!
The Human Equation program aborted.
Have a nice day.
Dream Sequencer system offline.
Emotions

Reason
Think hard, you are lying here in a hospital bed
Disregard the emotions inside your head
Concentrate on the real world beyond your mind
It's not to late to leave your burdens behind
Fear We won't let you go
Take you down below
Dark crypts of your soul
Locked inside your head...
You're better of dead
Agony Locked away, she lives in isolation
It's been that way, since he has gone
She been through life of deprivation
She depends on you, her only son
Passion She won't let you go
Keep you down below
Dark crypts of your soul
Locked inside your head
You're better of dead
Agony Where are you, can't you hear her calling?
Nothing you can do, you have no time
There is no one there, to catch her now she's falling
Why should you care, you are doing fine
Passion She won't let you go
Keep you down below
Dark crypts of your soul
Locked inside your head
You're better of dead
Reason Now she's at rest, she finally found her peace
There's no need to blame yourself
You must let go, or the pain will never cease
It's time to crawl out of your shell
Your mother died, the day your father left
A part of you died as well
Feelings of guilt will haunt you 'til the end
You must fight hard to break this spell
But it hurts...
Fear You hear her voice, from beyond her grave
"Where were you son, when I needed you
Is this your thanks for all the warmth I gave
Did you forget what I been through?"
Then you hear his voice, cold and merciless
"You're worthless fool, you let her die!"
And deep within yourself, you must confess
Your ways cannot be justified
Pride By now you realize, you have to be
relentless to survive
Repress your memories,
bury all emotions and thrive!
It's your life!
Reason Now she's at rest, she found her peace
Fear You hear her voice, from the grave
Reason You must let go or the pain won't cease
Fear "Is this your thanks for all I gave"
Reason A part of you died as well
Fear "You worthless fool, you let her die"
Reason It's time to crawl out of your shell
Fear Your ways cannot be justified
Pride By now you realized, you have to be
relentless to survive
Repress your memories,
bury all emotions and thrive!

Agony I am pain
I am real. I'm not a dream
I'm the chain around your neck as you scream
Surrender now
You can't beat death at his ruthless game
Make your bow
Hang your head in shame
Me I can't believe there is no way out...
Agony You'll find you are wrong
Me You fill me with doubt...
Agony You were never that strong
AgonyI am pain
I am the wound that never heals
It's all in vain
No compromise, no deals...
Me I can't believe this is the end
Agony It's written in stone
Me Where are my friends?
Agony You have always been alone!
Rage (Pain!) We lead
We hide as the pain leaves the rage inside
(Motion personified alpha)
Being here, welcomed by...a sane mind
A travelled lie
Agony I am pain
I am the end, I am your wraith
Nothing remains
I'm the loss of hope and faith
Me I can't believe there is no way out...
Agony You'll I find you are wrong
Me You fill me with doubt...
Agony You were never that strong
Rage We lead, we hide as the pain leaves the rage inside
(Motion personified alpha)
Being here, welcomed by...a sane mind
A travelled lie
All the time, I had waited with rage
All the time, I was promised my salvation
Love I can't accept this, we will find a way
Out of this cesspool of doom and dismay
Beyond this dejection there's beauty and grace
A glorious future we long to embrace
Rage (Pain!) All the time, I have waited with rage
(Motion personified alpha)

Love Fate has come to warn
That you far to long forsaken her heart
Move to the truth
Breath the sunlight burning in her open arms
Break the chains that
Bind you to a past that feeds this bitter days
Seize your only chance
Follow the stars that beckon you through blackened skies
Wife Can you feel me touch your aching heart
I can sense how much you're missing me...
Give me a sign, show me you're there
I am sure you'll find a way back to me
Me I can't believe I turned so vile
How could I've ignored her smile?
She was always there to easy my pain
I'm so ashamed
I wonder why she stayed with me
How she endured my vanity
I wish I could go back and mend my ways
Is it too late?
Wife Can you see, I swear it's true, a teardrop trickling down his cheek?
Best Friend Yes, indeed, I see it too, could it be he's hurting inside?
Wife Don't you think we should be glad he feels anything at all?
Best Friend It could well be he cries because of us
Wife Does it matter why he cries?
Best Friend What's going on in his mind?
Wife Has he's given us a sign?
Wife Can you see, I swear it's true, him clenching his right hand into a fist?
Best Friend Yes, indeed, I see it too, could it be he's raging inside?
Wife Don't you think we should be glad he has any thoughts at all?
Best Friend It could well be he angry 'cause of us
Wife Does it matter if he is?
Best Friend What's going on in his mind?

Best Friend Let me take you back
To the time when we were chasing all the girls
Two maniacs
Indulging in the pleasures of this world
So much to see, so much to live for
Questions to answer, places to go
So much to be, so much to care for
Deep down inside I think you know
You are free...come back to me!
Look ahead and see
There are still so many borders we could cross
Just you and me
Making up for all the time that we have lost
Best Friend So much to see
Me He may be right
Best Friend so much to live for
Me I've got to fight
Best Friend Questions to answer
Me I will pull through
Best Friend] places to go
Me take me with you
Best Friend So much to be
Me I will not break
Best Friend so much to care for
Me I must awake
Best Friend Deep down inside I think you know
Me I think I know
Best Friend You are free
Me I am free
Best Friend Come back to me!
Best Friend Aaaah, aaaah come back to me
Me There's no way out, my whole world is black!
Best Friend Aaaah, aaaah come back to me

Me I have always been creative, I don't understand
Aspired to be an artist, not a business man
Pride You need to show your old man you're in control
To be successful, you'd sell your own soul!
(you'd sell your own soul!)
Me I've always been respectable, I don't understand
I tried to be compassionate, I'm not a ruthless man!
Pride You need to show them you're superior, you lead the field
No one opposes you, all man must yield!
(all man must yield!)
Me I've always been affectionate, I don't understand
I really love her, I'm not a heartless man!
Pride You have no time for commitments, they get in the way
Get down to business, there's no time to play!
Reason You can still change, and right what is wrong
Pride But can you swallow me, or am I too strong?
Reason You have to get back now, it's not too late
Pride It's not like you two resign to your fate
Reason Your loved ones are waiting, break out of you cage
Pride You have the power, give in to your rage
Reason Listen to Pride now, for once he is right

Pride I hear voices, they are talking about you
Can you hear them, do you know what they mean?
Try to remember, what have you been through?
What do you know and what have you seen?
I can read the thoughts they're conveying
So intense, can you feel them too?
I can't believe it's true what they're saying
You're far too strong, it couldn't happen to you
Me But what if there's truth in the words that they speak?
What do they signify?
Pride You worry too much
Me And what are the questions to answers I seek
What will they clarify?
Pride Yeah, you're losing your touch
Me Help me out, this means nothing to me...
Reason Who are these voices, where do they come from?
Should we try to understand?
Mere illusions, hallucinations?
They might be vital, to our plan
Love They sound familiar, they must be here to help you
All this confusion's tearing you apart
You must be patient, time is the healer
Open up and let them in your heart
Fear Their guilty sighs
I think you understand it all
You were afraid to live, now you're afraid to die...
You fool yourself
You rose so high, you were bound to fall
Longing for the truth, you lived a lie...
Reason I am convinced now, they are essential
They must be our way out of here
Love Listen and learn, let your heart lead you
And you will find the solution's near
Fear Their guilty signs
I think you understand it all
Longing for the truth, you lived a lie...
Pride If they are right, we'll fight for survival
Look to the future, but learn from the past
Confront the danger; face up to your rival
Take a deep breath, we have to move fast
Me I think there is truth in the words that they speak
What do they signify?
Pride You worry way too much
Me I will find the answers to questions I seek
What will they clarify?
Pride You're losing your touch

Fear This is what you dreamt about
Director of the firm
Will it be you, or your best friend?
He's always been the better man and
He fits all their terms
What will you do to gain your end...
Agony You remember he once told you
He tampered with the books
When he lost out on the deal
You're digging up the evidence
...no one looks
You leave it there for all to see
Reason This memory burns inside
You can't forget, you cannot fight or erase it
Passion] Let it go, try to unwind
Reason You'll have to tell and set it right
You cannot run, you cannot hide, so face it!
Passion Wake up, free your mind
Fear You'll never talk, he'll never know
What you have done
But can you live with this betrayal?
Agony They found him out and let him go
I guess you've won
But one day, the truth might be unveiled
Reason This memory burns inside
You can't forget, you cannot fight or erase it
Passion Let it go, try to unwind
Reason You'll have to tell and set it right
You cannot run, you cannot hide, so face it!
Passion Wake up, free your mind
Reason This memory burns inside
You can't forget, you cannot fight or erase it
Passion Let it go, try to unwind
Reason You'll have to tell and set it right
You cannot run, you cannot hide, so face it!
Passion Wake up, free your mind
Me I have to talk and let him know
What I have done
I cannot live with this betrayal
He's always been the better man
I never won

"The Big Bang has created one soul, the Universal Migrator. The Universal Migrator
divides itself, and each Migrator flies off independently in search of a habitable planet
in order to breathe life into it. I follow the migrator that will eventually reach our
planet Earth."
Russel Allen, Damian Wilson
At the birth of time, the beginning of beginnings
One cosmic soul was created
A bringer of life, a universal migrator
Born to sow its seeds in all the galaxies
Like a cell dividing, it spreads in all directions
Creating life among the stars
I'm struck with awe as I join the great migrator
Now it takes flight to the brightest star of all
On a quest for life, through the sable skies
What a show! behold!
The dawn of a million souls
On a bold crusade, in the realm of shade
What a show! behold!
The dawn of a million souls
Through the glowing mist, like a fog of radiation
I can see the forming of new planets
I've been struck by thunder as I witness all the splendor
And I realize how small we really are
Ooh, I can see forever
On the wings of dreams I fly
Is this real or is it just a fantasy?

Lost in a world created by Man
I can't recall how it all began
Tell me who am I?
Fictional stars in lost Galaxies
Synthetic dreams and false Memories
Is it all a lie?
There is no escape
There is no way out of here
I'm locked in this universe
The real world will disappear
Where fantasy dies
You will see our dreams
Material lies
Materialize
Computer eyes
Computerize
Virtual reality - computer Override
Actual fantasy locked away Inside
Am I no more than a Program
An artificial dream
A river of electrons flowing With the stream
A parallel dimension battle Simulations
Mind over matter brain Stimulation
I don't know if I exist I think Therefore I am
Without emotions I'm but a Hologram
There's no escape I'm locked In this universe
Where fantasy dies material Lies
Computer eyes
There is no escape
There is no way out of here
I'm locked in this universe
The real world will disappear
Where fantasy dies
You will see our dreams
Material lies
Materialize
Computer eyes

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
We could not even run nor hide
We had to stand and fight
Then I felt a blade of steel
Penetrate my armour
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 they 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

A. Ayreon's fate
AYREON DESPERATELY ATTEMPTS TO CONVINCE MERLIN OF HIS SINCERITY,
BUT MERLIN WON'T HEAR OF IT AND CASTS HIS SPELL ON POOR AYREON.
AYREON:
misguided Merlin
you fail to understand
I could never be your rival
I was just a pawn
in a future masterplan
for the purpose of survival
MERLIN:
Ayreon, I've cast my spell upon you
I have no faith, you cannot be true
Ayreon!
AYREON:
I forgive you Merlin
for you don't know what you've done
even for you, it was all a mystery
one day you'll see
that I was the one
who could change the course of history
MERLIN:
Ayreon, you're words are all in vain
close your eyes, there'll be no more pain
oh Ayreon...
B. Merlin's prophecy
MERLIN IS STRICKEN WITH GRIEF FOR HE HAS HAD A VISION
THAT PROVES AYREON TO BE GENUINE.
RELUCTANT TO PASS INTO ETERNITY AS THE MARTYR OF MANKIND,
MERLIN VOWS THAT AYREON'S WORD WILL BE SPREAD IN THE 20TH CENTURY,
IN THE HOPE THAT IT WILL NOT BE TOO LATE AND THAT MAN WILL HEED
HIS PREMONITIONS.
MERLIN:
I see one day
his story will be told
at the end of the 20th century
I see one day
the truth will unfold
and the quest has now begun
oh Ayreon!
I hope one day
that man will understand
it's in his power to change his destiny
I hope one day
he'll do all that he can
and all the nations will be one
oh Ayreon!
C. Epilogue

hippie
was this a dream I just had?
I have my doubts
I can't make out the truth
from the lies here inside
what kind of trip have I been on?
where did I go
I'd like to know just why
did it feel so damn real?
futureman
there's something strange going on
I don't know why
It's something I can't place
an open space, a shrouded face
as if my memory flies
have been erased
and then replaced by lies
false replies, clouded skies
hippie & futureman (chorus)
a secret yearning lurks inside
like a dream trying to hide
another time, another space
an empty feeling haunts my brain
a strange void I can't explain
another time, another space
roman
I've been relieved of all my pain
I've been reborn
a mighty storm has raged
and my fears disappeared
knight
I've found the grail here within
in a magic dream
I have seen a world
of make belief, of joy and grief!
chorus all

And now this Rainbow Bridge: an iridescent span of tears - so fragile and yet so strong. Will
it support your mortal shells? Or will you fall into the fiery brine below?
knight
I hark back to olden days
to her and her magic ways
two souls in harmony
in an endless sea
the cruel wings of destiny
carried you away from me
and left a heart unstilled
that never will be filled
roman (chorus:)
beyond these stygian skies our fortress lies
across the rainbow bridge
we'll span the sea of tears and conquer all our fears (inside)
forsake this mourning field and drop your shield
across the rainbow bridge
run to the other side where all our dreams abide
knight
I'd sacrifice my very life
to have you at my side
like a dream I see your face
through the misty haze
we were one amid the stars
and time never healed my scars
deep inside the sadness burns
I must return!
roman (chorus)
[hippie
scarlet crimson rosy red
I must be dead
or stoned out of my head
orange yellow tangerine
the acid queen
in a psychedelic scene
ochre chestnut chocolate brown
I'm upside down
on a cosmic eiderdown
ivory milky chalky white, the stars ignite, I vanish in the light - that burns so bright
Step forward. Beyond lies your goal: the Electric Castle! The past is gone! Do you wish to
lapse in limbo forever? No! Be resolute.. There are trials ahead - and rewards for those who
strive: the Surreal Search endures...
roman & knight
run run the past is gone, it cannot be undone
run run the future is here, our fate is drawing near