1.A Nightmare To Remember
A nightmare to remember
I'll never be the same
What began as laughter
So soon will turn to pain
The sky was clear and pretty
The air was thick and still
Now I'm not one to soon forget
And I'll bet I never will
Picture for a moment
The perfect irony
A flawless new beginning
Eclipsed by tragedy
The uninvited stranger
Started dancing on his own
So we said goodbye to the growing pride
And we made our way back home
Life was so simple then
We were so innocent
Father and mother
Holding each other
Without warning, out of nowhere
Like a bullet, from the night
Crashing glass, rubber and steel
Scorching fire, glowing light
Screams of terror, pain of fear
Sounds of silence, smoke in my eyes
Silent stillness, blackened silence
No more screaming, no more cries
Stunned and bewildered
Cold and afraid
Torn up and broken
Frightened and dazed
Stunned and bewildered
Cold and afraid
Torn up and broken
Frightened and dazed
Lying on the table, in some familiar place
I'm greeted by a stranger, a man without a face
He said 'Son, do you remember, do you even know your name?'
Then he shined a light into my eyes and said 'Take this for the
pain'
Hopelessly drifting, bathing in beautiful agony
I am endlessly falling, lost in this wonderful misery
In peaceful sedation I lay half awake
And all of the panic inside starts to fade
Hopelessly drifting, bathing in beautiful agony
'Tell me does this hurt you?' said the faceless man
'Can you move all of your fingers, can you try your best to
stand?'
I asked about the others 'Is everyone okay?'
He told me not to worry, as he turned and looked away
Hopelessly drifting, bathing in beautiful agony
I am endlessly falling, lost in this wonderful misery
In peaceful sedation I lay half awake
And all of the panic inside starts to fade
Hopelessly drifting, bathing in beautiful agony
Day after day, and night after night
We play out the events, did they ever see the red light?
Over and over, scene by scene
Like a recurring nightmare, haunted by dreams
How can you prepare, for what would happen next?
No son should ever have to see his father in such a mess
It's a miracle he lived, it's a blessing no one died
By the grace of god above, everyone survived
Hooouh!!
Life was so simple then
We were so innocent
It will stay with us forever
A nightmare to remember
2.A Rite Of Passage
Crisis,
A new world order
Played upon our fears
Spreading accusations
Of radical ideas
The brotherhood of wisdom
Strength and dignity
Its rituals and secrets
Remain a mystery
Beneath an ever watchful eye
The angels of the temple fly
Turn the key, walk through the gate
The great ascent to reach a higher state
A rite of passage
The final stage a sacred home
Unlock the door and lay the cornerstone
A rite of passage
Men of wealth and power
Influence and fame
Philosophers and leaders
Are members of the trade
Bound by oath and honor
Like the rose and cross
An enigmatic union
of esoteric thoughts
Beneath an ever watchful eye
The angels of the temple fly
Turn the key, walk through the gate
The great ascent to reach a higher state
A rite of passage
The final stage a sacred home
Unlock the door and lay the cornerstone
A rite of passage
Turn the key, walk through the gate
The great ascent to reach a higher state
A rite of passage
The seven stars the rising sun
A perfect world a new life has begun
A rite of passage
3.Wither
Let it out, let it out
Feel the empty space
So insecure, find the words and let it out
Staring down, staring down
Nothing comes to mind
Find the place, turn the water into wine
But I feel I'm getting nowhere
And I'll never see the end
So I wither and render myself helpless
I give in and everything is clear
I break down and let the story guide me
Turn it on, turn it on
Let the feelings flow
Close your eyes and see the ones you used to know
Open up, open up
Don't struggle to relate
Lure it out, help the memory escape
Still this barrenness consumes me
And I feel like giving up
So I wither and render myself helpless
I give in and everything is clear
I break down and let the story guide me
I wither and give myself away
Like reflections on the page
The worlds which you create
I drown in hesitation, my words come crashing down
And all my best creations, burn into the ground
The thought of starting over, leaves me paralyzed
Tear it out again, another one that got away
Wither and render myself helpless
I give in and everything is clear
I wither and render myself helpless
I give in and everything is clear
I break down and let the story guide me
I wither and give myself away
Like reflections on the page
The worlds which you create
Let it out, let it out.
4.The Shattered Fortress
Freedom - calls my name
Serenity – keeps me sane
Happiness – it dulls the pain
Honor - to save my fate
Hoping - to run away
Willingness - to understand
Justice - for you not to judge
Courtesy – for all to start
Kindness – it's not that hard
Self-restraint – the self impaired
Inventory – my daily bread
Analysis - and then you're gone
Look in the mirror
What do you see?
The Shattered Fortress
That once burned me
Faithful ascent
Through darkest fires
I've found the path
To take me higher
You're smart enough
For me to trust
Go live your life now
Just keep these steps
In your life
And you'll know how
If you're not sure
Ask yourself
'Have I done to them
As I would have them
Do to me?'
Look in the mirror
What's that you see?
The Shattered Fortress
Fly now, be free!
Faithful ascent
Through darkest fires
I've found the path
To take me higher
I once thought it better
To be right
But now I have finally seen the light
Sometimes you've got to be wrong
And learn from mistakes
I live with serenity now
Not self-righteous hate
(Help me be a channel of Thy peace
That were there is hatred, I may bring love
That were there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness
That were there is discord, I may bring harmony
That were there is error, I may bring truth
That were there is doubt, I may bring faith)
Now that you can see all you have done
(That were there is despair, I may bring hope
That were there is shadow, I may bring light)
It's time to take that step into the kingdom
(That were there is sadness, I may bring joy)
All your sins will help to make you strong
(That I may seek rather to comfort, than to be comforted
That I may seek to understand, rather than to be understood)
And help you break right through the prison wall
(That I may seek to love, rather than to be loved,
for it is by self-forgetting that one finds,
it is by forgiving that one is forgiven)
Keep all of me
The desires that once burned me deep inside
Help me live today
And help to give me grace
To carry out your ways
I am ready, help me be all I can be
I am ready, help guide me and keep me straight
I am responsible when anyone, anywhere
Reaches out for help, I want my hand to be there
I am responsible when anyone, anywhere
Reaches out for help, I want my hand to be there
5.The Best of Times
Remember days of yesterday
How it flew so fast
The two score and a year we had,
I thought would always last
The summer days and west coast dreams,
I wished would never end
A young boy and his father,
Idol and best friend
I'll always remember
Those were the best of times
A lifetime together
I'll never forget
Morning shows on the radio
The Case of the Missing Dog
Lying on the pillows at the old 812
Watching Harold and Maude
The record shops, the stickball fields
My home away from home
And when we weren't together
The hours on the phone
I'll always remember
Those were the best of times
I'll cherish them forever
The best of times
But then came the call
Our lives changed forever more
'You can pray for a change
But prepare for the end...'
The fleeting winds of time
Flying through each day
All the things I should have done
But time just slipped away
Remember seize the day
Life goes by in the blink of an eye
With so much left to see
These were the best of times
I'll miss these days
Your spirit lit my life each day
Thank you for the inspiration
Thank you for the smiles
All the unconditional love
That carried me for miles
It carried me for miles
But most of all thank you for my life
These were the best of times
I'll miss these days
Your spirit lit my life each day
My heart is bleeding bad
But I'll be okay
Your spirit guides my life each day
6.The Count of Tuscany
Several years ago
In a foreign town
Far away from home
I met the Count of Tuscany
A young eccentric man
Bred from royal blood
Took me for a ride
Across the open countryside
Get into my car
Let's go for a drive
Along the way
I'll be your guide
Just step inside
Maybe you'll recall
A cannibal curator
A character inspired by my brother's life
Winding through the hills
The city far behind
On and on we drove
Down narrow streets and dusty roads
At last we came upon
A picturesque estate
On sprawling emerald fields
An ancient world of times gone by
Let me introduce
My brother
A bearded gentleman
Historian
Sucking on his pipe
Distinguished accent
Making me uptight
No accident
I want to stay alive
Everything about this place
Just doesn't feel right
I
I don't want to die
Suddenly I'm frightened for my life
I want to say goodbye
This could be the last time
You see me alive
I
I may not survive
Knew it
From the moment we arrived
Would you like to see
Our secret holy place
I come here late at night
To pray to him by candlelight
Then peering through the glass
I saw with disbelief
Still dressed in royal clothes
The saint behind the altar
History recalls
During times of war
Legend has been traced
Back inside these castle walls
Where soldiers came to hide
In barrels filled with wine
Never to escape
These tombs of oak
Are where they died
Down the cellar stairs
I disappear
Like the angel's share
The end is near
Come and have a taste
A rare vintage
All the finest wines
Improved with age
I want to stay alive
Everything about this place
Just doesn't feel right
I
I don't want to die
Suddenly I'm frightened for my life
I want to say goodbye
This could be the last time
You see me alive
I
I may not survive
Knew it
From the moment we arrived.
Could this be the end?
Is this the way I die?
Sitting here alone
No one by my side
I don't understand
I don't feel that I deserve this
What did I do wrong?
I just don't understand
Give me one more chance
Let me please explain
It's all been circumstance
I'll tell you once again
You took me for a ride
Promising a vast adventure
The next that I know
I'm frightened for my life
Now wait a minute man
That's not how it is
You must be confused
That isn't who I am
Please don't be afraid
I would never try to hurt you
This is how we live
Strange although it seems
Please try to forgive
The chapel and the saint
The soldiers and the wine
The fables and the tales
All handed down through time
Of course you're free to go
Go and tell the world my story
Tell about my brother
Tell them about me
The Count of Tuscany
|