Ayreon - Into The Electric Castle CD 1

AYREON

INTO THE ELECTRIC CASTLE (1998) CD 1

  1. Welcome To The New Dimension
  2. Isis And Osiris
     A   Let The Journey Begin
     B   The Hall Of Isis And Osiris
     C   Strange Constellations
  3. Amazing Flight
     A   Amazing Flight In Space
     B   Stardance
     C   Flying Colours
  4. Time Beyond Time
  5. The Decision Tree
  6. Tunnel Of Light
  7. Across The Rainbow Bridge

AYREON

INTO THE ELECTRIC CASTLE CD 1

1. WELCOME TO THE NEW DIMENSION

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 mortal 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, you must enter the nuclear portals of the Electric Castle!

  2. ISIS AND OSIRIS

     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)

No it has been foretold, in our legends of old
Wake the spirit within, let the journey begin

        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, 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)

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

     C. STRANGE CONSTELLATIONS

        HIGHLANDER

Can you see the stars?
Can you recognise the constellations?
If I could only see the hills that we're supposed to climb
Even the sunlight... it doesn't warm... doesn't warm

How are we gonna find our way?
If we can't recognise the stars,
If we can't recognise the constellations
Where do we go?
Where do we go?
Where do we go?
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
When I can only sense... the end is near

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
When I can only sense... the end is near.

  3. AMAZING FLIGHT

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 looking '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 a monster, man, or ghost
I'd wield my blade with crimson gusto
For I am the proud barbarian host!

        HIPPIE (Chorus)

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 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 cowardly kings
Not a one stood up to me, fools

Bear bloody banners in blazing skies
Brandish battle-axe and broadsword
Let drums of glory sound like thunder!
Hail!! Barbaric warlord!!

        HIPPIE (Chorus)

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 smile lights up my face
We're on an amazing flight in space.

     B. STARDANCE

        INDIAN
        Chanting

     C. FLYING COLOURS
         Instrumental

  4. TIME BEYOND TIME

        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 cyber world
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 hearts 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 in 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 and educated man
And you would say I'd understand

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 hearts are received into the realm
Space beyond space.

  5. THE DECISION TREE (We're Alive)

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 clear 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

        CHORUS

    ALL                             HIGHLANDER

We're alive                     I've followed prices
We'll survive                   I've followed kings
We will strive
For our freedom              I will take their lead no more
We're alive                     I will not lie
We'll survive                   In shallow graves
We'll arrive in our Eden

        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 honour, pride, and glory
I've tasted blood, seen your type before
You talk of battles but all you tell are stories
You'd see me buried in a shallow grave

        CHORUS

    ALL                            HIGHLANDER

We're alive                     I've followed prices
We'll survive                   I've followed kings
We will strive
For our freedom              I will take their lead no more
We're alive                     I will not lie
We'll survive                   In shallow graves
We'll arrive in our Eden    (I'm nobody's slave)

        CHORUS

     ALL

We're alive
We'll survive
We will strive
For our freedom
We're alive
We'll survive
We'll arrive in our Eden.

  6. TUNNEL OF LIGHT

Be joyful, my friends! You will now enter the tunnel of light. Let brilliance suffuse your souls! Make your choice. Your path is incandescent.

        HIGHLANDER

Don't offer me the light
When I only know the darkness
That's 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: Into the tunnel of light

        HIGHLANDER

Don't tempt my heart with hope
In the shadow 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, ka-anenti
        HIGHLANDER: I rest my broken heart, where the willow weep
        ROMAN: Into Elysium!
        HIGHLANDER: I will lay me down
        KNIGHT: The isle of Avalon
        HIGHLANDER: I will rest my head
        INDIAN: The legend has begun!
        HIGHLANDER: I will close my eyes
        EGYPTIAN: In the tunnel of light.

  7. ACROSS THE RAINBOW BRIDGE

And now this Rainbow Bridge: an iridescent span of tears - so fragile and yet so strong. Will it support you 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 fears inside

        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)

Beyond these stygian skies our fortress lies
Across the rainbow bridge
We'll span the sea of tears and conquer all our fears
Forsake this mourning field and drop your shields
Across the Rainbow Bridge
Run to the other side where all our dreams abide

        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, step forward - beyond lies your goal: "The Electric Castle"! The past is gone! Do you wish to lapse in Limbo forever? No! No! 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
Run run the past is gone, it cannot be undone
Run run the future is here, our fate is drawing near

        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
Forsake this mourning field and drop your shields
Across the Rainbow Bridge
Run to the other side where all our dreams abide.

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