Ayreon - Into The Electric Castle CD 2

AYREON

INTO THE ELECTRIC CASTLE (1998) CD 2

  1. The Garden Of Emotions
     A   In The Garden Of Emotions
     B   Voices In The Sky
     C   The Aggression Factor
  2. Valley Of The Queens
  3. The Castle Hall
  4. Tower Of Hope
  5. Cosmic Fusion
     A   I Soar On The Breeze
     B   Death's Grunt
     C   The Passing Of An Eagle
  6. The Mirror Maze
     A   Inside The Mirror Maze
     B   Through The Mirror
  7. Evil Devolution
  8. The Two Gates
  9. "Forever" Of The Stars
10. Another Time, Another Space

AYREON

INTO THE ELECTRIC CASTLE CD 2

  1. THE GARDEN OF EMOTIONS

Behold: The Star Towers of The Electric Castle! See how it embraces the sky! How insignificant the mere mortal, drawfed 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
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 me
        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"

"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 endanger 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 chase your ghost and leave me

        INDIAN

"And voices in the sky
Shall cause the soul to die"

"And voices in the sky
Shall cause the soul to die"

     C. THE AGGRESSION FACTOR

        INDIAN

Fury and fear destiny's near spirits appear the legend is here

Fury and fear destiny's near spirits appear the legend is here

        FUTUREMAN

It must be feeding on our negative emotions
We're at the mercy of some vile computerscheme
We'll have to try to hide our antagonistic notions
If we ever want to end this future dream

Fury and fear destiny's near spirits appear the legend is here

Fury and fear destiny's near spirits appear the legend is here

We have to free our minds from anger and aggression
It's the only way to defy this cold machine
If we're to stand up to this emotional oppression
We had better stand together as a team

        KNIGHT

Chivalrous and bold
Pitiless and cold
Valiant and true
Treacherous and cruel
Chivalrous and bold
Pitiless and cold
Valiant and true
Treacherous and cruel

Chivalrous and bold
Pitiless and cold
Valiant and true
Treacherous and cruel
Chivalrous and bold
Pitiless and cold
Valiant and true
Treacherous and cruel

        EGYPTIAN

Amon-ra, have you come to seal my fate?
In the garden of emotions.

2. VALLEY OF THE QUEENS

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 soul 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
From the valley of... The Queens.

  3. THE CASTLE HALL

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, 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 the noble heart
... in my veins
Shades of the dead are sliding on the wall
Demons dance in the castle hall

        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

        KNIGHT

I call upon the seer, Merlin the sorcerer
Grant me the magic to end my pain
I call upon the spirit, that lives in the noble heart
... in my veins

        BOTH

Shades of the dead are sliding on the wall
Demons dance in the castle hall.

  4. TOWER OF HOPE

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... You must have hope...
You must have hope... 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
        BOTH: 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

        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
        BOTH: Lost in the Tower of Hope

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

        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
        BOTH: Lost in the Tower of Hope.

  5. COSMIC FUSION

     A. I SOAR ON THE BREEZE

        HIPPIE

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

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

        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!

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!

     Indian screams

     C. THE PASSING OF AN EAGLE

  6. THE MIRROR MAZE

It is time to reflect upon your "ego-self". No-where 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 into 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 noone 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

     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?

ROMAN: Riding on the wings of time.

7. EVIL DEVOLUTION

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 alliance
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 humilition
This mutation
Of our human race

Evil devolution
Is this an illusion
Out here in space

Human humilition
This mutation
Of our human race

Evil devolution
Is this an illusion
Out here in space.

  8. THE TWO GATES

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

        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

        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 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?

        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.

9. "FOREVER" OF THE STARS

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 vanguished 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 breath, after all...

10. ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER SPACE

        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 files
Have been erased
And then replaced by lies
False replies, clouded skies

        HIPPIE AND 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

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

Remember forever...

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