Blind Guardian - A Night At The Opera

BLIND GUARDIAN

A NIGHT AT THE OPERA (2002)

  1. Precious Jerusalem
  2. Battlefield
  3. Under The Ice
  4. Sadly Sings Destiny
  5. The Maiden And The Minstrel Knight
  6. Wait For An Answer
  7. The Soulforged
  8. Age Of False Innocence
  9. Punishment Divine
10. And Then There Was Silence

BLIND GUARDIAN

A NIGHT AT THE OPERA

1. PRECIOUS JERUSALEM

No doubt, doubt

No longer need to hide it
I've found out who I am
I move around in circles
I rise and fall again

I know it well
Every word I tell
Seems to make no sense at all

Words
Will heal it
Love
Will conquer the
Hearts of the hopeless
The almighty is still alive

Risin' up from the heart of the desert
Risin' up from Jerusalem
Risin' up from the heat of the desert
Building up old Jerusalem
Risin' up from the heart of the desert
Risin' up from Jerusalem
Risin' up from the heat of the desert
Heading out for Jerusalem

I've gone beyond but there's no life
And there is nothing how it seems
I've gone beyond but there's no life
There is no healing rain in Eden
The empty barren wasted paradise
Let's celebrate the dawning of the sun

I turn to you, oh, my precious Jerusalem
Deny your prophets their passion
And treat them like fools
I turn to you, oh, my poor old Jerusalem
Deny my love, but you can't change fate

Son of man
You truly are mine

Can't stand the pain
No more grief and misery
It goes on and on and on and on and on and on and on

Father, stop it now
We must stop it now

You really think you are half way up
I would not mind if you were right
It's not sure
I'd rather say that you are half way down
So I am going to help you if I can

I've been caught in wilderness, in wilderness
I've get out well
I found myself in desert lands, in desert lands
But you've been on my mind

I turn to you, oh, my precious Jerusalem
Deny your prophets their passion
And treat them like fools
I turn to you, oh, my poor old Jerusalem
Deny my love, but you can't change truth

Rise up and follow me, 'cause I will bring the light
Rise up and follow me, wake up and clear your mind
I try to bring it back, the seed of life
I try to bring it back, the seal of light

So if you say there's no faith in man
You better keep in mind
'Cause I can read between the lines
My heavy burden brings eyesight to the blind

I've been caught in wilderness, in wilderness
I've get out well
I found myself in desert lands, in desert lands
But you've been on my mind

I turn to you, oh, my precious Jerusalem
Deny your prophets their passion
And treat them like fools
I turn to you, oh, my poor old Jerusalem
Deny my love, but you can't change me.

2. BATTLEFIELD

It cannot be seen but there's blood on the green
Only God knows I'm innocent
Take me, take me home
A seed reigns in me like storm rules over sea
I challenge thee, do not cross this bridge alone

Don't dare me now
The threatening shadows will pass by

They're getting closer now
Open your eyes
Wake up, my dear young friend
And hate shall fade away

I will not move, yet
I stand still instead

There on the battlefield he stands
Down on the battlefield he's lost
And on the battlefield it ends

War and anger shall reign
The clash of iron can be heard
By blindness you're driven insane
I'm lost in anguish and grief
Sorrow won't wane 'til you die
A shattered body deeply hurt
And darkness will cover the light
It's gone forevermore

The field's been left in sorrow
The father and the son, they're gone
The sun shines bright and anger rises
Lorn and lonely torn apart
Don't you think it's time to stop now
We were charmed and fooled by the old serpent's kiss

Let's pray that heaven's on our side
Through violence and horror shall honour arise
So let's pray and blessed shall be our leader
We follow the noble and bright

Don't you hear me crying, crying
Come take me away
I hallow thy name

There on the battlefield he stands
Down on the battlefield he's lost
And on the battlefield it ends

War and anger shall reign
The clash of iron can be heard
By blindness you're driven insane
I'm lost in anguish and grief
Sorrow won't wane 'til you die
A shattered body deeply hurt
And darkness will cover the light
It's gone forevermore

That's what the minstrel sing
Join in the horrible screams
Take part in murderous deeds
Renowned be the lion-hearted

Join in the minstrelsy
Wailing in endless grief
It eagerly longs for more
Broken bodies lay down on the ground

Blood sheds all over the place
The green will be stained forever
And hate reigns all over the field
They keep struggling on in anger

Fiercely intense outrageous, too blind to see
And in pain they keep on singing
We claim the land for the highlord
God bless the land and the highlord

War and anger shall reign
The clash of iron can be heard
By blindness you're driven insane
I'm lost in anguish and grief
Sorrow won't wane 'til you die
A shattered body deeply hurt
And darkness will cover the light
It's gone forevermore.

3. UNDER THE ICE

Run 'til you find the answer
Time out for our poor Cassandra
She's fairly safe inside the fire

Inside the fire
Awakes desire
Cruelly admired

They'll torture her soul
And they'll torment her heart
But won't change her mind

Would you like to see me
How I'll cut off her head
Life's a game
A lesson to learn
Don't be shy, just blame me
Well, there is no need to feel ashamed
Remember the oath
Remember the oath

Wake up, it's time to cross the border
Is it true what they say
About the part you've played

Enjoy your stay here
Welcome to the slaughterhouse

Release from rotten thoughts
No more pain
And no more gods

Under the ice you will believe
Under the ice you will be free
Released from rotten thoughts
No more pain
No more gods

Please understand
It's not in our hands
Barren the land
It's all dead and gone

And still the tyrant's face is red
So witness my glory, my triumph, my fame
It's the sweetest taste

King of terror, just stop wining
Hold your breath it won't take long
Realise this is your judgement day
In between the killing, carry on

There are no rules here
Welcome to the slaughterhouse

Release from rotten thoughts
No more pain
And no more gods

Under the ice you will believe
Under the ice you will be free
Released from rotten thoughts
No more pain
No more gods

Try to understand
You're the artificial enemy
An illusion we all need
For our sake
For our sake

We'll not see beyond
That's your skill
Will we ever learn the lesson
"We can't fly with broken wings"

Break the chains
Time to change
I'm afraid to say, but you won't play a part

It's been nice, we now get to the climax
Your destination's unknown
Just get out of my way

Don't mind the blood here
Welcome to the slaughterhouse

Release from rotten thoughts
No more pain
And no more gods

Under the ice you will believe
Under the ice you will be free
Released from rotten thoughts
No more pain
No more gods

Under the ice you will be free
Released from rotten thoughts
No more pain
No more gods
No more gods

I'm afraid to say, but you won't play a part.

4. SADLY SINGS DESTINY

A wooden cup and a crown of thorns
Will set up the stage for the cross
I rent a room next door
There is nothing more
No further voices to hear
I'll be free

It doesn't matter anymore
That someone's knocking at my door
I've known it long before
The Galilean's on the floor
Shame on me, shame on me
I'm a tool and nothing more

I can feel it's getting nearer
Images, they turn out clearer
Creeps in and out of your mind
Destiny personified
I know there's something more behind
But is it really justified
To sacrifice, to crucify
The rescue of the human kind

Sadly sings destiny
Sadly sings destiny
"For ages I've been waiting
Now spring is in the air
Let it in"
Sadly sings destiny
Sadly sings destiny
"For ages I've been waiting
Now spring is in the air
Let it in"

I hear them howling, hear them scream
The raging mob turns mad, it seems
"The king's in town
We need a crown"
I think we all know how it ends

"But we're not going take it longer"
So all I know is I don't care
"But we're not going take it longer"
Now we are aware

I can feel it's getting nearer
Images, they turn out clearer
Creeps in and out of your mind
Destiny personified
I know there's something more behind
But is it really justified
To sacrifice, to crucify
The rescue of the human kind

Sadly sings destiny
Sadly sings destiny
"For ages I've been waiting
Now spring is in the air
Let it in"
Sadly sings destiny
Sadly sings destiny
"For ages I've been waiting
Now spring is in the air
Let it in"

There I tie the ass
There I tie the colt
Begging for a last chance
I hear the voices say
"We get him home tonight
And that's all you need to know"
I'm alone

No, I can't stand it any longer
And I don't want to see it all
Nazarene, your vision will come true
Will come true
They'll get you

I can feel it's getting nearer
Images, they turn out clearer
Creeps in and out of your mind
I'm destiny personified
I know there's something more behind
But is it really justified
To sacrifice, to crucify
The rescue of the human kind

Sadly sings destiny
Sadly sings destiny
"For ages I've been waiting
Now spring is in the air
Let it in"
Sadly sings destiny
Sadly sings destiny
"For ages I've been waiting
Now spring is in the air
Let it in".

5. THE MAIDEN AND THE MINSTREL KNIGHT

The faithful crowd is gathered here
Soon they'll appear
The high and mighty show up
The king is in doubts
"Apart from this beggar here
There's no one like you, my dear
Tasting my lips
No one but you and him"

Round the fire everyone should sing
And praise the gracious queen
Round the fire everyone should dance
And we praise the handsome knight

Forever and ever we both will be one
The maiden, the fair and the young
Fell in love

Will you still wait for me
Will you still cry for me
Come and take my hand
Will you still wait for me
Will you still cry for me
Come and take my hand

There's a moment in life
When all the years will pass by
And the eyes filled with tears we once shed
We recognise failures, the desperate cries
Of the ones who believed in our lies

Whenever I go, you'll be with me
My first though and my last
Though we'll depart in bitterness
One day you'll understand

Carry on
Beloved maiden mine
Carry on
Or we have to pay the price

Will you still wait for me
Will you still cry for me
Come and take my hand
Will you still wait for me
Will you still cry for me
Come and take my hand

Yesterday's memories and melodies
Are gone with the wind, so sad
Snow-white her hands and golden her hair
But she's not the one
Out in the emptiness where everything's pale
There is no sign of you, I'm alone
How I wish you would be here, I'm alone
Telling me it's alright, come rest
Come rest your hand
Come rest your hand
Come rest your hand
Come rest your hand

I'm alone and sadness reigns in my heart
As long as we live it won't go away
We are one, but torn apart

Will you still wait for me
Will you still cry for me
Come and take my hand
Will you still wait for me
Will you still cry for me
Come and take my hand

Proudly it stands
Until the world's end
The victorious banner of love.

6. WAIT FOR AN ANSWER

I cannot say that I don't care 'cause I'm aware
Of everyone and everything, they're everywhere

Don't be a fool
Stop spinning around
Spinning around
You're right, it ain't safe here
Start using your brain, your brain

The cautious hare cannot be seen as a coward
He's simply aware
He constantly knows what's going on
That the wheel of life turns on
It won't hold on

Silent creature
Filthy teacher's spreading the disease
A release
Vanished kingdom falls

It goes on, on and on and again
It goes on, round and round
Oh, I can't get it out of my head

Wish I'd be a bird of prey
A pure and a blessed
A hawk who could ease the pain

Don't look back, tell me
Is it where you belong
A place in the dark
A song without hope
Don't look back, tell me
Is it where you belong
Oh, I wait for an answer, so far
Don't look back, tell me
Is it where you belong
I will wait for an answer, so far
Don't look back, tell me
Is it where you belong
I will wait, yes, I will wait
Don't look back

We're the last descendants
In the line of valiant soldiers
We're mistreated angels
We're the blackbird nation, we're the chosen ones
We're the last descendants
We're the tribe of unsung glory
We're the fallen angels
Well, the time is right, you shall be on my side

I don't, I don't, I don't need anyone
Be with or be against me
I'm white, I'm chosen
There is not the slightest doubt at all
Not at all

In lower airs we're ground down by their ignorance

Hate will grow like a foul cancer
To find a foe seems to be the answer
Round and round it goes on and again, oh
Can't get it out of my head

Wish I'd be a bird of prey
A pure and a blessed
A hawk who could ease the pain

Don't look back, tell me
Is it where you belong
A place in the dark
A song without hope
Don't look back, tell me
Is it where you belong
Oh, I wait for an answer, so far
Don't look back, tell me
Is it where you belong
I will wait for an answer, so far
Don't look back, tell me
Is it where you belong
I will wait, I will wait
Don't look back

Don't be a fool
Stop spinning around
Spinning around
Don't move, it ain't safe here
They've stained holy grounds
Oh no

The hopeful, he sadly admits, there's no hero
No place to hide, there's no shelter from the storm
The maddened crow will spread terror
But I know bitterly they will stumble
Find themselves smashed on the ground

Don't look back, tell me
Is it where you belong
A place in the dark
A song without hope
Don't look back, tell me
Is it where you belong
Oh, I wait for an answer, so far
Don't look back, tell me
Is it where you belong
I will wait for an answer, so far
Don't look back, tell me
Is it where you belong
I will wait, I will wait
Don't look back

It's you who has said there's no tomorrow
I don't know but who I am
I wouldn't sit back any longer
It's surely built in sadness
But the sadness surely will go by
So we will all know the answer
The answer's within, it's in your mind.

7. THE SOULFORGED

I'm not insane
That's how it seems, though
Spiteful, cruel but wise beyond his age

My body fails
My soul will rise
The end of life's immortalised
Disease and agony
And I see death through golden eyes
There's something more
It seems there's just one way

On through the heat
I've felt the touch of evil
I still feel
The icy claw in me

For a decent price I've banned kindness from my heart
The spirit of all truth and beauty pawned for my desire

And from the flames
As chance would have it
The Soulforged would come into light
And from the flames
As chance would have it
The Soulforged, the stainless will rise

I will never change my mind
I will leave it all behind

And through the hour glass
Everything's grey, everyone's pale
Nor colour nor beauty enlighten my heart
The seat of life's empty and cold

Cadaverous you all seem to me
Stillborn, but you're still alive
You're still alive

Truth lies in loneliness
When hope is long gone by
I'll wipe out the bliss of the new age
And welcome you, precious night

And from the flames
As chance would have it
The Soulforged would come into light
And from the flames
As chance would have it
The Soulforged, the stainless will rise

From a distant time voices echo in the hall
"Come and join us, enter life
And everything is gone"

And through the looking glass
I still fear mortality and
Its loss in the end
Unlimited power in my hands
"Mourn for his lost soul
He's cursed and condemned"
The claw of the dragon ascends

Each step I take, may it hurt, may it ache
Leads me further away from the past
But as long as I breathe and each smile on my bleak face
I'm on my way to find back to the peace of mind

And from the flames
As chance would have it
The Soulforged would come into light
And from the flames
As chance would have it
The Soulforged, the stainless will rise

I will never change my mind
I will leave it all behind.

8. AGE OF FALSE INNOCENCE

Cut off the light, take a look
There's nothing beyond but pain
Suffer in the deepest void
The flame of hope is gone
What have I done
Denied the father and the son
For a moment it seemed
There's space beyond the spheres

Aflame the night
So clear and bright
Unstable light
You've been sacrificed in fear
Now there's one thing for sure
I'm not afraid anymore

Day after day we've been fixed in this bowl for so long
For ages we're captured in shells and crystallised walls

Predestined or punished
By man or God

I cannot, I will not
Deny it's false innocence
I cannot, I will not
The age of false innocence
Take it away from me

And for a while astronomy has moved the earth
And we've turned around the sun
Sanctum officium
Has made me believe
Has made me believe
Has made me believe

"We know for sure you're lying
You like to mess with holy science
You know the fear of dying
Would it be worth it to hear you crying"
I've slaughtered truth and I've shattered my heart

Far too long I have played with hellfire
And science has turned into madness
But I should have taken it higher
So I feel, so I feel
Like Judas must have felt before
That Wednesday night near by the tree

I cannot, I will not
Deny it's false innocence
I cannot, I will not
The age of false innocence

Day after day we will gratefully suffer for more
Predestined's our part so we bleed in the name of God

Don't believe in their eternity
We're still held in blindness
And I've been turned into a liar
If there is no heaven there won't be release

I cannot, I will not
Deny it's false innocence
I cannot
I will not
The age of false innocence
I cannot
I will not
Deny it's false innocence
I cannot
I will not
The age of false innocence
Take it away from me.

9. PUNISHMENT DIVINE

It's warm and tender, but very soon it will turn cold
Shadows stare down from the walls
Out of the mist it's coming closer now
It never rains, it pours on me
So let the saints
Set up the courtyard, the unpleasant cage
The obvious point is I'm insane

Was I aware whom I had slain, I fear I was
The faceless
The nameless
The bush set on fire
No one ever dared to speak
"Shame on me, I don't believe
The here and now is all we're living for"

Joyful it seems but
Then suddenly
By one false move it's blown away
Joyful it seems but
Then suddenly
Their voices cease, it's gone away
Vanished to the point of no return
Vanished to the point of no return

Witness my last breath
I do not regret
A word I've said
The strong will survive
The weak must die

And out of the mist
It's coming closer now
Sinner and saints
The grateful slaves

Nature's law instead of God in heaven

From far beyond
I can hear them sing
I hear angels sing
Songs of innocence
I hear the angel sing

Despite the facts are clear
It cannot be what we can't see
I must admit, it sounds so sweet

Joyful it seems but
Then suddenly
By one false move it's blown away
Joyful it seems but
Then suddenly
Their voices cease it's, gone away
Vanished to the point of no return
Vanished to the point of no return

Angels sing
Can hear them sing
I hear angels sing
I hear angels sing
Can hear them sing
I hear angels sing
I hear angels sing
Can hear them sing
I hear angels sing
I hear angels sing
I hear angels sing

Far beyond I hear them sing
"It's true, it's true
We don't exist"
From far beyond I hear them sing
"It's true, it's true
We don't exist"

Well, we all know there's no other side
It's good and evil
I know right between, there's no borderline
This is the punishment divine

Surrounded by night, I've been offered insight
There is none but the sin of pride
Am I wrong am I right? Am I losing my sight?
Abandoning the superior mind

Joyful it seems but
Then suddenly
By one false move it's blown away
Joyful it seems but
Then suddenly
Their voices cease, it's gone away
Vanished to the point of no return
Vanished to the point of no return

Through the valleys grey
Through the shapeless land I walk alone
I'm left alone
Through the deepest void, a blackened paradise
I walk alone, I'm left alone.

10. AND THEN THERE WAS SILENCE

Turn your head and see the fields of flames

Don't move along
He carries along
'Cause things they will go wrong
From a distant place
The end is getting closer
He's on his way
Day by day
He'll bring decay
In shades of grey
We're doomed to face the night
Light's out of sight

Since we've reached the point of no return
We pray for starlight, we wait for the moon
The sky is empty, alone in the unknown
We're getting nowhere

We have been betrayed by the wind and the rain
The sacred hall's empty and cold
The sacrifice made should not be done in vain
Revenge will be taken by Rome

We live a lie
Under the dying moon
Pale-faced laughs doom
Indulges in delight

It's getting out of hand
The final curtain will fall

Hear my voice
There is no choice
There's no way out
You'll find out

We don't regret it
So many men have failed, but now he's gone
Go out and get it
The madman's head it shall be thine
We don't regret it
That someone else dies hidden in disguise
Go out and get it
Orion's hound shines bright

Don't you think it's time to stop the chase
Around the ring
Just stop running, running
Round the ring
Don't you know that fate has been decided
By the gods
Feel the distance, distance
Out of reach

Welcome to the end
Watch your step, Cassandra, you may fall
As I've stumbled on the field
Find myself in darkest places
Sister mine
Find myself drifting away
Death's a certain thing
And the other world
The other world appears

Find myself, she dies in vain

I cannot be freed, I'm falling down
As time runs faster, moves towards disaster
The ferryman will wait for you, my dear

And then there was silence
Just a voice from the other world
Like a leaf in an icy world
Memories will fade

Misty tales and poems lost
All the bliss and beauty
Will be gone
Will my weary soul find release for a while
At the moment of death I will smile
It's the triumph of shame and disease

In the end
Raise my hands and praise the day
Break the spell show me the way
In decay
The flame of Troy will shine bright

The newborn child will carry ruin to the hall
The newborn's death would be a blessing to us all

Good choice?
Bad choice?
Out of three you've chosen misery

Power and wisdom you deny
Bad choice, bad choice

War is the only answer when love will conquer fear

So the judgement's been made
To the fairest the graceful says
Badly he fails

Warning
Fear the heat of passion, father king
Don't let him in
Don't let her in
Desire, lust, obsession
Death they'll bring
We can't get out
Once they are in

She's like the sunrise
Outshines the moon at night
Precious like starlight
She will bring in a murderous price

In darkness grows the seed of man's defeat
Jealousy
I can clearly see the end now
I can clearly see the end now
I can clearly see the end now

The thread of life's spun
The coin's been placed below my tongue

Never give up
Never give in
Be on our side so we can win
Never give up
Never give in
Be on out side
Old moon's time is soon to come

Nowhere to run
Nowhere to hide
Nothing to lose like one we'll stand
We'll face the storm
Created by a man

Roar, roar, roar, roar
And as the lion slaughters man
Troy, Troy, Troy, Troy
I am the wolf and you're the lamb

Hallowed Troy shall fall round the walls
Faith is shattered, bodies fall

Nowhere to run
Nowhere to hide
Nothing to lose like one we'll stand
It's all for one and one for all
We live for will be wiped out

I feel that something's wrong
Surprise, surprise they're gone

Full moon, your time goes by
And new moon's still kept out of sight
We live
Misty tales and poems lost
We die
All the bliss and beauty will be gone

Will my weary soul find release for a while
At the moment of death I will smile
It's the triumph of shame and disease

In the end
Raise my hands and praise the day
Break the spell show me the way
In decay
The flame of Troy will shine bright

Roam in darkness
Spread the vision
Roam in darkness
Spread the vision
Roam in darkness
Spread the vision
Roam in darkness
Spread the vision
Roam in darkness
We will be lost if you truly believe
Roam in darkness
Troy in darkness
There's a cold emptiness in our hearts
That they've gone away
And won't come back

They'll tear down the wall to bring it in
They'll truly believe in the lie
Lie, lie

With blossoms they'll welcome the old foe

The vision's so clear
When day and dream unite the end is near
You better be prepared

The nightmare shall be over now
There's nothing more to fear
Come join in our singing and dance with us now
The nightmare shall be over now
There's nothing more to fear
The war it is over forevermore

No hope
The blind leads the blind
Carry on
Though future's denied

Mare or stallion
There's far more inside
We're in at the kill, we'll cheerfully die

Misty tales and poems lost
All the bliss and beauty
Will be gone
Will my weary soul find release for a while
At the moment of death I will smile
It's the triumph of shame and disease

In the end
Raise my hands and praise the day
Break the spell, show me the way
In decay
The flame of Troy will shine bright

Holy light shines on

So the judgement's been made
We're condemned though the trial's far ahead

The crack of doom, father
Your handsome son is heading home

Still the wind blows, calm and silent
Carries news from a distant shore
Still the wind blows, calm and silent
Carries news from a distant shore
Still the wind blows, calm and silent
Carries news from a distant shore
Can't get it
Still the wind blows, calm and silent
Out of mind
Carries news from a distant shore
Can't get it out of my head
Can't get it
Out of mind
Can't get it out of my head

Sorrow and defeat
Sorrow and defeat.

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