Ayreon Album

(a) The Eye of 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
Feel my might, I'm the eye of the universe

(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
For there's some kind of life in M31!

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
Spinning round this spiral hole towards a cold and lonely fate

[No lyrics]

It is the 8th century. I am a Mayan girl heading for the Jaguar Temple in Tikal on the central American continent

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

ROBERT SOETERBOEK:
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...

EDWARD REEKERS:
And then he rode into the night
Towards that eerie distant light that seemed to charm him

EDWARD REEKERS: Until he came to a road that disappeared
OKKIE HUYSDENS: Beyond the last horizon

EDWARD REEKERS:
He knew there'd be no way back
Once he had vanished in the blackness of infinity

EDWARD REEKERS: And so he gathered all his strength not to descend
OKKIE HUYSDENS: Into the valley of death...
ROBERT SOETERBOEK: Into the valley of death...

ROBERT SOETERBOEK:
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

EDWARD REEKERS:
And then he rode into the night
Towards that eerie distant light that seemed to charm him

EDWARD REEKERS: Until he came to a road that disappeared
OKKIE HUYSDENS: Beyond the last horizon

EDWARD REEKERS:
He knew there'd be no way back
Once he had vanished in the blackness of infinity

EDWARD REEKERS: And so he gathered all his strength not to descend
OKKIE HUYSDENS: Into the valley of death...
ROBERT SOETERBOEK: Into the valley of death...

------------

EDWARD REEKERS:
And then he rode into the night
Towards that eerie distant light that seemed to charm him

ROBERT SOETERBOEK:
A force so seductive
And yet so destructive and cruel

EDWARD REEKERS: Until he came to a road that disappeared
OKKIE HUYSDENS: Beyond the last horizon

ROBERT SOETERBOEK:
I followed that road to the edge of eternity

EDWARD REEKERS:
He knew there'd be no way back
Once he had vanished in the blackness of infinity

ROBERT SOETERBOEK:
I fought for my life
For I had to survive the ordeal

EDWARD REEKERS: And so he gathered all his strength not to descend
OKKIE HUYSDENS: Into the valley of death...
ROBERT SOETERBOEK: Into the valley of death...

AYREON (RUUD HOUWELING):

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 their screams.

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.

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!
I'd surrender if only I could!

As I poise on the edge of life,
Where time disappears,
I bow in fear,
To the charm of the Seer!

I bow in fear to the charm of the Seer! (Ooooooohh....)
I bow in fear to the charm of the Seer! (Ooooooohh....)
I bow in fear to the charm of the Seer! (Ooooooohh....)
I bow in fear to the charm of the Seer! (Ooooooohh....)
I bow in fear to the charm of the Seer! (Ooooooohh....)
I bow in fear to the charm of the Seer! (Ooooooohh....)
I bow in fear to the charm of the Seer! (Ooooooohh....)
I bow in fear to the charm of the Seer!
Ooooooooooohh-hoh-hoh-hooo! Hoh-hoo!
(I bow in fear to the charm of the Seer!)
Ooooooohh....

AYREON (LENNY WOLF):
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 mystery.

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,
A fantasy,
Or a view of things to come.

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'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?
Does it mean I'm a god?
Will nobody tell me so?

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!

VILLAGERS:
Tell me what you see!

AYREON:
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... Free my mind... free my mind...
Free my mind... Free my mind...

AYREON (ARJEN LUCASSEN):

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 o' love.

But I know that it was not meant to be.
So I fulfill my destiny and accept my fate.

Still I wish that I could see like everybody can... (Like everybody can...)
How I wish that I could be like any other man...

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

(Chorus:)
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

(Chorus:)

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