Ayreon
"The Two Gates"

Forever of the Stars:
And so it's come to this: Two Gates, two portals await.
Let your choice be guided by collective wisdom.
Mmm, 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

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!

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:
What evil place might this be? Why are the heavens so black?
Eternity threatens, darkness crashes down upon me! Ohh!
Like a big black bat of death smothers my senses!
Makes me lose my sense of time! This cannot be a dream!
I need to be wide awake! Wide awake! When the Valkyries come to take me!
To my place among the warriors, to my place by Odin's side! Ahhhh!

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?

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!