Black Clouds & Silver Linings Lyrics Album by Dream Theater
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Album Lyrics
1. A Nightmare to Remember
I’ve got a nightmare to remember,
I’ll never be the same.
What began as laughter so soon
would turn to pain.
The sky was clear and frigid,
the air was thick and still.
Now I’m not one to soon forget
and I bet I never will.
Picture for a moment
the perfect irony,
a flawless new beginning
eclipsed by tragedy.
The uninvited stranger
started dancing on his own,
so we said goodbye to the glowing
bride and we made our way back home.
Life was so simple then,
we were so innocent.
Father and mother
holding each other.
Without warning out of nowhere,
like a bullet from the night.
Crushing glass, rubber and steel,
scorching fire, glowing lights.
Screams of terror, pain of fear,
sounds of sirens, smoke in my eyes.
Sudden stillness wrapped in silence,
no more screaming, no more cries.
Stunned and bewildered,
cold and afraid.
Torn up and broken,
frightened and dazed.
Stunned and bewildered,
cold and afraid.
Torn up and broken,
frightened and dazed.
Lying on the table
in this unfamiliar place.
I’m greeted by a stranger,
a man without a face.
He said,
“Son do you remember?
Do you even know your name?”
Then he shined a light
into my eyes and said,
“Take this for the pain.”
Hopelessly drifting,
bathing in beautiful agony.
I am endlessly falling,
lost in this wonderful misery.
In peaceful sedation
I lay half awake,
and all of the panic
inside starts to fade.
Hopelessly drifting,
bathing in beautiful agony.
“Tell me, does this hurt you?”,
said the faceless man.
“Can you move all of your fingers?
Can you try your best to stand?”
I asked about the others,
“Is everyone okay?”
He told me not to worry as
he turned and looked away.
Hopelessly drifting,
bathing in beautiful agony.
I am endlessly falling,
lost in this wonderful misery.
In peaceful sedation
I lay half awake,
and all of the panic
inside starts to fade.
Hopelessly drifting,
bathing in beautiful agony.
Day after day
and night after night
replaying the events.
Did they ever see the red light?
Over and over, scene by scene,
like a recurring nightmare
haunting my dreams.
How can you prepare
for what would happen next?
No son should ever have to see
his father such a mess.
It’s a miracle he lived,
it’s a blessing no one died.
By the grace of God above
everyone survived.
Life was so simple then,
we were so innocent.
It will stay with us forever,
a nightmare to remember!
2. A Rite of Passage
Since the new world order
played upon our fears,
spreading accusations
of radical ideas.
The brotherhood of wisdom,
strength and dignity.
Its rituals and secrets
remain a mystery.
Beneath an ever watchful eye
the angels of the temple fly.
Turn the key,
walk through the gate.
The great ascent to
reach a higher state.
A rite of passage!
The final stage,
a sacred home.
Unlock the door and
lay the cornerstone.
A rite of passage!
Men of wealth and power,
influence and fame,
philosophers and leaders,
all members of the trade.
Bound by oath and honor
like the rose and cross,
an enigmatic union of
esoteric thoughts.
Beneath an ever watchful eye
the angels of the temple fly.
Turn the key,
walk through the gate.
The great ascent to
reach a higher state.
A rite of passage!
The final stage,
a sacred home.
Unlock the door and
lay the cornerstone.
A rite of passage!
Turn the key,
walk through the gate.
The great ascent to
reach a higher state.
A rite of passage!
The seven stars,
the rising sun.
A perfect world,
a new life has begun.
A rite of passage!
3. Wither
Let it out, let it out,
fill the empty space.
So insecure, find the words
and let it out.
Staring down, staring down,
nothing comes to mind.
Find the place, turn the
water into wine.
But I feel I’m
getting nowhere,
and I’ll never
see the end.
So I wither and render myself helpless,
I give in and everything is clear.
I break down and let the story guide me.
Turn it on, turn it on,
let the feelings flow.
Close your eyes, see the
ones you used to know.
Open up, open up,
don’t struggle to relate.
Lure it out, help the
memory escape.
Still this barrenness
consumes me and I feel
like giving up.
So I wither and render myself helpless,
I give in and everything is clear.
I break down and let the story guide me,
I wither and give myself away.
Like reflections on the page,
the world’s what you create.
I drown in hesitation,
my words come crashing down.
And all my best creations
burn into the ground.
The thought of starting
over leaves me paralyzed.
Tear it out again,
another one that got away.
I wither and render myself helpless.
I give in and everything is clear.
I wither and render myself helpless,
I give in and everything is clear.
I break down and let the story guide me,
I wither and give myself away.
Like reflections on the page,
the world’s what you create.
4. The Shattered Fortress
Alcoholics Anonymous/Twelve-step Suite
Part 10: Restraint
Freedom calls my name,
serenity keeps me sane.
Happiness, it dulls the pain!
Honest to see my place,
open to other ways.
Willingness to understand!
Justice but do not judge,
courtesy for others’ flaws.
Kindness, it’s not that hard!
Self-restraint of tongue and pen.
Inventory, my daily friend.
Analysis let down your guard!
Look in the mirror,
what do you see?
The shattered fortress
that once bound me.
Faithful ascent
through darkest fires,
I’ve found the path
to take me higher.
You’re smart enough
for me to trust,
go live your life now.
Just keep these
steps in your life,
and you’ll know how.
If you’re not
sure ask yourself,
“Have I done to them as
I would have them do to me?”
Look in the mirror,
what’s that you see?
The shattered fortress,
fly now be free.
Faithful ascent
through darkest fires.
I’ve found the path
to take me higher.
I once thought it
better to be right,
but now I have finally
seen the light.
Sometimes you’ve got to be
wrong and learn from mistakes,
I live with serenity now
not self-righteous hate.
Part 11: Receive
“Help me be a channel of thy peace!
That where there is
hatred I may bring love,
that where there is wrong I may
bring the spirit of forgiveness.
That where there is
discord I may bring harmony,
that where there is error
I may bring truth.
That where there is doubt,
I may bring faith”
Now that you can see
all you have done…
“That where there is
despair I may bring hope,
that where there are shadows
I may bring light.”
It’s time to take
that step into the kingdom…
“That where there is
sadness I may bring joy”
All your sins will help
to make you strong…
“That I may seek rather to
comfort than to be comforted,
that I may seek to understand
than to be understood.”
…and help you break
right through the prison wall.
“That I may seek to love
rather than to be loved,
for it is by self-forgetting
that one finds it is by forgiving
that one is forgiven.”
Keep all of me,
the desires that once
burned me deep inside.
Help me live today
and help to give me grace
to carry out your way.
I am ready,
help me be
all I can be!
I am ready,
help guide me
and keep me free.
Part 12: Responsible
I am responsible
when anyone, anywhere
reaches out for help.
I want my hand to be there!
I am responsible
when anyone, anywhere
reaches out for help.
I want my hand to be there!
5. The Best of Times
*In Loving Memory of Howard Portnoy, 1940-2009*
Remember days of yesterday
and how it flew so fast,
the two score and a year we had
I thought it would always last.
Those summer days
and west coast dreams
I wished would never end.
A young boy and his father,
idol and best friend.
I’ll always remember,
those were the best of times.
A lifetime together,
I’ll never forget.
The morning shows on the radio,
the case of the missing dog.
Lying on the pillows at the old 812,
watching Harold and Maude.
The record shops,
the stickball fields,
my home away from home.
And when we weren’t together
the hours on the phone.
I’ll always remember,
those were the best of times.
I’ll cherish them forever,
the best of times.
But then came the call,
our lives changed forever more.
“You can pray for a change,
but prepare for the end.”
The fleeting winds of time
flying through each day,
all the things I should’ve done
but time just slipped away.
Remember, seize the day!
Life goes by in the
blink of an eye with
so much left to say.
These were the best of times,
I’ll miss these days.
Your spirit lit my life each day!
Thank you for the inspiration,
thank you for the smiles,
all the unconditional love
that carried me for miles.
It carried me for miles.
But most of all thank
you for my life!
These were the best of times,
I’ll miss these days.
Your spirit lit my life each day!
My heart is bleeding
bad but I’ll be ok.
Your spirit guides
my life each day!
6. The Count of Tuscany
Several years ago
in a foreign town,
far away from home
I met the Count of Tuscany.
A young eccentric man
bred from royal blood
took me for a ride across
the open countryside.
“Get into my car,
let’s go for a drive.
Along the way I’ll
be your guide,
just step inside.
Maybe you recall
a cannibal curator,
a character inspired
by my brother’s life!”
Winding through the hills,
the city far behind.
On and on we drove down
narrow streets and dusty roads.
At last we came upon a
picturesque estate on
sprawling emerald fields,
an ancient world of times gone by.
“Let me introduce my brother,
a bearded gentleman historian.
Sucking on his pipe, distinguished accent
making me uptight, no accident.”
I want to stay alive
everything about this place
just doesn’t feel right.
I don’t want to die,
suddenly I’m frightened
for my life.
I want to say goodbye,
this could be the last
time you see me alive!
I may not survive,
knew it from the
moment we arrived.
“Would you like to see
our secret holy place?
I come here late at night to
pray to him by candle light.”
Then peering through the glass
I saw with disbelief still
dressed in royal clothes,
the saint behind the altar.
History recalls
during times of war.
Legend has been traced
back inside these castle walls.
Where soldiers came to hide
in barrels filled with wine.
Never to escape, these tombs
of oak are where they died.
Down the cellar
stairs I disappear,
like the angel’s share
the end is near.
“Come and have a taste,
a rare vintage.
All the finest wines
improve with age.”
I want to stay alive,
everything about this place
just doesn’t feel right.
I don’t want to die,
suddenly I’m frightened
for my life.
I want to say goodbye,
this could be the last
timeyou see me alive!
I may not survive,
knew it from the
moment we arrived.
Could this be the end,
is this the way I die?
Sitting here alone,
no one by my side.
I don’t understand, I don’t
feel that I deserve this.
What did I do wrong?
I just don’t understand.
Give me one more chance,
let me please explain.
It’s all been circumstance,
I’ll tell you once again.
You took me for a ride,
promising a vast adventure.
Next thing that I know
I’m frightened for my life.
“Now wait a minute, man!
That’s not how it is!
You must be confused,
that isn’t who I am.
Please don’t be afraid,
I would never try to hurt you.
This is how we live,
strange although it seems.
Please try to forgive!
The chapel and the saint,
the soldiers and the wine,
the fables and the tales,
all handed down through time.
Of course you’re free to go,
go and tell the world my story.
Tell about my brother,
tell them about me…
The Count of Tuscany!”
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