Ayreon - Into The Electric Castle (1998) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Singers: Fish as Highlander: Is weary of fighting and thinks he's in hell, paying for his numerous sins Damian Wilson as Knight: Is chivalrous and thinks he's in Avalon in search of the Holy Grail Sharon Den Adel as Indian Girl: Thinks it's an old indian legend come true and wants to become one with the universe Anneke Van Giersbergen as Egyptian girl: Thinks she has been recieved in the 'next world' Edwin Balogh as Roman: Thinks he's in the underworld and wants to lead them all to freedom Arjen Anthony Lucassen as Hippie: Doesn't really notice the difference at first and enjoys the 'groovy' trip Jay van Feggelen as Barbarian: Is 'high & mighty' and wants to conquer this new land Edward Reekers as Future Man: Is well educated and thinks he's in cyberspace Robert Westerholt and George Oosthoek as Death (grunts) The Players: Arjen Anthony Lucassen - Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Mandoline, Bass, Minimoog, Mellotron & Keyboards Roland Bakker - All Hammonds Jack Pisters - Sitar Robby Valentine - All Pianos, Synth Solos on IIa, IIIa (CD 1) and IV (CD 2), Mellotron on VIa (CD 2) Ernö Olah - Violins Clive Nolan - Synth Solos on Vc (CD 1) Rene Merkelbach - Synth Solos on V (CD 2) and VII (CD 2), Harpsichord on II (CD 2) Ton Scherpenzeel - Synth Solos on Vc (CD 2) Taco Kooistra - Celli Thijs Van Leer - Flute on IIIc, IV (CD 1) and II & III (CD 2) Produced by Arjen Anthony Lucassen. Mixing in July '98 at RS29 by Oscar Holleman and Arjen Anthony Lucassen. Recorded at "The Electric Castle" Drums Recorded at "RS29" studios Fish Vocals Recorded at "The Farm", Scotland. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Track Listing CD 1 I) Welcome To The New Dimension (Lucassen) 3:05 II) Isis And Osiris (Let The Journey Begin / The Hall Of Isis And Osiris / Strange Constellations) (Lucassen) 11:11 III) Amazing Flight (Amazing Flight In Space / Stardance / Flying Colours) (Lucassen) 10:15 IV) Time Beyond Time (Lucassen) 6:05 V) The Decision Tree (We're Alive) ((Lucassen) 6:24 VI) Tunnel Of Light (Lucassen) 4:05 VII) Across The Rainbow Bridge (Lucassen) 6:20 CD 2 I) The Garden Of Emotions (In The Garden Of Emotions / Voices In The Sky / The Aggression Factor) (Lucassen) 9:40 II) Valley Of The Queens (Lucassen) 2:25 III) The Castle Hall (Lucassen) 5:49 IV) Tower Of Hope (Lucassen) 4:54 V) Cosmic Fusion (I Soar On The Breeze / Death's Grunt / The Passing Of An Eagle) (Lucassen) 7:27 VI) The Mirror Maze (Inside The Mirror Maze / Through The Mirror) (Lucassen) 6:34 VII) Evil Devolution (Lucassen) 6:31 VIII) The Two Gates (Lucassen) 6:28 IX) "Forever" Of The Stars (Lucassen) 2:02 X) Another Time, Another Space (Lucassen) 5:20 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fish wrote lyrics for the 'Highlander' on II, V & VII (CD 1) Jay Van Feggelen wrote lyrics for the 'Barbarian' on III (CD 1) Anneke Van Giersbergen wrote the melody line for the 'Egyptian' on VI (CD 1) Peter Daltrey wrote the lyrics for I (CD 1) and IX (CD 2) and all narration. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CD 1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I) Welcome to the new dimension Welcome! You have entered the cranial vistas of psychogenesis. This is the place of no-time and no-space. Do not be afraid for I am merely the vocal manifestation of your eternal dreams. I am as water, as air -- like breath itself. Do not be afraid. Look around, but linger not. Where I lead you will follow. Mark these words well. Ignite my anger with your delay and punishments will come your way. You are eight mortal souls of the flesh, chosen from different eras ancient and modern. The trivia of your mortal lives is unimportant - to me... Indeed, some may die... You have a task: To release yourselves from this Web of Wisdom, this knotted Maze of Delirium, you must enter the nuclear portals of the Electric Castle! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ II) Isis and Osiris a) Let the journey begin HIGHLANDER: What heathen place is this that I've arrived in is now the time I pay for all my sins I can't believe that this is God's creation this realm was fashioned by the Deil's ane hand INDIAN (CHORUS): no it has been foretold, in our legends of old wake the spirit within, let the journey begin HIGHLANDER: this quest you speak of is for redemption how can we travel when our souls are lost you think we find ourselves at gates of new salvation when I can only sense the end is here INDIAN (CHORUS) KNIGHT: we're at the gates of Avalon, the island of spirits we're at the gates of Avalon, in search of the grail b) The hall of Isis and Osiris ROMAN: there's no way out, slaves for eternity down in the underworld, the jaws of Orcus I call on Jupiter, ruler of the gods show us the way, from damnation to salvation EGYPTIAN (CHORUS): the fields of Yaaru lie waiting for us all rejoice! the judges have ruled we have been chosen to enter the great hall of Isis and Osiris ROMAN: no you're wrong, we're trapped here in darkness among departed souls, and mislaid spirits I call on Mars, the ancient god of war grant me the power, to free me from this evil EGYPTIAN (CHORUS) c) Strange constellations HIGHLANDER: can you see the stars? can you recognize the constellations? if I could only see the hills that we're supposed to climb even the sunlight......it doesn't warm.....doesn't warm how are we gonna find our way? if we can't recognize the stars, if we can't recognize the constellations where do we go? d) Reprise HIGHLANDER: the quest you speak of, it isn't bound for glory no grail exists within this heathen land you think we find ourselves at gates of new salvation when I can only sense ...the end is near ------------------------------------------------------------------------ III) Amazing flight There is danger ahead. But do not be afraid. For I am with you- like breath itself. Darkness will lead to light- colour will bleed into the night. Beautiful colours, the likes of which you have never seen. Let the dream of confusion lead you into the virgin light! Be gone! Be all- seeing, be brave... Be gone! a) Amazing flight in space BARBARIAN: I'm looking 'round bewildered Is this some dark and evil jest? what brought me to this cursed keep perchance some crazy quest gos forbid I am no coward! pitted against a monster, man, or ghost, I'd wield my blade with crimson gusto for I am the proud barbarian host! HIPPIE (CHORUS): 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 smile lights up my face we're on an amazing flight in space BARBARIAN: I shook city walls and towers wreaking havoc in the streets burned palaces of cow'rdly kings not a one stood up to me (fools) here Bear bloody banners in blazing skies brandish battle-axe and broadsword let drums of glory sound like thunder! Hail!! barbaric warlord!! HIPPIE (CHORUS) b) Stardance INDIAN: chanting c) Flying colours ------------------------------------------------------------------------ IV) Time beyond time FUTUREMAN: From the cities underseas to the skyways in the east from the stations on the moon to the planet of neptune I'm a sophisticated man and you would say I'd understand is it a virtual design? are we launched into a time beyond time space beyond space we are lost here in this cyber world is there no way out? KNIGHT: I don't understand your words They strike as hard as steel I'm sworn to the sacred quest on the isle of Avalon to retrieve the magic chalice which holds the power to heal only the pure of hearts are received into the realm ROMAN: just look around you now and tell me what you see a world full of treachery skies of silver and seas of gold the past in young and the future old we're closed in by iron gates beyond them Elysium waits far away on the edge of the world in a time beyond time space beyond space we are lost here in the underworld is there no way out? FUTUREMAN: from the birthcry of our race to the mysteries of space I'm and educated man and you would say I'd understand ------------------------------------------------------------------------ V) The decision tree (we're alive) Ah, my friends! So light of foot. So swift. You have come this far. And now - here beneath the ancient, omniscient boughs of the Decision Tree one of you must depart this world of flesh. Only seven may continue. Only you can decide.. BARBARIAN: Let it be clear I won't be the one to die here honour and glory are heaped upon my name let it be clear I'm not the one who cries here what about the tall one, the one who's lost to shame HIGHLANDER: I've followed princes, I've raised their bloody banners I've killed and wounded on the side of right I've reaped the harvest, scattered fields with ashes I've buried children, sowed the seeds of hate CHORUS: ALL: We're alive We'll survive we will strive for our freedom We're alive We'll survive We'll arrive in our eden HIGHLANDER: I've followed prices I've followed kings I will take their lead no more I will not lie in shallow graves (I'm nobody's slave) BARBARIAN: let it be known, by Thor the god of Lightning I have been chosen to do battle at his side let it be clear I was born to go down fighting what about the craven, the one who's lost his pride? HIGHLANDER Don't speak to me, of honour, pride, and glory I've tasted blood, seen your ype before you talk of battles but all you tell are stories you'd see me buried in a shallow grave (CHORUS) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ VI) Tunnel of light Be joyful, my friends! You will now enter the tunnel of light. Let brilliance suffuse your souls! Make your choice. Your path is incandescend. HIGHLANDER: Don't offer me the light, when I only know the darkness thats where I want to hide There's a chill in my bones, that I recognise from another life that's why I'm heading home EGYPTIAN: ra- heliopolis, ka-anenti ROMAN: Into Elysium! KNIGHT: The isle of Avalon! EGYPTIAN: In the tunnel of light HIGHLANDER: Don't tempt my heart with hope, in the shadow of broken promises I guard my dreams in the bend of a swollen river in the roots of weeping willows, I choose to lie EGYPTIAN: ra- heliopolis, ka-anenti ROMAN: Into Elysium! KNIGHT: The isle of Avalon! INDIAN: The legend has begun! FUTUREMAN: Our one and only sun EGYPTIAN: In the tunnel of light EGYPTIAN: ra- heliopolis, ka-anenti HIGHLANDER: I rest my broken heart, where the willow weep ROMAN: Into Elysium! HIGHLANDER: I will lay me down KNIGHT: The isle of Avalon! HIGHLANDER: I will rest my head INDIAN: The legend has begun! HIGHLANDER: I will close my eyes EGYPTIAN: In the tunnel of light ------------------------------------------------------------------------ VII) Across the rainbow bridge And now this Rainbow Bridge: an iridesent span of tears - so fragile and yet so strong. Will it support you mortal shells? Or will you fall into the fiery brine below? KNIGHT: I hark back to olden days to her and her magic ways Two souls in harmony in an endless sea The cruel wings of destiny carried you away from me and left a heart unstilled that never will be filled ROMAN (CHORUS): beyond these stygian skies our fortress lies across the rainbow bridge we'll span the sea of tears and conquer all our fears (inside) KNIGHT: I'd sacrifice my very life to have you at my side like a dream I see your face through the misty haze we were one amid the stars and time never healed my scars deep inside the sadness burns I must return! ROMAN (CHORUS): beyond these stygian skies our fortress lies across the rainbow bridge we'll span the sea of tears and conquer all our fears forsake this mourning field and drop your shields across the rainbow bridge run to the other side where all our dreams abide HIPPIE: scarlet crimson rosey red I must be dead or stoned out of my head orange yellow tangerine the acid queen in a psychedelic scene ochre chestnut chocolate brown I'm upside down on a cosmic eiderdown ivory milky chalky white the stars ignite I vanish in the light- that burns so bright Step forward, step forward - beyond lies your goal: The Electric Castle! The past is gone! Do you wish to lapse in limbo forever? No! Be resolute...There are trials ahead- and rewards for those who strive: The surreal search endures. ROMAN & KNIGHT: Run run the past is gone, it cannot be undone run run the future is here, our fate is drawing near ROMAN (CHORUS) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CD 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I) The garden of emotions Behold: The Star Towers of The Electric Castle! See how it embraces the sky! How isignificant 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 copme 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" 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 be INDIAN "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 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 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 INDIAN: Fury and fear destiny's near spirits appear the legend is here FUTUREMAN: 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 EGYPTIAN: Amon-ra, have you come to seal my fate? in the garden of emotions ------------------------------------------------------------------------ II) Valley of the queens EGYPTIAN: My jouney'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 sould 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 stolden 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ III) 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 and 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 shades of the dead are sliding on the wall demons dance in the castle hall REPEAT ALL ------------------------------------------------------------------------ IV) 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... 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 repeat second verse 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ V) Cosmic fusion a) I soar on the breeze INDIAN: 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 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! INDIAN: Screams c) Passing of an eagle ------------------------------------------------------------------------ VI) 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ VII) 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 humiliation this mutation of our human race ------------------------------------------------------------------------ VIII) 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 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ IX) "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 vanquished 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... Instrumental ------------------------------------------------------------------------ X) 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: ALL Remember forever... ------------------------------------------------------------------------