1.METROPOLIS PART 1

The smile of dawn
Arrived in early May
She carried a gift from her
home
The night shed a tear
To tell her of fear
And of sorrow and pain
She'll never outgrow

Death is the first dance, eternal

There's no more freedom
The both of you will be
confined to this mind

I was told there's miracle for
each day that I try
I was told there's a new love
that's born for each one that
has died
I was told there'd be no one to
call on when I feel alone and
afraid
I was told if you dream of the
next world
You'll find yourself swimming
in a lake of fire

As a child, I thought I could
live without pain without
sorrow
As a man I've found it's all
caught up with me
I'm asleep yet I'm so afraid

Somewhere like a scene from a
memory
There's a picture worth a
thousand words
Eluding stares from faces
before me
It hides away and will never be
heard of again

Deceit is the second without end

The city's cold blood teaches us
to survive
Just keep my heart in your eyes
and we'll stay alive

The third arrives...

Before the leaves have fallen
Before we lock the doors
There must be the third and
last dance
This one will last forever
Metropolis watches and
thoughtfully smiles
She's taken you to your home

It can only take place
When the struggle between
our children has ended
Now the Miracle and the
Sleeper know that the third
is love

Love is the dance of eternity


2.AFTERLIFE

I touched with one
who made me run
away from my own soul...
In this world with its
many illusions
We are moving like mice through a
maze

And now I find
what's left behind
has served to make me whole
full of doubt, deception, and delusion
seeking purpose to all earthly days

I search within
beneath a skin
that bears both pleasure and pain
In a world full of constant confusion
I will not be a par to the craze

In the


3.TO LIVE FOREVER

If i'd started from the top
And worked my way down
There'd be no reason
To live forever
To live forever

The starvation has turned
Me outside in
And the wind has blown
Me halfway across the world
Across the world

Why was i born
In an age of distrust
I'd offered some change
For a photograph

It will always stay the same [**a**]
You will always be the same

Until i saw the desire for revenge
My heart never once went astray
As long as i have to die in the attempt
Then there is no reason
To live forever

I found you where [03:37]
They left you there
A passing word that's gone forever

And searching my memory for answers
I saw the words of a letter you wrote
She said 'you don't have to live forever,
You don't want to live forever.'
And everything's changing now,
I don't want to live forever.

[alternate ending - (live in tokyo home video)]
[beginning at **a** above. ]
It will always stay the same
Always be the same

Until i saw the desire for revenge
My heart never once went astray
As long as i have to die in the attempt
Then there is no reason
To live forever

Until i saw the desire for revenge
As long as i have to die in the attempt
If i had to charge the attack
Let me
No reason
No reason
No reason
No reason
To live forever

[alternate ending - (studio acoustic version - "subconscious" cd)]
[recorded as james labrie's vocal audition in 1990. ]
[beginning at **a** above. ]
It will always stay the same
Always be the same

Until i show desire for revenge
My heart never once went astray
As long as i have to die in the attempt
Then there'd be no reason
To live forever

Until i show desire for revenge
As long as i have to die in the attempt
As long as i have to die in the attempt
Then there'd be no reason
No reason
No reason
To live forever
To live forever
'this just in from baghdad... seven patriot missiles
Have been spotted above cuba.'


4.THE YTSE JAM

(Instrumental)

5.THE KILLING HAND

[I. The Observance]
An Angel's kiss now fallen
Descending scarlet cuts the sky
Faded names left on the wall
Honor the fighting leave life to
die

Remembered is the sacrifice but
No praisal of blood still flowing
Who were the leaders?
what controlled the Killing Hand
that caused this mouthing?

Crossing over...

[II. Ancient Renewal]
Lowered deep into the sea
Being a waits to cleanse his soul
senses weakening time is still
Motionless by stiffening cold

The wheels race back and
Scorch his mind
Travelling all to find the land
Revelation warms a touch
And now he will begin to
Understand

[III. The Stray Seed]
Extended a view to yesterday
Manifestation for none the same
Walking amidst a frightening still
No sound, no smoke, no scorching
Flames

He is risen...

Sipping his poison the raven sings
Yet another to add more bodies
fallen
King from below
this one controls
the Killing Hand that caused this
mourning

Is it all over?

[IV. Thorns]
Evil genius this secret plan
Mercy dealt with the losing hand
Will he ever fall?
Can he end it all?
Our savior must make his stand

Only a Propher of years to come
Wanting mortality I'm all alone
He heard my voice
It was my choice
I've stopped the Killing Hand

[V. Exodus]
When I go back again
Will it be the same?
I've stopped the cries
But now they know my name

The sea is calling me
my spirit must return
As I get closer,
was it really worth
what I have learned?

I'm in the valley
And the saddened chimes I hear
Race towards the wall to find
one more name appears

No one is left now
my one and only land
I laugh at what I've done
I am the Killing Hand


6.ONLY A MATTER OF TIME

A suited man smiled said:
"It's just a matter of time
You can have the world at your feet
by tomorrow
just sign on this line."
Hold tight... limelight!
Approaching the paramount
with the sun in our eyes
fearing family ties, legalies,
compromise

In a dimly lit room with a stool as his
stage
a dream-stricken prince of a pauper's
descent
haunts the eavesdropping silence
that presses his window
as he sweats a performance
to an audience that ticks on the wall

To the practical observer
It's just a matter of time
"You can deviate from the com-
monplace
only to fall back in line."
I understand mine's a risky plan
and your system can't miss
But is security after all a cause
or symptom of happiness?

Brave, yet afraid, his eyes on horizon
in a steady-set gaze
a mariner soon from an open cocoon
takes a moment to summon his courage
to stifle his grave apprehension and
trembling, approaches the surf
A father's benediction as his hopeful
son departs
to brave the sea of rage and conquer
at all costs

lingers in his memory
and visions still surviving in a logic-
proof shell
that should have been held sacred, safe
and hidden well
are compromised in usury
with every rising sun that yields no
sight of land
the hesitation cultivates within the
tired man
and rumors spread of mutiny
and though the time will come when
dream and day unite
tonight the only consolation causing
him to fight
in fearless faith in destiny

Even when plans fall to pieces
I can still find the courage
with promise I've found in my faith

Likely or not, it's a dream that we keep
and at odds with our senses we'll climb
But if faith is the answer, we're already
reached it
And if spirit's a sign
Then it's only a mater of time