Passage To Paralysis
in my experience an act of
passing takes the stage/in an
interchange of confidence
in my experience/an obligation
by design/where my liberty is just
a word/it's just a word
in my experience/an all consuming
type of dance/embracing a
silent partner who takes the lead
away/just when you thought you had
the hang of it
in my experience/mind and matter/
time and space play an endless game
of endurance/all in a lifetime of work
fatigue reaction/my body slows
but my mind is quick/firing thoughts
in random succession/my passage to
paralysis might seem diverted/well I can
tell you- I can feel it coming on
I can feel it coming on
in my experience/the center of trade
for my soul/my humanity knows when
I try to back away-
or when I raise the mammoth
penance aside when expression resides/
strike a blow for the teacher who got me thinking
listen my son/you have got only one chance/
there's no state of grace for a poor man's offering
I'm lost in my drama's tears/been that way for years
and I don't know if it is real or fiction-
'cause I can't see the forest for the trees... now.
let us stray from my course/
turned away when it came to the day
that I needed something/turn to stone/
turn it over alone/light a path/find a way to
my promised land
I'm lost in my drama's tears/been that way for years
and I don't know if it is real or fiction-
'cause I can't see the forest for the trees... now.
I face my passage to paralysis
can't stop this free fall of analysis
I face my passage to paralysis/just
brace for impact in a long,long,long stall
in my experience/I pause before and after
in my experience/I learn before and after
that the time has come for reflection/on my
passage to this hemisphere
in my experience/a piece of music or
my favorite book/and an evening alone
makes me think about 'someday'
when we all raise the mammoth
'cause I can't see the forest for the trees....now. (x2)
Hit by the force of a madman's recourse/
pound a fist/wayward course for such an old man
what will I make when my spirit awakes
and my endgame is only another start?
I'm lost in my drama's tears/been that way for years
and I don't know if it is real or fiction-
'cause I can't see the forest for the trees... now.
why am I left to waiting?
why do I feel this pressure?
why- when it's only me here?
I write my own destiny
with my fears of what I'll be
and I can't pretend to see
what I just can't see
How did I ever get here?
How do I make a change?
How do I find a peace here?
prevent disaster/annihilate this plague/
a principle motion/my procession is vague/
my soul stirs a brew of redemption that is lost/
I awake from a stupor and realize the cost
now I realize the cost
now I realize the cost is great/
and I wait for a reason to stay, my God.
Written by Trent Gardner
Broad Decay
broad decay/its all around us
flowing forth in rich abundance
broad decay/church and state
combined against us-
we can't believe/we can't escape
broad decay/the empowered speak
but use the structure to keep their
reign upon the meek
broad decay/the willing masses
thought controlled/issued chains
by empty suits and mortgaged souls
we'll share one voice today/just raise
the mammoth and pray
the family breaks and spills its blood
where dreams once stood/to weave
the fabric of what we are/when it could
-but I hear no outcry.
the fire fades/ that keeps us hoping/
looking forward-
but cynicism cuts deep our favor
with its heavy handed sword
no matter/no mater how bad the world
ever gets/just remember this song is for you
never forget/never forget- how far you've come
and you've made your passage/ from a place
of fear/to a destination full of promises kept
with this song I promise/I will be there for you
I will be there for you
yes, I will be there for you
I will be there.
we'll share one voice today/just raise
the mammoth and pray
but children starve without a bed to lay upon
while we market cars the dead are gone
we'll share one voice today/just raise
the mammoth and pray
with broken vows we turn our words
into a curse-
taken lightly/our promises/'chapter and
verse'/but I hear no outcry.
broad decay-
broad decay-
broad decay-
we're bailing hard and we're sinking fast/
our sons and daughters tend a barren
land/ where none can last
we'll share one voice today/just raise
the mammoth and pray
the social climber/a shiny smile
and strong handshake/bears a false
witness/but we still partake
listen to me/listen to me
you know the world/now you make
a choice/and you make it clear
'cause I'm waiting with a promise
to be there for you.
I will be there for you
yes, I will be there for you
I will be there. I will be there.
I will be there for you
I will be there....
Written by Trent Gardner
Vertebrates
I challenge you to challenge me
in a test of truth and free will
Now you make your moves
and I'll make mine
We'll then debrief and just unwind
There will be no fear of what we say
and no pretenses on this day-
Standing face to face
yet we still won't say
what we believe
Revealing what we want
and who we are
Admitting what we have become
Just spineless mammals adrift at sea
in an evolution still to come
Standing face to face
yet we still don't say
what we believe-
we just avoid/we cave in/we lie [spoken part : 'now here it is' ]
You robbed me of a chance
to engage you on the same page
Now all I hear is lies/ no wonder
I can't reach you
I'd like to speak the truth
if you don't mind
I need to get this out
I better do this quick
while there's still some time
left here/ I want to tell it straight
if you don't mind
You robbed me of a chance
to engage you on the same page
Now all I hear is lies/ no wonder
I can't reach you
I'd like to speak the truth
if you don't mind
I need to get this out
I better do this quick
while there's still some time
left here/ I want to tell it straight
if you don't mind
Let's be vertebrates
Let's be......mmm.
Let's be vertebrates
Let's morph into vertebrates.
You robbed me of a chance
to engage you on the same page
Now all I hear is lies/ no wonder
I can't reach you
I'd like to speak the truth
if you don't mind
I need to get this out
I better do this quick
while there's still some time
well?
I'd like to speak the truth
if you don't mind
I need to get this out
I better do this quick
while there's still some time
well?
You need to hear this straight
if you don't mind.
Written by Trent Gardner
Over the past few years I have been a very fortunate musician. This album contains yet another 'musical experiment' made possible by the patience and intestinal fortitude of Pete Morticelli & Mike Varney. I can't think of anything more challenging yet rewarding for a writer and producer. I anticipate more of these unlikely experiments.With the RaisingThe Mammoth player line-up, I have rediscovered how many endless combinations of 'those mysterious 12 notes' are still left -and more importantly, how many I still don't understand.....wow. Any cliche about needing more time will do. Prog on.
Trent Gardner
credits
released August 20, 2002
Written by Trent Gardner
Drums: Terry Bozzio
Bass: John Myung
Guitar: Kerry Livgren
Guitar: Marty Friedman
Guitar: Gary Wehrkamp
Keyboards: Trent Gardner
Keyboards: Mark Robertson
Vocals: Steve Walsh
Vocals: James LaBrie
Vocals: Trent Gardner
Produced By Trent Gardner
Mixed By Terry Brown
Mastered By Jim Brick, Absolute Audio, New York
supported by 4 fans who also own “Raising The Mammoth”
Calling any of Ayreon's albums mere "albums" is almost a disservice. These albums are a series of interconnected rock operas that comprise an even greater meta-narrative.
Of course, you can ignore all of that and just have fun.
Migrator was envisioned as two albums, the first being more prog rock centric, while the second one is more prog-metal driven. Both are awesome.
Print the lyrics, read them...take it all in...it's so worth it. amiko
The Long Island metal band's third album etches arena-sized hooks into their jagged compositions, deftly balancing experimental and poppy inclinations. Bandcamp Album of the Day May 12, 2022