Wither

In order to grow in moral and spiritual stature we must learn to follow the path of a grain of wheat.

Dream Theater - Wither


Let it out, let it out
Feel 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 breakdown
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 breakdown
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
Burning to 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 breakdown
And let the story guide me
I wither
And give myself away

Like reflections on the page
The world's what you create

The Mirror

Dream Theater - The Mirror


Temptation-
Why won't you leave me alone?
Lurking Every Corner, everywhere I go

Self Control-
Don't turn your back on me now
When I need you the most

Constant pressure tests my will
My will or my won't
My Self Control escapes from me still...

Hypocrite-
How could you be so cruel
and expect my faith in return?

Resistance-
Is not as hard as it seems
When you close the door

I spent so long trusting in you
I trust you forgot
Just when I thought I believed in you...

[Sample is Meryl Streep from the film "Falling In Love".]
"What're you doing?
What're you doing?"

It's time for me to deal
Becoming all too real
living in fear-
Why did you lie and pretend?
This has come to an end
I'll never trust you again
It's time you made your amends
Look in the mirror my friend

[Sample is Jeremy Irons from the film "Damage".]
"That I haven't behaved as I should"
[Sample is Mary Beth Hurt from the film "Light Sleeper".]
"Everything you need is around you. The only danger is inside you."
[Sample is Jeremy Irons from the film "Damage".]
"I thought you could control life, but it's not like that. There are things you can't control."

Let's stare the problem right in the eye
It's plagued me from coast to coast
Racing the clock to please everyone
All but the one who matters the most

Reflections of reality
are slowly coming into view
How in the hell could you possibly forgive me?
After all the hell I put you through

It's time for me to deal
Becoming all too real
living in fear-
Why'd I betray my friend?
Lying until the end
Living life so pretend
It's time to make my amends
I'll never hurt you again

Learning To Live

Dream Theater - Learning to Live


There was no time for pain
No energy for anger
The sightlessness of hatred
slips away
Walking through winter streets
alone
He stops and take a breath
With confidence and self-
control

I look at the world and see no
understanding
I'm waiting to find some sense
of strength
I'm begging you from the
bottom of my heart to show
me understanding

I need to live life
Like some people never will
So find me kindness
Find me beauty
Find me truth
When temptation brings me to
my knees
And I lay here drained of
strength
Show me kindness
Show me beauty
Show me truth

The way your heart sounds
makes all the difference
It's what decides if you'll endure
the pain that we all feel
The way your heart beats
makes all the difference
In learning to live
Here before me is my soul
I'm learning to live
I won't give up
Till I've no more to give

Listening to the city
Whispering its violence
I set out watching from above
The 90s bring new questions
New solutions to be found
I fell in love to be let down

Once again we dance in the
crowd
At times a step away
From a common fear that's all
spread out
It won't listen to what you say
Once you're touched you stand
alone
To face the bitter fight
Once I reached for love
And now I reach for life

Another chance to lift my life
Free the sensation in my heart
To ride the wings of dreams
into changing horizons
It brings inner peace within my
mind,
As I'm lifted from where I've
spilt my life
I hear an innocent voice
I hear kindness, beauty and
truth

The way your heart sounds
makes all the difference
It's what decides if you'll endure
the pain that we all feel
The way your heart beats
makes all the difference
In learning to live
Spread before you is your soul
So forever hold the dreams
within our hearts
Through nature's inflexible
grace
I'm learning to live

I Walk Beside You

Dream Theater - I Walk Beside You


There's a story in your eyes
I can see the hurt behind your smile
For every sign I recognize
Another one escapes me

Let me know what plagues your mind
Let me be the one to know you best
Be the one to hold you up
When you feel like you're sinking

Tell me once again
What's beneath the pain you're feeling
Don't abandon me
Or think you can't be saved

I walk beside you
Wherever you are
Whatever it takes
No matter how far
Through all the may come
And all that may go
I walk beside you
I walk beside you

Summon up your ghosts for me
Rest your tired thoughts upon my hands
Step inside this sacred place
When all your dreams seem broken

Resonate inside this temple
Let me be the one who understands
Be the one to carry you
When you can walk no further

Tell me once again
What's below the surface bleeding
If you've lost your way,
I will take you there

I walk beside you
Wherever you are
Whatever it takes
No matter how far
Through all that may come
And all that may go
I walk beside you
I walk beside you

Oh, where everything is wrong
Oh, where hopelessness surrounds you
Oh, the sun will rise again
The tide you swim against
Will carry you back home
So don't give up
Don't give in

I walk beside you
Wherever you are
Whatever it takes
No matter how far
Through all that may come
And all that may go
I walk beside you
I walk beside you

In The Name Of God

Authentic faith and reason must go together.  One without the other becomes reductive, narrow and distorted -- paving the way for false prophets attempting to justify crimes in the name of God.  Here there is no concept of tolerance or respect for the other -- only the forceful imposition of ideology.   

Dream Theater - In The Name of God


How can this be?
Why is he the chosen one?

Saint gone astray
With a scepter and a gun

Learn to believe
In the mighty and the strong

Come bleed the beast
Follow me it won't be long

Listen when the prophet
Speaks to you
Killing in the name of God

Passion
Twisting faith into violence
In the name of God

Straight is the path
Leading to your salvation
Slaying the weak
Ethnic elimination

Any day we'll all be
Swept away
You'll be saved
As long as you obey

Lies
Tools of the devil inside
Written in Holy disguise
Meant to deceive and divide
Us all

Listen when the prophet
Speaks to you
Killing in the name of God

Passion
Twisting faith into violence
In the name of God

Blurring the lines
Between virtue and sin
They can't tell
Where God ends
And mankind begins

They know no other
Life but this
From the cradle
They are claimed

Listen when the prophet
Speaks to you
Killing in the name of God

Passion
Twisting faith into violence
In the name of God

Hundreds of believers
Lured into a doomsday cult
All would perish
In the name of God

Self-proclaimed messiah
Led his servants
To their death
Eighty murdered
In the name of God

Forty sons and daughters
Un-consenting plural wives
Perversions
In the name of God

Underground religion
Turning toward
The mainstream light
Blind devotion
In the name of God

Justifying violence
Citing from the Holy Book
Teaching hatred
In the name of God

Listen when the prophet
Speaks to you
Killing in the name of God

Passion
Twisting faith into violence
In the name of God

Religious beliefs
Fanatic obsession
Does following faith
Lead us to violence?

Unyielding crusade
Divine revelation
Does following faith
Lead us to violence?

Repentance

Dream Theater - Repentance


Hello, mirror, so glad to see you my friend
It's been a while...

Staring at the empty page before me
All the years of wreckage running through my head
Patterns of my life I thought adorned me
Revealing hurtful shame and deep lament

Overwhelming sorrow now absorbs me
As the pen begins to trace my darkest past
Signs throughout my life
that should have warned me
Of all the wrongs I've done for which I must repent

I once thought it better to regret
Things that I have done than haven't
Sometimes you've got to be wrong
And learn the hard way
And sometimes you've got to be strong
When you think it's too late

Staring at the finished page before me
All the damage now so clear and evident
Thinking about the dreaded task in store for me
A pit of fear at the thought of my amends

Hoping that this step will help restore me
To face my past and ask for forgiveness
Cleaning up my dirty side of this unswept street
Could this be the beginning of the end?

I once thought it better to regret
Things that I have done than haven't
Sometimes you've got to be wrong
And learn the hard way
And just when you're through hanging on
You're saved

"Until that moment, I'd never felt like I'd failed at anything...And I felt like I failed her...And I failed myself, and I failed my children...It's still really hard to deal with."

"I want to thank you for helping me to see my own selfishness and to tell you how regretful I am it has hurt you."

"I'm sorry I didn't visit you in the hospital, Grandpa when you were on your deathbed. I'm sorry I didn't come to your funeral...I don't know if I was selfish or just too scared to face it. It's one of the biggest regrets of my life."

"I'm here to confess with you that what I did, was wrong... And I'm asking for your forgiveness..."

"The only unforgivable thing hauls itself out of bed, looks over my shoulder at the bloody English weather..."

"I really regret not being able to see my friend Andy..."

"One of my best friends who's the godfather of my daughter, he asked me to sing or play something at his wedding, and I turned it down because I was busy and too much of a chicken shit to do it...And I feel sorry for that, because it was a very very close friend of mine..."

"So, I wanted to apologize to anyone that I've upset or offended.. they're just words, it's just an opinion, but unfortunately, I tend to express it as a fact, and that's kind of arrogant. Isn't it?"

"I think it's the betrayal...it still haunts me."

"I'm sorry for what I did back then... I was a different person. I really was and I'm so sorry. I wish it wouldn't have happened, but it did, and I'm sorry. Forgive me. I'm sorry..."

"I guess I'm simply sorry for being me and not you. I so often wish you could be here with me to show me the way..."

If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through.
We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness.
We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.
We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace.
No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others.
That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear.
We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows.
Self seeking will slip away.
Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change.
Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us.
We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us.
We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.

Are these extravagant promises? We think not. They are being fulfilled among us - sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. They will always materialize if we work for them.

"You're only as sick as your secrets, but the truth shall set you free..."

"The truth is the truth and the only thing you can do is to live with it."

This Dying Soul

A conscience that is not yet completely numb can still respond to the call and make a break out of the prison: the courage and humility to make amends for past mistakes.

Dream Theater - This Dying Soul


Hello, Mirror - so glad to see you my friend, it's been a while
Searching, Fearless - where do I begin to heal this wound of self-denial

Face yourself man!
Brace yourself and trace your hell back

You've been blinded, living lie a one way cold existence all the while
Now it's time to stare the problem right between the eyes you long lost child

I wanna feel your body breaking
Wanna feel your body breaking and shaking and left in the cold
I want to heal your conscience making a change to fix this dying soul

Born into this world a broken home
Surrounded by love yet all alone
Forced into a life that's split in two
A mother and a father both pulling you

Then you had to deal with loss and death
Everybody thinking they know best
Coping with this shit at such an age
Can only fill a kid with pain and rage

Family disease pumped through your blood
Never had the chance you thought you could
Running all the while with no escape
Turning all that pain in to blame and hate

Living on your own by twenty one
Not a single care and having fun
Consuming all the life in front of you
Burning out the fuse and smoking the residue

Possessive obsessions selfish childish games
Vengeful resentments
Passing all the blame
Living out a life of decadence
Acing without thought of consequence
Spreading all your lies from coast to coast
While spitting on the ones that matter most

Running power mad with no control
Fighting for the credit they once stole
No one can ever tell you what to do
Ruling other's lives while the can't stand the thought of you

A living reflection seen from miles away
A hopeless affliction having run astray

I wanna feel your body breaking
Wanna feel your body breaking and shaking and left in the cold
I want to heal your conscience making a change to fix this dying soul

Now that you can see all you have done
It's time to take that step into the kingdom
All your sins will only make you strong
And help you break right through the prison wall

Come to me my friend (Listen to me)
I'll help this torture end (Help to set me free)
Let your ego go (I can't carry this load)
You can't go through this alone (I feel so hopeless and exposed)
You'll find your peace of mind (Give me some direction)
You can no longer hide (Break out of this isolation)
Let humility (Openness, honesty)
And become what you can be (A healing tranquility)

Help me
Save me
Heal me
I can't break out of this prison all alone

These tormenting ghosts of yesterday
Will vanish when exposed
You can't hold onto your secrets
They'll only send you back alone

Your fearless admissions
Will help expel your destructive obsessions
With my help I know you can
Be at one with God and man

Hear me
Believe me
Take me
I'm ready to break right through this prison wall

The Root Of All Evil

Weakness of will can lead to the prison of multiple vices and the brink of a dying soul. 

 

Dream Theater - The Root of All Evil


Proud enough for you to call me arrogant
Greedy enough to be labeled a thief
Angry enough for me to go and hurt a man
Cruel enough for me to feel no grief

Never could have just a part of it
I always need more to get by
Getting right down to the heart of it
The root of all evil has been running my whole life

Dirty enough for me to lust
Leaving nothing left to trust
Jealous enough to still feel envious
Lazy enough to sleep all day
And let my life just waste away
Selfish enough to make you wait for me

Driven blindly by our sins
Misled so easily
Entirely ready to leave it behind
I'm begging to break free

Take all of me
The desires that keep burning deep inside
Cast them all away
And help to give me strength to face another day
I am ready
Help me be what I can be

Self-centered fear has got a hold of me
Clutching my throat
Self righteous anger running all through me
Ready to explode

Procrastination paralyzing me
Wanting me dead
These obsessions that keep haunting me
Won't leave my head

Help to do for me what I can't do myself
Take this fear and pain
I can't break out this prison all alone
Help me break these chains

Humility now my only hope
Won't you take all of me
Heal this dying soul

I can feel my body breaking
I can feel my body breaking
I'm ready to let it all go
I can feel my body shaking
Right down to the foundation
The root of it all

Take all of me
The desires that keep burning deep inside
Cast it all away
And help to give me strength to face another day
I am ready
Help me what I can be
I am ready
Come to me
Take me away

Hey You

The walls that cut us off from solidarity and hapiness are of our own making.  This wall of division can only be breached with open hearts.  

Pink Floyd - Hey You


Hey you, out there in the cold
Getting lonely, getting old, can you feel me?
Hey you, standing in the aisles
With itchy feet and fading smiles, can you feel me?
Hey you, don't help them to bury the light
Don't give in without a fight

Hey you, out there on your own
Sitting naked by the phone would you touch me?
Hey you, with your ear against the wall
Waiting for someone to call out would you touch me?
Hey you, would you help me to carry the stone?
Open your heart, I'm coming home

But it was only a fantasy
The wall was too high as you can see
No matter how he tried he could not break free
And the worms ate into his brain

Hey you, out there on the road
Always doing what you're told, can you help me?
Hey you, out there beyond the wall
Breaking bottles in the hall, can you help me?

Hey you, don't tell me there's no hope at all
Together we stand, divided we fall

The Battle Of Evermore

All of creation is caught up in an epic war between good and evil.  One must ultimately declare his allegiance to one or the other side as there is no possibility of neutrality in this battle.  

Led Zeppelin - The Battle Of Evermore


Queen of Light took her bow, and then she turned to go
The Prince of Peace embraced the gloom, and walked the night alone

Oh, dance in the dark of night, sing to the morning light
The dark Lord rides in force tonight, and time will tell us all

Oh, throw down your plow and hoe, rest not to lock your homes

Side by side we wait the might of the darkest of them all

I hear the horses thunder down in the valley below
I'm waiting for the angels of Avalon, waiting for the eastern glow

The apples of the valley hold the seeds of happiness
The ground is rich from tender care, repay, do not forget, no, no
Dance in the dark of night, sing to the morning light

The apples turn to brown and black, the tyrant's face is red

Oh the war is common cry, pick up you swords and fly
The sky is filled with good and bad that mortals never know

Oh, well, the night is long the beads of time pass slow
Tired eyes on the sunrise, waiting for the eastern glow

The pain of war cannot exceed the woe of aftermath
The drums will shake the castle wall, the ring wraiths ride in black, ride on

Sing as you raise your bow, shoot straighter than before
No comfort has the fire at night that lights the face so cold

Oh dance in the dark of night, sing to the morning light
The magic runes are writ in gold to bring the balance back, bring it back

At last the sun is shining, the clouds of blue roll by
With flames from the dragon of darkness, the sunlight blinds his eyes

Time

Time is a gift not to be frittered away because life has meaning and value.

Pink Floyd - Time


Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day
You fritter and waste the hours in an off-hand way
Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way

Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home to watch the rain
You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today
And then the one day you find ten years have got behind you
No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun

And you run and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinking
And racing around to come up behind you again
The sun is the same in the relative way, but you're older
And shorter of breath and one day closer to death

Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time
Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines
Hanging on in quiet desparation is the English way
The time is gone the song is over, thought I'd something more to say

Home, home again
I like to be here when I can
When I come home cold and tired
It's good to warm my bones beside the fire
Far away, across the field, tolling on the iron bell
Calls the faithful to their knees
And hear the softly spoken magic spells

Give To Live

One must lead a virtuous life in order to find happiness.  It begins with baby steps. 

Sammy Hagar - Give To Live


I can see that you've got fire in your eyes
And pain inside your heart
So many things have come and torn your world apart
Oh baby, baby, baby, don't give up, don't give up, don't give up

If you want love
If you want love, you've got to give a little
If you want love
If you want faith, you just believe a little
If you want love
If you want peace, turn your cheek a little
Ohhh, you've got to give, you've got to give, you've got to give.....to live

An empty hand reaching out for someone
An empty heart takes so little to fill
It's so much easier to push instead of pull
Oh baby, baby, baby
Don't give up, don't give up, don't give up

If you want love
If you want love, you've got to give a little
If you want love
If you want faith, you just believe a little
If you want love
If you want peace, turn your cheek a little
Ohhh, you've got to give, you've got to give, you've got to give....to live

Each man's a country in his own right
Oh, everybody needs a friend
One friend, one God, one country
No man need defend
I believe in fate and destination
But so much of that lies in our own hands
If you know what you want, just go on out and get it
Oh baby, baby, just don't give up, don't give up, yeah, yeah

If you want love
If you want love, you've got to give a little
If you want love
If you want faith, you just believe a little
If you want love
If you want peace, turn your cheek a little
Oh, if you want love, you've got to give

If you want love
Oh, give to live 
If you want love
You've got to give, you've got to give, you've got to give
If you want love

Rise Today

In order to change the world one must find the real and spark an uprising of love. 

Alter Bridge - Rise Today


The wind is blowing cold
Have we lost our way tonight?
Have we lost our hope to sorrow?

Feels like we're all alone
Running further from what's right
And there are no more heroes to follow

So what are we becoming?
Where did we go wrong?

Yeah, oh yeah
I want to rise today
And change this world

Yeah, oh yeah
Oh, won't you rise today
And change this world?

The sun is beating down
Are we ever gonna change?
Can we stop the blood from running?

Our time is running out
Hope we find a better way
Before we find we're left with nothing

For every life that's taken
So much love is wasted

Yeah, oh yeah
I want to rise today
And change this world

Yeah, oh yeah
So won't you rise today
And change this world?

Only love can set it right
This world, if only peace would never die

It seems to me that we've got each other wrong
Was the enemy just your brother all along?

Yeah, oh yeah
I want to rise today
And change this world

Yeah, oh yeah
Oh won't you rise today
And change this world?

Yeah, oh yeah
I want to rise today
And change this world

Yeah, oh yeah
I want to rise today
And change this world

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

The heart of one who loves grows sorrowful when love goes unanswered.

Beatles & Eric Clapton - While My Guitar Gently Weeps


I look at you all see the love there that's sleeping
While my guitar gently weeps
I look at the floor and I see it needs sweeping
Still my guitar gently weeps

I don't know why nobody told you
How to unfold your love
I don't know why someone controlled you
They bought and sold you

I look at the world and I notice it's turning
While my guitar gently weeps
With every mistake we must surely be learning
Still my guitar gently weeps

I don't know why you were diverted
You were perverted too
I don't know why you were inverted
No one alerted you

I look at you all
See the love there that's sleeping
While my guitar gently weeps
Look at you all

Still my guitar gently weeps

Stairway To Heaven

There are two pathways that we can follow in this life.  One of these is broad and descends as it follows a path of least resistance.  The other road ascending seems narrow and less travelled.  The pathway is laid before us -- but there is walking and climbing to be done.  The ascent comes through the cultivation of virtue and steady progression in the moral and spiritual life.  With the help of divine grace we grow in moral stature and strength - like a rock - as we steadily make the ascent.  But if we grow lax or linger on the steps we risk rolling back down the path of least resistance and away from our transcendent goal.  The light of grace still shines on those souls -- with the image of God that glitters like gold -- wondering on that lower road.  The attentive listener faintly hears the tune calling him back to the stairway leading home.

Led Zeppelin - Stairway To Heaven


There’s a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold
And she’s buying a stairway to heaven
When she gets there she knows if the stores are all closed
With a word she can get what she came for

Ooh, ooh, and she’s buying a stairway to heaven

There’s a sign on the wall but she wants to be sure
Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings
In a tree by the brook, there is a songbird who sings:
Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven

Ooh, it makes me wonder
Ooh, it makes me wonder

There's a feeling I get when I look to the west
And my spirit is crying for leaving
In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees
And the voices of those who standing looking

Ooh, it makes me wonder
Ooh, really makes me wonder

And it’s whispered that soon if we all call the tune
Then the piper will lead us to reason
And a new day will dawn for those who stand long
And the forests will echo with laughter

If there’s a bustle in your hedgerow
Don’t be alarmed now
Its just a spring clean for the May queen
Yes, there are two paths you can go by but in the long run
There's still time to change the road you’re on

And it makes me wonder
Ooooooh…

Your head is humming and it won’t go
In case you don’t know
The pipers calling you to join him

Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow
And did you know
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind

And as we wind on down the road
Our shadows taller than our soul
There walks a lady we all know
Who shines white light and wants to show…
How everything still turns to gold
And if you listen very hard the tune will come to you at last
When all are one and one is all, yeah, to be a rock and not to roll

And she’s buying a stairway… to heaven....

Humanity

The morally bankrupt society pursues an empty form of "progress" at the expense of true humanity.
 

Scorpions - Humanity


Humanity
Auf wiedersehen
It's time to say goodbye
The party's over
As the laughter dies
An angel cries

Humanity
It's au revoir to your insanity
You sold your soul to feed your vanity
Your fantasies and lies

You're a drop in the rain
Just a number not a name
And you don't see it
You don't believe it

At the end of the day
You're a needle in the hay
You signed and sealed it
And now you gotta deal with it

Humanity, humanity
Goodbye, goodbye

Be on your way
Adios amigo there's a price to pay
For all the egotistic games you played
The world you made is gone

You're a drop in the rain
Just a number not a name
And you don't see it
You don't believe it

At the end of the day
You're a needle in the hay
You signed and sealed it
And now you gotta deal with it

Humanity, humanity
Goodbye, goodbye

Run and hide there's fire in the sky
Stay inside
The water's gonna rise and pull you under
In your eyes I'm staring at the end of time
Nothing can change us
No one can save us from ourselves

You're a drop in the rain
Just a number not a name
And you don't see it
You don't believe it

At the end of the day
You're a needle in the hay
You signed and sealed it
Now you gotta deal with it

Humanity, humanity, humanity
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye

The End Is Here

As the blindfold is removed and we learn to see we become determined to find the answers and the meaning until the very end.

Alter Bridge - The End Is Here


Endless days
We search for what we hold inside
So hard to find
Luck turns
Will the fallen ever reach within
And rise again

For the rest of my life
I'll find the answers
That were always here
I'll find the meaning this time
I'll fight the end
Till the end is here

Wasted time
With words that seem to break our will
They bind us still
Without a care
They tarnish what we hold so dear
What was once so clear

For the rest of my life
I'll find the answers
That were always here
I'll find the meaning this time
I'll fight the end
Till the end is here

Learning To See

Realizing our blindness is the fist step in learning to see.

Van Halen - Learning To See


Time after time we
Walk pass the window
But never see the ashes on the ground

Night after night
Watching the sky move
But never feel the earth spinning 'round

I didn't see you fallin'
I couldn't hear you callin'
Born with eyes wide open, never learned to see

I never meant to hurt you
Was right there crying with you
Why do we harm the only thing we want to be?

Trying to follow
Every footstep
I feel so lost along the way

Reading the scripture
Straight from the gospel
Never understanding what they say

I didn't see you fallin'
I never heard you callin'
I've got my eyes wide open, but haven't learned to see

Yeah!

I never meant to hurt you
Was right there crying with you
Why do we harm the only thing we want to be?

I just gotta be me
I just gotta be me

Yeah!

I didn't see you fallin'
I never heard you callin'
I've got my eyes wide open, but never learned to see

Yeah!

I never meant to hurt you
Was right there crying with you
We only cage the very thing we want to free

I just wanna be
I just gotta be me

Watch Your Words

Without truth we find ourselves drowning in a world of ignorance, lies and hatred.  In order to recognize truth one must be willing to hear it -- and to truly see well, one must have faith.

Alter Bridge - Watch Your Words


Watch your words
Or your words might drown you
And cure my wounds
And the light will blind you

To truly see well
You must have faith
Oh the righteous they can't wait
A saving grace
That all we know
Let us pray
Let us hold on

[CHORUS:]
I can't breathe
I prefer to find a ceiling
To this hate of mine
I can't win
I can fight no more
I'm drowning
And I'm sick inside

Push no more
And the day will find you
Speak no truth
And your ways will end you

It's alright
And you must move on
Though the damage
Has been done
Cherish the life
And the ones you hold
Can you change
Can you go on

[CHORUS]

To truly see well
You must have faith
Oh the righteous they can't wait
No
A saving grace
That we all know
Let us pray
Let us hold on

[CHORUS]

I can't breathe

Searching With My Good Eye Closed

We often close our eyes to an uncomfortable truth.  The pursuit of truth and goodness presupposes an open and honest search.  The alternative is like searching for stable ground up in the sky. 

Soundgarden - Searching With My Good Eye Closed


Painted blue across my eyes
And tie the linen on
And I'm on my way, on my way
Looking for the paradigm
So I can pass it off
Is it on my side?
Is it to the sky?
Looking to the sky and down
Searching for a ground
With my good eye closed

If I took you for a ride
Would you take it wrong
Or would you make it right
Looking for a pedestal
That I can put you on
And be on my way

Is it to the sky?
Looking to the sky and down
Searching for a ground
With my good eye closed

Stop you're trying to bruise my mind
I can do it on my own
Stop you're trying to kill my time
It's been my death since I was born
I don't remember half the time
If I'm hiding or I'm lost
But I'm on my way...

Is it to the sky?
I'm on my way...
Is it to the sky?
I'm on my way...
Is it to the sky?

Welcome To The Machine

The machinery of industry often seems de-humanizing -- where the human person is reduced to a mere commodity and the common good is subordinated to other interests.

Pink Floyd - Welcome To The Machine


Welcome my son
Welcome to the machine
Where have you been?
It's alright we know where you've been

You've been in the pipeline
Filling in time
Provided with toys and scouting for boys
You brought a guitar to punish your ma

And you didn't like school
And you know you're nobody's fool
So welcome to the machine

Welcome my son
Welcome to the machine
What did you dream?
It's alright we told you what to dream

You dreamed of a big star
He played a mean guitar
He always ate in the Steak Bar
He loved to drive in his Jaguar
So welcome to the machine

Blackbird

When a loved one has departed this world we do them honor by praying for their safe flight home.

Alter Bridge - Blackbird


The willow it weeps today
A breeze from the distance is calling your name
Unfurl your black wings and wait
Across the horizon it's coming to sweep you away
It's coming to sweep you away

[Chorus:]
Let the wind carry you home
Blackbird fly away
May you never be broken again

The fragile cannot endure
The wrecked and the jaded a place so impure
The static of this cruel world
Cause some birds to fly long before they've seen their day
Long before they've seen their day

[Chorus:]
Let the wind carry you home
Blackbird fly away
May you never be broken again

Beyond the suffering you've known
I hope you find your way
May you never be broken again

Ascend may you find no resistance
Know that you made such a difference
All you leave behind will live to the end
The cycle of suffering goes on
But memories of you stay strong
Someday I too will fly and find you again

[Chorus:]
Let the wind carry you home
Blackbird fly away
May you never be broken again

Beyond the suffering you've known
I hope you find your way
May you never be broken again
May you never be broken again

Starlight

Slash - Starlight (feat. Myles Kennedy)


In the distance light years from tomorrow
Far beyond yesterday
She is watching, heart aching with sorrow
She is broken, as she waits
Hoping when all is said and done we learn to love and be as one

[Chorus]
Oh Starlight, don't you cry we're gonna make it right before tomorrow
Oh Starlight, don't you cry we're gonna find a place where we belong (where we belong)
And so you know, you'll never shine alone

There are shadows sleeping on the horizon
Leave us scared and so afraid
As the fall out of a world divided
It brings her tears and so much pain
And so we take cover from the dark
Hoping to find where we can start

[Chorus]
Oh Starlight, don't you cry we're gonna make it right before tomorrow
Oh Starlight, don't you cry we're gonna find a place where we belong (where we belong)
And so you know, you'll never shine alone
Starlight we'll find a place where we belong

You will see when the mountains fall and turn to dust
There's one thing that won't change
I believe there's something within each over us that always stays
That will always remain as long as love never fades

[Chorus]
Oh Starlight, don't you cry we're gonna make it right before tomorrow
Oh Starlight, don't you cry we're gonna find a place where we belong (where we belong)
And so you know, you'll never shine alone
Starlight we'll find a place where we belong (we belong)

She is watching, heart aching with sorrow
She is broken, as she waits

Money

The pursuit of wealth as an end in itself leads to moral bankruptsy and servitude.     

Pink Floyd - Money


Money
Get away
You get a good job with good pay and you're okay
Money
It's a gas
Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash
New car, caviar, four star daydream
Think I'll buy me a football team

Money
Well, get back
I'm all right Jack
Keep your hands off of my stack
Money
It's a hit
Don't give me that do goody good bs
I'm in the high-fidelity first class travelling set
I think I need a Lear jet

Money
It's a crime
Share it fairly
But don't take a slice of my pie
Money
So they say
Is the root of all evil today
But if you ask for a raise
It's no surprise that they're giving none away

Before Tomorrow Comes

Nothing comes from indifference.  Find your conviction and embrace the hero.  Before tomorrow comes you can change everything!

Alter Bridge - Before Tomorrow Comes


I couldn't sleep I had to listen
To a conscience knowing so well
That nothing comes from indifference
I look inside of myself

Will I find some kind of conviction?
Will I bid the hero farewell?
Will I be defined by things that could have been?
I guess time will only tell
I guess time will only tell

[Chorus:]
So don't let it be
Before tomorrow comes
Before you turn away
Take the hand in need
Before tomorrow comes
You could change everything

I curse my worth and every comfort
That blinded me for way too long
Damn it all I'll make a difference from now on
Cause I'm wide awake to it all
Cause I'm wide awake to it all

[Chorus]

Does anyone care it ain't right what we're doing?
Does anyone care it ain't right where we're going?
Does anyone dare justify how we're living?
Does anyone here care at all?

[Chorus]

We could be so much more than we are
We could be so much more than we are
We could be so much more than we are
Oh this much I know

No Such Thing

When good is lacking evil fills the void.  To lose or to save your soul is a choice of how you fill the hole.

Chris Cornell - No Such Thing


I saw the world, it was beautiful
But the rain got in and ruined it all
Then I tried to be invisible
It was impossible even for me

I laughed at love, it was a big mistake
In the absence of, I filled it with hate

'Cause there's no such thing as nothing
Yeah, there's no such thing as nothing at all

I had the brains not to think at all
But the rain got in and I thought too hard
On the world and as usual
I slumped too far into the void

I tried to make everything meaningless
But the rain got in and made it a mess

'Cause there's no such thing as nothing
Yeah, there's no such thing as nothing at all
Yeah, there's no such thing as nothing
But my finger's on the trigger and I'll turn off the world

So what gives me the right
To think that I could throw away a life, even mine?
And what makes you believe
That you could get away with getting old, overlapping me?

Maybe to lose or to save your soul
Is a choice of how you fill the hole

The rain got in

'Cause there's no such thing as nothing
Yeah, there's no such thing as nothing at all
There's no such thing as nothing
But my finger's on the trigger and I'll turn off the world

Light My Way

Unwilling to listen to your answers...I'm not afraid to tell you I need you today.
 

Audioslave - Light My Way


In my hour of need
On the sea of gray
On my knees I pray to you
Help me find the bones of the dying dead

Won't you light my way?
Won't you light my way?
Won't you light my way?
Won't you light my way?

The bullet is a man
From time to time he strays
I compare my life to theirs
To this I remain

And unwilling to listen
To your answers
And I'm not afraid
To tell you I need you today

Won't you light my way?
Won't you light my way?
Won't you light my way?
Won't you light my way?

And so when I'm lost
And I'm tired and depressed
And when my mind goes astray
Won't you light my way?

Don't save it for another day
Don't save it for another day

Hey! Don't save it for another day
Hey! Don't save it for another day
Hey! Don't save it for another day
Hey! Don't save it for another day

Won't you light my way?
Won't you light my way?
Won't you light my way?
Won't you light my way?

Outshined

Show me the power of a childlike faith.   

Soundgarden - Outshined


I got up feeling so down
I got off being sold out
I've kept the movie rolling
But the story's getting old now

I just looked in the mirror
Things aren't looking so good
I'm looking California
And feeling Minnesota

(So now you know)
who gets mystified

Show me the power child
I'd like to say that I'm down on my knees today
It gives me the butterflies, gives me away
Till I'm up on my feet again

I'm feeling outshined

Someone let the dogs out
They'll show you where the truth is
The grass is always greener
Where the dogs are shedding

I'm feeling that I'm sober
Even though I'm drinking
I can't get any lower
Still I feel I'm sinking

(So now you know)
who gets mystified

Show me the power child
I'd like to say that I'm down on my knees today
It gives me the butterflies, gives me away
Till I'm up on my feet again

I'm feeling outshined

Buried Alive

One can become buried alive under the weight of his poor choices that lead to vice.  Attempts at becoming comfortably numb do not set him free - but only seem to compound the problem.  Like the free bird, he must eventually come to terms with reality and reach out for salvation from the one who can set him free at last.

Alter Bridge - Buried Alive


I twist and turn
In the darkest space
Can't find my worth
As I numb the pain

Glass to the sky
With a blacktooth grin
This whiskey smile
Takes me down again

I'm cold and I'm so afraid
That I'm too weak and I can't change

[Chorus:]
I've been buried alive and
I don't want to be here anymore

Reached out a thousand times for
A hand to pull me from below

I've been buried alive in a world
Of constant sorrow

Reach down tonight and set me free...
Save tomorrow

Another shot
Slip into the haze
Another night
Soaked in my disgrace

Toast to the lie
I'll raise my glass and run
A wasted life
What have I become?

[Chorus]

Save tomorrow
Save tomorrow

Let me breathe again
And show me where I begin
To find the will to change
Before I lose everything
Before I lose everything

[Chorus]

Reach down tonight and set me free
And I will follow

Outlaw Torn

The "good" outlaw feels isolated and torn.  The treasures of this world are not enough to satisfy his thirst.  He searches for a more lasting treasure and the true ecstasy of gold!

Metallica - The Ecstasy Of Gold

Metallica - Outlaw Torn
(Live - feat. San Francisco Symphony)


And now I wait my whole lifetime for you

I ride the dirt, I ride the tide for you
I search the outside, search inside for you

To take back what you left me
I know I'll always burn to be
The one who seeks so I may find
And now I wait my whole lifetime

Outlaw of torn
And I'm torn

So on I wait my whole lifetime for you

The more I search, the more my need for you
The more I bless, the more I bleed for you

You make me smash the clock and feel
I'd rather die behind the wheel
Time was never on my side
So on I wait my whole lifetime
Outlaw of torn
And I'm torn

Hear me
And if I close my mind in fear
Please pry it open
See me
And if my face becomes sincere
Beware
Hold me
And when I start to come undone
Stitch me together
Save me
And when you see me strut
Remind me of what left this outlaw torn

Free Bird

The human spirit longs to be free so that we can soar to great hights.  Unlike birds, man has free-will enabling him to choose between good and evil.  Therefore, if he is not to become caged, man must exercise freedom responsibly and in accordance with truth and goodness.  Of course, it is easy to appeal to a reductive notion of "freedom" in order to excuse idleness and irresponsibe behavior.  But a conscience that is not yet comfortably numb reminds us where the blame really lies.  Deep down we know that we have to change in order to be truly free and fly high.  At the same time, we can't change through our efforts alone.  The caged bird longing to be free finally cries out for help: "Lord help me, I can't change."           

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Free Bird


If I leave here tomorrow
Would you still remember me?
For I must be traveling on, now
'Cause there's too many places
I've got to see

But, if I stayed here with you, girl
Things just couldn't be the same
'Cause I'm as free as a bird now
And this bird, you'll can not change
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

And the bird you cannot change
And this bird you cannot change
Lord knows, I can?t change
Bye, bye, baby it's been a sweet love

Yeah, yeah
Though this feeling I can't change
But please don't take it so badly
'Cause the Lord knows
I'm to blame

But, if I stayed here with you girl
Things just couldn't be the same
'Cause I'm as free as a bird now
And this bird, you'll can not change
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

And this bird you cannot change
And this bird you cannot change
Lord knows, I can't change
Lord help me, I can't change
Lord I can't change

Won't you fly high, free bird, yeah?

Freedom Fighter

What is the essense of human freedom and why is it worth fighting for?  Human freedom is necessary for the integral development of man in view of his transcendent goal.  Freedom is a powerful gift -- a weapon that can only be properly wielded in charity and truth.  On the other hand, the reductive notion of "freedom" that is exercised without regard for objective truth and goodness leads to slavery and destruction.         

Creed - Freedom Fighter

The mouths of envious
Always find another door
While at the gates of paradise they beat us down some more
But our mission's set in stone
'Cause the writing's on the wall
I'll scream it from the mountain tops pride comes before the fall

So many thoughts to share
All this energy to give
Unlike those who hide the truth I tell it like it is
If the truth will set you free
I feel sorry for your soul
Can't you hear the ringing 'cause for you the bell tolls

I'm just a freedom fighter
No remorse
Raging on in holy war
Soon there'll come a day
When you're face to face with me
Face to face with me

Can't you hear us coming?
People marching all around
Can't you see we're coming?
Close your eyes it's over now
Can't you hear us coming?
The fight has only just begun
Can't you see we're coming?

I'm just a freedom fighter
No remorse
Raging on in holy war
Soon there'll come a day
When your face to face with me
Face to face with me

Hotel California

Sometimes the weary road of life can leave us off guard when temptations arise.  If we fall and linger in this place then what initially seemed pleasant and inviting can turn into a hell on earth.  But as long as we have breath there is still hope for a conversion of heart.  In the next life all hope is gone for the unrepentant -- one can never leave this place that is programmed only to receive.     

The Eagles - Hotel California (Original Version)


The Eagles - Hotel California (Live Version)


On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
Warm smell of colitas rising up through the air
Up ahead in the distance I saw a shimmering light
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim
I had to stop for the night
There she stood in the doorway, I heard the mission bell
Then I was thinking to myself this could be Heaven or this could be Hell
Then she lit up a candle and she showed me the way
There were voices down the corridor I thought I heard them say...

"Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place
(Such a lovely place)
Such a lovely face
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Any time of year
(Any time of year)
You can find it here"

Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes Benz
She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys that she calls friends
How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat
Some dance to remember, some dance to forget
So I called up the captain, "Please bring me my wine"
He said, "We haven't had that spirit here since 1969"
And still those voices are calling from far away
Wake you up in the middle of the night just to hear them say...

"Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place
(Such a lovely place)
Such a lovely face
They're living it up at the Hotel California
What a nice surprise
(What a nice surprise)
Bring your alibis"

Mirrors on the ceiling, the pink champagne on ice
And she said, "We are all just prisoners here of our own device"
And in the master's chambers they gathered for the feast
They stab it with their steely knives but they just can't kill the beast

Last thing I remember I was running for the door
I had to find the passage back to the place I was before
"Relax," said the night man, "We are programmed to receive
You can check out any time you like but you can never leave"