1. |
No Roads Lead to Rome
04:13
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N O R O A D S L E A D T O R O M E
I ONCE SUBSCRIBED TO A DAYDREAM: THE FREEDOM OF MAN
MANY LIES OF ENLIGHTENMENT THINKING
SOLD THE WORLD DOWN THE RIVER FOR MEANING
A PIOUS DREAM IS AN EYEGLASS FOR MAKING SENSE OF THE WORLD
YOU CAST YOURSELF IN A ROLE YOU APPROVE OF
THEN SHUT YOUR MIND TO THE CONTRARY MOVEMENT
BONES BREAK 'CAUSE YOU CAN'T EXTRICATE
WE'LL ALWAYS BE MYSTERIOUSLY WRONG
AH THE FLAG THAT I FLY!
THE ALBATROSS AROUND MY FRACTURED NECK
SO I SCRATCH MY NAME ON THE EPITAPH OF WHO I THINK THAT I AM
BREAK THE WINGS OF MY PEGASIAN HERO
SCRUB THE GOLD FROM MY COUNTERFEIT HALO
AND FOLLOW ME DOWN INTO HADES (I'VE A ROOM WITH A VIEW)
AND I'LL SING YOU ALL SONGS WITH OUT MELODY
AS WE SQUEEZE THROUGH THE BLACK AFTERNOON
BECAUSE REALLY, IS IT YOU AT THE WHEEL?
A SYNTHESIS IS ALL THAT YOUR ALLOWED
YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO LAUGH
LEST YOU MEET THAT THREE-HEADED HOUND
BECAUSE ALL THESE SLAVISH DESIRES ARE JUST CARROTS ON STICKS
I'LL TAKE MY PLACE AS A FOOTNOTE
TO A TEXT THAT'S BEEN TOTALLY BLACKED OUT
WHO SAID A PRAYER FOR THE LIVING AND THREW THEMSELVES IN THE THAMES?
WHO DEVOTED THEMSELVES TO GIVING
INSOFAR AS IT SUITED THEIR OWN ENDS?
AND DON'T YOU DARE PATRONISE
YOU'RE JUST ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE BLIND
IS YOUR DARKNESS AND LIGHT
OBSCURITY AND LUCID INSIGHT
HELD TO RANSOM FOR ALL THAT YOU OWN
TO CLEAR THE PATH FOR THIS VEHICLE OF EGO
THERE'S A CHIMERA DOWN IN THE WATER
NOW HARK! THATS THE GROAN OF THE MARE'S NEST
BREAK THE WALLS OF THIS TEMPLE OF MINE!
TORCH THE IDOLS AND EFFIGIES BEFORE MY EYES!
I WANT TO TASTE ALL THE ASH AND THE WASTE TO REMIND ME
HAIL THE INSECTS FOR THEY SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH
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2. |
Skeptic Tank
02:56
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S K E P T I C T A N K
MY PAST IS A FICTION
MY FUTURE IS A FOREIGN LAND
AND IN BETWEEN SOME ACTOR IS MOVED BY CHANCE
MY LIFE'S A SHADOW ON THE WALL OF A CAVE
I CANT EXIST AMID THE LIGHT OF DAY
BUT WHAT DOES IT MATTER?
TO LIVE IS TO SLEEP, TO DOUBT IS TO THINK
WHEN SELF-DECEPTION COMES SO NATURALLY
A HALL OF MIRRORS - MY FAMILIAR HAUNTS
IT'S THE SAME WHICHEVER WAY I WALK
I MAY BE AN ACTOR
BUT YOUR A BLOODY GUEST IN A DRESS REHEARSAL
CAUGHT ON STAGE IN AN UNFINISHED PLAY
HOW CAN YOU BE SO SELF ASSURED
WHEN CHAOS RULES THE WORLD?
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3. |
Sleep Paralysis
02:03
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S L E E P P A R A L Y S I S
I DONT RECALL HOW I CAME TO BE HERE
A SKINNY OLD DOG IN A JUNK YARD
HOISTED ON HIS OWN PETARD
SCOURING THE SKY FOR A CHOIR OF ANGELS
A CASUALTY OF AMBITION
PRINCE OF A NON-KINGDOM
I TALK AND TOW THE LINE WHILE TRYING TO HIDE
MY DISAPPOINTMENT
IF ONLY I DIDN'T HAVE TO THINK
PANIC ATTACKS AND SLEEP PARALYSIS
I SHOOK THE HAND OF A PARAMEDIC
CRAWLING OUT OF ANOTHER FIT
THE SIMPLEST THINGS ARE NOW PROBLEMATIC
I CHOKE ON BOTH WORDS AND SILENCE
REPENTING MY PENITENCE
A SEIZURE IN THE DAY AND A NIGHT
FULL OF NIGHTMARES
YOU JUST GET SO SICK OF THE NOISE OF YOUR HEAD
MY WINGS OF ICARUS WERE TOO CLOSE TO THE SUN
AND THOUGH I'M DONE, I'LL KEEP ON DRAGGING MYSELF AROUND
FALLING FROM THE SKY, I SHUT MY EYES
HALLUCINATING
ITS ALL JUST ANOTHER ONE OF MY DREAMS
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4. |
Atlas Collapsing
05:01
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A T L A S C O L L A P S I N G
THEY FOUND ME DEAD IN THE STARTING BLOCKS
I'D ACCEPTED DEFEAT, I COULDN'T COMPETE
SO PICK MY BONES, HELP ME UNDERSTAND
HELP ME HALLUCINATE
ONE CONSOLATION TO COPE WITH THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD
IN THE COLD IT IS JUST ENOUGH
SCHOPENHAUER, I KNEW WHAT YOU MEANT
WHEN YOU SAID ITS A PRISON CAMP HERE
YOU CANNOT BE FREE. WE'LL ALL SHARE THE FATE
OF PROMETHEUS WHILE WE'RE AWAKE
BREAK THE LADDER AND GAG ZARATHUSTRA
WE'RE NOTHING AT ALL, NOT A TIDEMARK AGAINST THE WALL
OH MY BROTHERS THE SKY IS COLLAPSING
AND YOU HOLD IT UP LIKE ATLAS OR END UP CRUSHED
SO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD
I'LL BE YOUR DISCIPLE, THE GEEK IN THE CORNER OF CLASS
BUT TURN YOUR BACK, HELP ME UNDERSTAND
MY MISERABLE FAILURE
I'LL SUFFER YOUR WISDOM TO BRING A FORM TO THE VOID
I'LL EAT THE CRUMBS FROM BENEATH YOUR SEAT
THEN ITS OFF TO BED, TO MY MATTRESS OF FLIES, ASH AND LICE
TO THE NIGHTMARE OF LIFE
UNKNOWABLE LIFE. NO MORE THAN A GLIMPSE
OF A SHADOW PERCEIVED THROUGH THE MIST
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5. |
In The Margins
02:30
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6. |
Ratcatcher
03:41
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R A T C A T C H E R
A SLUMBER DEEP AND MEANINGLESS. AN IMAGINARY LIFE
A DEMIURGE CAN BE DENIED
BUT VEIL STAYS UNCOMPROMISED
A WOLF THAT STALKS THE EMPTINESS CRAWLING BACK INTO HIS BED
TO DREAM THE CLOCKS OF LORD CUT-GLASS
AND DISCONNECT. KING AMONG THE DEAD
I'LL WEAR MYSELF LIKE DIRTY CLOTHES THAT NEVER BELONGED TO ME
A FAIRY-TALE OF CONSCIOUSNESS IN ALL THIS CONTINGENCY
I FEEL INDEBTED TO YOUR TOLERANCE LIKE I COULD EVER GET THINGS RIGHT
I'M FLYING BLIND. FULL OF SHITE
I'LL PAY THE PRICE FOR CRIMES THAT WERE NOT MINE
A DEBTOR AT THE ALTAR THINKING HARD OF WHAT HE OWNS
MY CONTRABAND, MY WEIGHTED DICE
KEPT IN THE BAGS THAT HANG BENEATH MY EYES
SING A SONG OF SHIPWRECK. COME IN AND CHEW THE FAT
I DON'T EXPECT THE ANSWERS BUT MAYBE WE'LL CATCH A FEW RATS
I'M GATHERING THE STAGE PROPS FOR MY DISAPPEARING ACT
THERES A WALL AGAINST MY BACK AS I FUMBLE FOR THE ESCAPE HATCH
THE TIRELESS TRAGICOMEDY THAT FILLS UP ALL OF THESE HOURS
THE AUSPICES OF CHAOS SING A MELODY LIKE UNFURLING FLOWERS
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7. |
Orthodoxies
03:23
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O R T H O D O X I E S
flattery in composite. bohemian identikits.
choose a skin, it don't matter which. I'm a scarecrow.
the horrors of reduction. emoticon affection.
the dreariest perfection of a makeshift lie.
My moments of clarity are brief interludes of insanity
The nearest you get to 'truth' is spending a day at the zoo
Scientists like clergy, the worship of technology
leads us not to reality but to blindness.
all we have are categories, the blackest of alleyways,
some idiotic alchemy we mistake for sight
Our legacy will just be dust and this indifferent world will not recall us
Yet some undiminished faith will follow us all to the grave
a vagabond on a windswept road
I sleep on the doorstep of an illusory home
And others walk by, slaves to their eyes
We are error and fault. We're a compromise
Everything that I have been is a latent form of lunacy
But once again, I'm drowsy. I'll go back to sleep.
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8. |
Auto Da Fe
02:53
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A U T O D A F E
MY MASTERCLASS IN FAILURE WILL WIN NO AWARDS
BUT AT LEAST I CAN LAUGH AT SUCH A LOWLY FARCE
SO WHY AM I THE ENEMY? THE WRETCH IN THE DOCK?
REPENTING THE BELIEFS OF SOMEONE ELSE'S CREED?
FATE WRITES THE SCRIPT BUT I DO MY BEST TO SING ALONG
BEAUTY OF THE WORLD! THE PARAGON OF ANIMALS!
I FILL THE MARGIN WITH THE SCRIBBLES OF MY FANTASIES
ADMINISTER THE DOSE! TAKE ME TO ARCADIA
THE TERRITORY OF TRAGEDY IS WHERE I EXCEL
DEVOTION TO HOPE BRINGS A HUMANISED HELL
I DON'T HAVE THE STRENGTH TO RESIGN OR BE ENRAGED
DANCING A JIG WITH SAINT AUGUSTINE
HAND ME DOWN MY SANBENITO
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9. |
Alter Egotist
04:17
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I N T H E M A R G I N S
I LIVE IN A TWO-PENCE HOVEL ON A MUDDY BANK OF THE THAMES
ALL OF MY EPIPHANIES ARE ECLIPSES AND MY WORDS ARE FALLACIES
IN THE DAY I'M TETHERED DOWN IN MY ARMCHAIR WITH DISEASE
BUT IN THE GLOAMING I HAUNT THE EMPTY STREETS
WITH THE VOICE OF A BROKEN WHISPER. THE HANDS OF A CAUSTIC TOUCH
A SKIN OF ASH, A SKELETON CRACKED LIKE EGGSHELL AND A RIBCAGE FALLING IN
INVISIBLE. A MAN COMPOSED OF SILENCE IN THE DIN
I BEG FOR ALMS AND RANSACK THE BINS
MY GREAT AMBITION IS TO BE A HOLLOW MANNEQUIN
SO YOU CAN DRESS ME UP AND CLOTHE ME IN YOUR LIES
I'LL FIT RIGHT IN. I'LL DO MY BEST TO BEHAVE
I'LL WEAR ANY OBSERVATION YOU MAKE
I'LL BE THE MOST CONVINCING FAKE I CAN. THAT'S THE PLAN
YOU SEE, I FLUNKED OUT THE SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS BECAUSE I DIDN'T POSSESS GUTS
AND VIOLENCE THAT PEOPLE ARE SO DAMNED FOND OF, THAT AMOUNT TO CONFIDENCE
ALL I HAD WAS A VEIL MADE OF CHAOS AMID STRESS
AND AN IMPOTENT WISH TO INTERJECT. I DID MY BEST. THE EARS WERE DEAF
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10. |
The Wolves! The Wolves!
02:23
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T H E W O L V E S ! T H E W O L V E S !
THE FRACTURED SLEEP OF THE FRAIL AND WEAK
THE SENTENCE THAT I SERVE
KNEELING AT THE HEELS OF THE MADNESS OF MAN
IN WAKING DREAMS AND SHIFTING SANDS
REARED ON LIES BY BLINDED MINDS
PROCLAIMING THAT YOUR FREE AND
DRESSING UP THE MYTHS SO THEY DONT LOOK OLD
THE PLATITUDES OF ANIMALS
I LOOK THE WORLD IN THE EYE AND JUST SEE ANIMALS
THERE IS NO PROVIDENCE
AND NO REDEMPTION
WE LIVE IN GRIEF PURSUING PEACE
BUT NEVER REACH THE GOAL
SO I LEARNT TO ASK NEARLY NOTHING OF LIFE
BUT STILL THESE CRUSTS I'VE BEEN DENIED
IT FEELS AS IF I NEVER LIVED
JUST BADLY READ A SCRIPT
MY INNERMOST THOUGHTS WERE THE FALLACIES
OF A PHANTOM SELF, AN ABSENTEE
I LOOKED THE WORLD IN THE EYE AND JUST SAW ANIMALS
WHY SHOULD THERE BE AN ESCAPE?
THERE'S NO SALVATION FOR WOLVES
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11. |
Arcadian Rhapsody
02:44
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A R C A D I A N R H A P S O D Y
NO HOME, THE WILDERNESS
CRAWLING THOUGH THE UNDERGROWTH AGAIN
GREEN WAS MY VALLEY
ONE DAY I'LL COME TO REST IN THIS GLEN
BLESSED ARE THE CONFUSED, THE MADMEN
THIS DELERIUM
IMAGINATION
AN EDEN MADE OF BRIC-A-BRAC AND LIES
A FICTIONAL HAVEN
A SHELTER OF THE MOST FOOLISH KIND
I TAKE SOLACE IN A WALK THROUGH A HAPLESS MIND
BECAUSE I CANT TAKE SOLACE IN LIFE
THE LAST THING THAT I NEED NOW IS MEANING
AND THANKFULLY, THERE'S NO SUCH THING
I'VE GROWN USED TO WHAT THIS IS
A CORNER WHERE I DON'T RESIDE
IN DREAMS I PAINT A DOOR ON THE WALL
AND WALK OUT INTO THE SUNLIGHT
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