------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Metropolis Pt.2: Scenes From A Memory James LaBrie - vocals John Petrucci - guitar, vocals John Myung - bass Jordan Rudess - keys Mike Portnoy - drums, percussion, vocals Cast Of Characters: Nicholas Victoria Page Senator Edward Baynes (The Miracle) Julian Baynes (The Sleeper) The Hypnotherapist [Spoken by Terry Brown] The Character and Chronological Key (Past or Present) are identified within the lyrics and surrounded by brackets []. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ACT I 1) Scene One: Regression (02:06) - John Petrucci [Present] [The Hypnotherapist:] "Close your eyes and begin to relax. Take a deep breath, and let it out slowly. Concentrate on your breathing. With each breath you become more relaxed. Imagine a brilliant white light above you, focusing on this light as it flows through your body. Allow yourself to drift off as you fall deeper and deeper into a more relaxed state of mind. Now as I count back from ten to one, you will feel more peaceful, and calm. Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. You will enter a safe place where nothing can harm you. Five. Four. Three. Two. If at any time you need to come back, all you must do is open your eyes. One." [Nicholas:] Safe in the light that surrounds me Free of the fear and the pain My subconscious mind Starts spinning through time To rejoin the past once again Nothing seems real I'm starting to feel Lost in the haze of a dream And as I draw near The scene becomes clear Like watching my life on a screen Hello Victoria so glad to see you My friend. 2) Scene Two: I. Overture 1928 (02:37) (instrumental) 3) Scene Two: II. Strange Deja Vu (05:12) - Mike Portnoy [Present] [Nicholas:] Subconscious Strange Sensation Unconscious relaxation What a pleasant nightmare And I can't wait to get there again Every time I close my eyes There's another vivid surprise Another whole life waiting Chapters unfinished, fading [Past] Closer now- Slowly coming into view I've arrived- Blinding sunshine beaming through There's a house I'm drawn to Familiar settings nothing new And there's a pathway leading there With a haunting chill in the air There's a room at the top of the stairs Every night I'm drawn up there And there's a girl in the mirror Her face is getting clearer Young child won't you tell me why I'm here? In her eyes- I sense a story never told Behind the disguise- There's something tearing At her soul... [Victoria:] Tonight I've been searching for it A feeling that's deep inside me Tonight I've been searching for The one that nobody knows Trying to break free I just can't help myself I'm feeling like I'm going out of my head Tears my heart into two I'm not the one the sleeper thought he knew [Present] [Nicholas:] Back on my feet again Eyes open to the real world Metropolis surrounds me The mirror's shattered the girl Why is this other life Haunting me every day I'd break through to the other side If only I'd find the way Something's awfully familiar The feeling's so hard to shake Could I have lived in that other world It's a link that I'm destined to make I'm still searching but I don't know what for The missing key to unlock my mind's door Today I am searching for it A feeling that won't go away Today I am searching for The only one I know Trying to break free I just can't help myself I'm feeling like I'm going out of my head Tears my soul into two I'm not the one I thought I always knew I just can't help myself I'm feeling like I'm going out of my head Uncanny, Strange Deja Vu But I don't mind- I hope to find the truth 4) Scene Three: I. Through My Words (01:02) - John Petrucci [Present] [Nicholas:] All your eyes have ever seen All you've ever heard Is etched upon my memory Is spoken through my words All that I take with me Is all you've left behind We're sharing one eternity Living in two minds Linked by an endless thread Impossible to break 5) Scene Three: II. Fatal Tragedy (06:49) - John Myung [Present] [Nicholas:] Alone at night I feel so strange I need to find All the answers to my dreams When I sleep at night I hear the cries What does this mean? I shut the door and traveled to another home I met an older man, he seemed to be alone I felt that I could trust him He talked to me that night; "Lad did you know a girl was murdered here?" "This fatal tragedy was talked about for years" Victoria's gone forever Only memories remain She passed away She was so young Without love Without truth There can be no turning back Without faith Without hope There can be no peace of mind As the night went on I started to find my way I learned about a tragedy A mystery still today I tried to get more answers But he said, "You're on your own." Then he turned away and left me As I stand there all alone He said, "You'll know the truth As you future days unfold...unfold" Without love Without truth There can be no turning back Without faith Without hope There can be no peace of mind [The Hypnotherapist:] "Now it is time to see how you died. Remember that death is not the end, but only a transition." 6) Scene Four: Beyond This Life (11:22) - John Petrucci [Past] Headline: "Murder, young girl killed Desperate shooting at Echo's Hill Dreadful ending, killer died Evidently suicide." A witness heard a horrifying sound He ran to find a woman dead and Lying on the ground Standing by her was a man Nervous, shaking, gun in hand Witness says he tried to help But he'd turned the weapon on himself His body fell across that poor young girl After shouting out in vain The witness ran to call for assistance A sad close to a broken love affair Our deeds have traveled far What we have been is what we are Our deeds have traveled far What we have been is what we are She wanted love forever But he had another plan He fell into an evil way She had to let him down She said, "I can't love a wayward man." She may have found a reason to forgive If he had only tried to change Was their fatal meeting prearranged? Had a violent struggle taken place? There was every sign that lead there Witness found a switchblade on the ground Was the victim unaware? They continued to investigate They found a note in the killer's pocket It could have been a suicide letter Maybe he had lost her love I feel there's only one thing left to do I'd sooner take my life away Than live with losing you Our deeds have traveled far What we have been is what we are Our deeds have traveled far What we have been is what we are All that we learn this time (What we have been is what we are) Is carried beyond this life All that we learn this time (What we have been is what we are) Is carried beyond this life Our deeds have traveled far What we have been is what we are Our deeds have traveled far What we have been is what we are All that we learn this time (What we have been is what we are) Is carried beyond this life All that we learn this time (What we have been is what we are) Is carried beyond this life 7) Scene Five: Through Her Eyes (05:29) - John Petrucci [Present] [Nicholas:] She never really had a chance On that fateful moonlit night Sacrificed without a fight A victim of her circumstance Now that I've become aware And I've exposed this tragedy A sadness grows inside of me It all seems so unfair I'm learning all about my life By looking through her eyes Just beyond the churchyard gates Where the grass is overgrown I saw the writing on her stone I felt like I would suffocate In loving memory of our child So innocent, eyes open wide I felt so empty as I cried Like part of me had died I'm learning all about my life By looking through her eyes And as her image Wandered through my head I wept just like a baby As I lay awake in bed And I know what it's like To lose someone you love And this felt just the same She wasn't given any choice Desperation stole her voice I've been given so much more in life I've got a son, I've got a wife I had to suffer one last time To grieve for her and say goodbye Relive the anguish of my past To find out who I was at last The door has opened wide I'm turning with the tide Looking through her eyes ACT II 8) Scene Six: Home (12:53) - Mike Portnoy [Past] [The Sleeper:] Shine- lake of fire Lines take me higher My mind drips desire Confined and overtired Living this charade Is getting me nowhere I can't shake this charade The city's cold blood calls me home... Home... It's what I long for Back home... where I belong The city- it calls to me Decadent scenes from my memory Sorrow- eternity My demons are coming to drown me Help- I'm falling, I'm crawling I can't keep away from its clutch Can't have it, this habit It's calling me back to my home [The Miracle:] I remember the first time she came to me She poured out her soul all night and cried... I remember I was told there's a new love that's born For each one that has died... I never thought that I Could carry on with this life But I can't resist myself No matter how hard I try Living their other life Is getting them nowhere I'll make her my wife Her sweet temptation calls me home... Home... It's what I long for My home... where she belongs Her ecstasy- means so much to me Even decieving my own blood Victoria watches and thoughtfully smiles She's taking me to my home Help- he's my brother, but I love her I can't keep away from her touch Deception, dishonor It's calling me back to my home "...four, four, who wants the hard [A craps "stickman" is heard ] four?... who wants the hard four?... [calling out various bets during ] ...shooter had one, four... [the gambling and sex sequence. ] ...one, four... one and make it the hard way... ...got the shooter... ...coming out for a new player... take your best shot, gambler... ...who wants to come? better hop in... place your bets... who wants to come?" [Present] [Nicholas:] Her story- it holds the key Unlocking dreams from my memory Solving this mystery Is everything that is a part of me Help- regression, obsession I can't keep away from it's clutch Leave no doubt, to find out It's calling me back to my home 9) Scene Seven: I. The Dance Of Eternity (06:13) (instrumental) 10) Scene Seven: II. One Last Time (03:47) - James LaBrie [Present] [Nicholas:] It doesn't make any sense This tragic ending In spite of the evidence There's something still missing Heard some of the rumors told A taste of one's wealth Did Victoria wound his soul? Did she bid him farewell? [Past] [Victoria:] One last time We'll lay down today One last time Until we fade away One last time We'll lay down today One last time We slowly fade away... away [Present] [Nicholas:] Here I am inside his home It holds the many clues To my suspicions And as I'm standing here right now I'm finally shown what I have always known Coincidence I can't believe As my childhood dreams slowly come true Are these her memories Awakened through my eyes This house has brought back to life An open door I walk on through Into his bedroom Feeling as cold as outside The walls disappear To some woman who's screaming A man pleads forgiveness His words I cannot hear 11) Scene Eight: The Spirit Carries On (06:38) - John Petrucci [Present] [Nicholas:] Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where do we go when we die? What lies beyond And what lay before? Is anything certain in life? They say, "Life is too short," "The here and the now" And "You're only given one shot" But could there be more, Have I lived before, Or could this be all that we've got? If I die tomorrow I'd be all right Because I believe That after we're gone The spirit carries on I used to be frightened of dying I used to think death was the end But that was before I'm not scared anymore I know that my soul will transcend I may never find all the answers I may never understand why I may never prove What I know to be true But I know that I still have to try If I die tomorrow I'd be allright Because I believe That after we're gone The spirit carries on [Victoria:] "Move on, be brave Don't weep at my grave Because I am no longer here But please never let Your memory of me disappear" [Nicholas:] Safe in the light that surrounds me Free of the fear and the pain My questioning mind Has helped me to find The meaning in my life again Victoria's real I finally feel At peace with the girl in my dreams And now that I'm here It's perfectly clear I found out what all of this means If I die tomorrow I'd be allright Because I believe That after we're gone The spirit carries on 12) Scene Nine: Finally Free (12:00) - Mike Portnoy [Present] [The Hypnotherapist:] "You are once again surrounded by a brilliant white light. Allow the light to lead you away from your past and into this lifetime. As the light dissipates you will slowly fade back into consciousness remembering all you have learned. When I tell you to open your eyes you will return to the present, feeling peaceful and refreshed. Open your eyes, Nicholas." [Past] [The Miracle:] Friday evening The blood still on my hands To think that she would leave me now For that ungrateful man Sole survivor No witness to the crime I must act fast to cover up I think that there's still time He'd seem hopeless and lost with this note They'll buy into the words that I wrote "This feeling inside me Finally found my love, I've finally broke free No longer torn in two I'd take my own life before losing you" [Victoria:] Feeling good this Friday afternoon I ran into Julian Said we'd get together soon He's always had my heart He needs to know I'll break free of the Miracle It's time for him to go This feeling inside me Finally found my love, I've finally broke free No longer torn in two He'd kill his brother if he only knew Their love renewed They'd rendezvous In a pathway out of view They thought no one knew Then came a shot out of the night [The Miracle:] "Open your eyes, Victoria." [Towards the end of the shrieks ] [and gun fire during the fight. ] [The Sleeper:] One last time We'll lay down today One last time Until we fade away One last time We'll lay down today One last time We fade away As their bodies lie still And the ending draws near Spirits rise through the air All their fears disappear, it all becomes clear A blinding light comes into view An old soul exchanged for a new A familiar voice comes shining through... [Present] [Nicholas:] This feeling inside me Finally found my life, I'm finally free No longer torn in two I learned about my life by living through you This feeling inside me Finally found my life, I'm finally free No longer torn in two Living my own life by learning from you We'll meet again my friend someday soon... "...news in London, France, Russia [Samples from TV news broadcasts.] and Italy have deleted their lead story, all anticipating the outcome of the man considered to be a member of American nobility." "And as you can imagine, as the skies have grown darker here over Washington, the mood has grown darker as well and people here are beginning to resign themselves to the possibility that they are witnessing yet another tragedy in a long string of misfortunes." "Reaction from everywhere, from Washington and certainly from around the world has cast..." [The Hypnotherapist:] "Open your eyes, Nicholas." [Nicholas:] "Aaah!"