1. The Masquerade Overture
Quando le stelle iniziano a cadere
Il nostro respiro vicino come un giorno d’estate
Apro gli occhi e guardo il cielo e sogno la notte buia nel sonno passione unisono
Quando le stelle iniziano a cadere
Il nostro respiro vicino come un giorno d’estate
Apro gli occhi e guardo il cielo e sogno la notte buia nel sonno passione unisono
2. As Good As Gold
As the stars begin to fall away
Our breath as close as a summer’s day
I open my eyes and look up to the skies and I dream
A moment of magic as we lay
As candles flicker and the shadows play
I open my eyes and look up to the skies and I dream
Dream that a new life will be born
Kicking and screaming into the world
Tolerance threshold low
Bowing to demands of a guilty conscience
And out of your control
Innocent eyes tell forgivable lies
In a spirit that’s so pure
Marching into the madness of youth
And no hope of a cure
He’s trying he’s fighting all the laws of gravity
No signs of achievement no responsibility
In a world of his own
Cos the right of the world pushed him oh too far
But his Mother always said he was good as gold
Cos the right of the world pushed him oh too far
But his Mother always said he was good as gold
Cos the right of the world pushed him oh too far
But his Mother always said he was good as gold
Tricking and scheming into the world
Flying his flag so high
From the turret of a battle tank
Drowned out by his own war cry
He’s trying he’s fighting all the laws of gravity
No signs of achievement no responsibility
In a world of his own
Cos the right of the world pushed him oh too far
But his Mother always said he was good as gold
3. Paintbox
Painting pictures of a thousand different paths
We sketch an outline of a love that hopes to last
Casting a wand over imaginary hopes
And close our eyes so we don’t fell the ebb and flow
And paintbox you are my only hope
Of covering the faded past and starting out once more
With a fortune in new colours new hopes to inspire
I paint the path I want to take and paint a life of fire
Marking out our lives full of different plans
Excitedly we hold the key to change our hearts and hands
We climb the hill to see if green fields lie beyond
Only to realise they’ve faded now and gone
And paintbox you are my only hope
Of covering the faded past and starting out once more
With a fortune in new colours new hopes to inspire
I paint the path I want to take and paint a life of fire
Painting pictures of a thousand different paths
We sketch an outline of a love that hopes to last
Casting a wand over imaginary hopes
And close our eyes so we don’t fell the ebb and flow
And paintbox you are my only hope
Of covering the faded past and starting out once more
With a fortune in new colours new hopes to inspire
I paint the path I want to take and paint a life of fire
4. The Pursuit Of Excellence
I come from a poor homespun family
Who left for America in 1918
But I feel undeterred because of the wealth that I have
In other ways in pursuit of excellence despite what they say
I worked on the land played music
And worked with my hands
When I closed my door I found I was no longer poor
And I followed my dreams to the ends of the earth
In pursuit of excellence and this great thing of worth
5. Guardian Of My Soul
Did you ever fly too high on the wings of hope?
Did you ever realise that time was always on your side?
Did you ever dive too deep into the sea of love?
Did you ever break the bread?
And was the madness only in your head?
And guardian of my soul who carried me when it was cold
And the thoughts that flew so high
Feeling fearless feeling bold
Did you ever fly too high on the wings of hope?
Did you ever realise that the answers stood before your eyes?
And guardian of my soul who carried me when it was cold
(in times when I flew too close to the heart of the sun)
And the thoughts that flew so high
Feeling fearless feeling bold
(at time when I flew too close to the heart)
We had nights of magic in our eyes
Days of thunder rolling by
Feeling like we’d never die
And guardian of my soul who carried me when it was cold
(in times when I flew too close to the heart of the sun)
And the thoughts that flew so high
Feeling fearless feeling bold
(at time when I flew too close to the heart)
And the demons wake while the mannequin sleeps
All the ticking and the tocking of the clock that weeps
And the demons wake while the mannequin sleeps
And I pray the Lord my soul to keep
The wave of lust as always is the thorn that’s in your side
The whore of Babylon waiting in a doorway
To mug you and your pride
Judge jury and executioner all laughing in the face of trust
Standing in the dock while the angry faces mock
And strip you of all lust
All your dreams and illusions now shattered
Trampled under foot crawling on the floor in tatters
Sentenced passed and destined
To wear the sackcloth for the evils of the world
Standing over me the good and bad that go unseen
Influence and lull me into false security
A cocktail of spiritual alchemy I take the bait so carelessly
The all seeing lead the blind the deaf and dumb
Careless and boundary free
Picking at the scars of society
Off with his head cried those ill at ease
The sober and the sane
Forgotten by time itself
Washed up too drunk and on the shelf
But a thorn in the side of the civilised world
The elders and the right
So locked alone in a white padded cell
No one can hear you so go ahead and yell
Out of sight and out of mind
You’re just one of the army that fell
Who is it?
Who goes there?
But how unwelcomes is wisdom when it brings no profit to the wise
Speaking out in riddles and lashing out with tongues you tell me
The truth lies before my eyes
But who is this enemy unseen?
The face that hides behind the masquerade?
Like the circus marching back into town you tell me
You can’t see it in the rain
You can’t taste it in the air you breath you tell me
You’ll never fly that far away
These dreamers have their ways
On wide wings they fly away
You can’t see it in the wind
You can’t feel it in the rain
In every beat of your heart
Every word that’s spoken in vain
6. The Shadow
I’ll come dancing through your door with hands out to the poor
And you won’t know my name but you will play my game
And thought your eyes will sleep, sleep so very deep
It can’t keep me from your door
Like a vampire I will call
And when the Sandman comes to you at last
I’ll take the reins
Like a river flowing south
A virus coursing through your blood
Bursting its bank and over the land
Washing away the grains of sand
And after all the faded years
I look in the mirror on the edge of tears
It seems I might have finally seen
That haunting shadow was really me
There’s a man who’s followed me just about all of my life
Being to you what I couldn’t be
I call him my insecurity
He was strong when I was weak
Spoke out loud when I couldn’t speak
He takes you hand from your carriage
And kisses you under the silver moon
Taken by his charm hand on arm
This white knight of gestures can never do wrong
I ran and I ran to go as far as I can
Looking over my shoulders
But always seeing that man
Running after me on the horizon forever
He takes you hand from your carriage
And kisses you under the silver moon
Taken by his charm hand on arm
This white knight of gestures can never do wrong
Shining bright a silver light
On the long tall shadows of the night
Spiraling down and out of control
I know it’s a dream but I can’t let go
Cries for help fall on stony ground
There’s so much noise I can’t hear a sound
Forever falling and I can’t sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
Looking for somewhere that’s home to me now
The king of the castle and his sacred cow
I’ve travelled the world and by chance this is how
The lies became true
Between me and you
Free spirit I’ve travelled so follow me now [x3]
I’ll come dancing through your door
With hands out to the poor
You won’t suspect at all
Like a vampire I will call
7. Masters Of Illusion
On the far west reaches of your mind all of the things you’ve done so far
Will come to you for evermore and I am here to make sure
Lightning strikes right between your eyes
As you walk the plank for all those lies, for all those lies
I’m not the welcome guest but the price must be paid and I’m here to stay
I’m the master of illusion the master of disguise
Making worlds disappear right before your very eyes
Everyday I hide away in honesty and discipline
No good to anyone least of all myself
I can always pull a neat trick from the hat
Breaking all the rules and treading on the fools
Kick out the weak with the Rollers and the pools
I follow the river of gold as it flows and will always be at your side
Offering a hand that holds the future to your dreams
But I stay when I know I should go
I’m the master of illusion a master of surprise
Ready to pounce on the weak and the weary should they dare close their eyes
Milking those with needs who’ll never see the woods for the trees
Everyday I hide away in honesty and discipline
No good to anyone least of all myself
I can always pull a neat trick from the hat
Breaking all the rules and treading on the fools
Kick out the weak with the Rollers and the pools
I follow the river of gold as it flows and will always be at your side
Offering a hand that holds the future to your dreams
But I stay when I know I should go
Standing face to face daggers drawn at dawn
You dreamt of kings and queens
You were only a pawn in the patchwork quilt of life
Thrown in the ring to fight
The serpent on the left of me the lamb stands to the right
Standing face to face daggers to the death
Like a thief in the night
Stealing your last breath
Hypnotised by sorcery
Mesmerised by treachery
You have the heart you have the will
But does your conscience fight you still?
Misdemeanour it was only by default that you got this far
The road ahead is a path of hot coals dragging you back to the start
For he that has the wisdom will see throught the masquerade
Now the cold winds blow
Where there was once only warmth
As the day comes to an end and I must go
Take my hand one last time
Hold it so close to your faint heart
Part of me is dying with you
I can’t stay anymore
The book is closed
As the cold hail rains down on you
And your whole life flashes right before your very eyes
So it comes as no surprise I sympathise
But I can’t let you go my childhood friend
And as your final hour comes to the fore
A light as bright the sun penetrates my eyes
I’m the master of illusion a master a disguise
And you won’t fear the world anymore…
11. Schizo
If I were to lead you
If I were to need you and we started again
You’re not the only one who’s always torn between two minds
Ravaged by the loneliness and ever present time on your hands
Mindblown and schizo is where we are
Climbing hills and popping the pills has it got this far?
Standing in a crowd voices shouting out aloud your name
You’re not the only one who’s stumbled a hard path
Now you look at me and laugh
If I were to leave you
If I should believe you would it all turn out fine
You living in your world
A gulf of difference between
And me alone with the madness living in mine
You’re not the only one who’s always torn between two minds
Ravaged by the loneliness and ever present time on your hands
Mindblown and schizo that’s where we are
Climbing hills and popping the pills has it got this far?
Standing in a crowd voices shouting out aloud your name
You’re not the only one who’s stumbled a hard path
Now you look at me and laugh
You’re not the only one who’s always torn between two minds
Ravaged by the loneliness and ever present time on your hands
Mindblown and schizo that’s where we are
Climbing hills and popping the pills has it got this far?
Standing in a crowd voices shouting out aloud your name
You’re not the only one who’s stumbled a hard path
Now you look at me and laugh
The King Of The Castle
Crossing the wastelands to carry me home
Holding the last breath of faith to the end
Rising from ashes my task is now done
I took the vows
My only bows
Looking for somewhere that’s home to me now
The king of the castle and his sacred cow
I travelled the world and by chance this is how
The lies became true
Between me and you
Free spirit I’ve travelled, so follow me now
Held by the raging and powerful sea
Never threw up my hands to accept the defeat
Long nights of questions, no answers to hold
A heart of gold
My kindred soul
Looking for somewhere that’s home to me now
The king of the castle and his sacred cow
I travelled the world and by chance this is how
The lies became true
Between me and you
Free spirit I’ve travelled, so follow me no