8. Lotus

When the morning weeps
Endless sky is near
And the road you choose
By my hand is lead

In the morning light
All is clean and young
And the spider webs
Shine like silver threads

But you must not fear the dark
I will watch over your sleep
Until the morning comes
All woods have to fail
I will watch over your sleep

Lead me
Please guide me
Unchain me
Untie me

I see your shadow
Your shape on the wall
But I cannot hear your voice when it calls

Can you tell dreams from reality?
Can you tell sense from insanity?

Sometimes it all melts down
And mix into half-lies

9. Sacrilege

Millions crusading against mocking heresy
Madmen race to enforce the book that answers all our needs
Tongues tuned with razorblades teach us divine misdeeds
Our clerics will kill to make us stay down on our knees

Another war is over
And the pain is almost gone
Each wound has been healing
We're so eager to move on
Tongues tuned with razorblades
Still teach divine misdeeds
Our clerics will kill to make us stay down on our knees

10. In The Wake

[USA version bonus track]

Never knew quite when it stopped
Nor when it began
Just a chain of happenings
Years floating
Days passing by

Falling in and out of madness
Walking on the edge
Pretending
Faking strength
Hiding behind smiles

Never knew quite when it died
Nor when it was torn

Just a chain of bad ideas
Years floating
Days passing by
You may think time stands still, it does not
It disappears
In the wake

Whatever sense it makes
We never learn from our mistakes
Whatever comfort it might bring
Nothingness embraces everything

11. Ab Initio

[European version bonus track]

On this day the sky came alive
My lover and I witnessed a miracle
Suddenly you were here
And I felt like nothing could ever be broken
But days fickle away

[Chorus:]
If I could stop time from attacking
If I could slow everything down
A smile with no fear of tomorrow
Your time is yet to come

You laugh and you cry
Lower your gaze to the floor
You send me a smile
And to the night a dawn
Then it seems like you are falling asleep
But your eyes remain open
Like two evening star

[Chorus]

If I...
If I...
If I...

You could go anywhere

Your tears are numbered
Release me, I've slumbered

I've gone away
I've gone away

Your tears are numbered
Release me, I've slumbered

I've gone away [repeat to fade]

12. Deadlands

I failed to impress you, and you
Feel free to abuse me
All has been in vain
We're through
So please stop pretending
Years I spent were wasted on you

Words have been spoken
My chains have been broken
This street has an end, I have failed
Never will again

My life was invaded by you
This image of straws that break against the wind
We're through
But the world keeps spinning
Endlessly I have no answers for you

Weight off my shoulders
Unleashed
No more hiding...
Leaving deadlands
Release me

On your own
Bitter and old

Dead and gone
Carved in stone

Rubicon (2010)



1. Year Of The Rat
2. Protection
3. Patriot Games
4. The Passing
5. Exile
6. Sirens
7. The Emerald Piper
8. Vulture
9. Amnesia
10. Magical Fix
11. Illumination
12. Caprice

1. Year Of The Rat

There's a way just walk the line
Keep your direction
And read the signs
Just play the game or fade away
Make your confessions and book a ride

Now that your sparkling smile is outworn
Now that your famous blue raincoat is torn
Spin me a lie and we'll slip through the haze
Just like Louise we'll get lost in the shades

Change your name and change your face
For your protection and the new day
Believe in me you can be free
Escape the aggression and book that ride

Now you're a rat and you can't sleep at night
Under the spell of the following eye
This is the game there's no getting out
I've seen the end and it looks like a nine
You feel the chill that just crept down your spine
This time, the last surrender
The axe won't be buried, not ever, not sorry
It is too late to worry

2. Protection

There's a maze
Of nights and days
You don't fear the time
Stars and sky define the road
And they clear our sight
I will be your eyes and ears
Walk with me tonight
Somewhere ahead the gate is open
And the woods alive

Shadows soon rise
I will move on
Leave you behind
Your flame is burning
Kiss me goodbye
It's getting late
I'm still your shield
The world keeps turning

Wounds need time to heal

Hush my child
Now do not weep
Put your hand in mine
I've got promises to keep
I will stand you by
I have given life to you
Find your strength my child
There is a magic world awaiting
Made of light and smiles

Words spoken from the other side
No more pain, no worrying
Walk on my child

3. Patriot Games

I go where I'm sent
Twisted and bent
These facts I relate to now
I live by the sword, serving my time
Bloodstained and deadly now

Now there are things yet to be done
To shoot the monkey off your back
I'll let you die like this
And kill you one more time
And as my target's blown away
Another's lurking in the shades
I can't believe this shit
I'll kill it one more time

I'm armed but I'm dead
You're broken she said
It's all I recall for now
Hospital bed, faces go by
And eyes closed forever now

Wondering what's fake and what is real
The day still breaks
It's grey and dim outside
Searching for a kick that takes me high
And throws the sparks around the fire

4. The Passing

Feel, my hands are turning cold
Time will fill this endless void
As the fires light the sky
At safe distance
I see fear

Chasing my deliverance
I cross the burning
Borderline
I close my eyes
But still I dare not sleep tonight

This rhythm I pass on
See the land it's carved upon
See my fate for what it is
In your eyes it's a loss
Or victory

Facing my deliverance
Across the border
Fleeing my
Affliction and
My treason
My sweet misery