Several years ago in a foreign town
Far away from home I met the Count of Tuscany
A young eccentric man bred from royal blood
Took me for a ride across the open countryside
Get into my car, let's go for a drive
Along the way I'll be your guide, just step inside
Maybe you'll recall a cannibal curator
A character inspired by my brother's life
Winding through the hills, city far behind
On and on we drove down narrow streets and dusty roads
At last we came upon a picturesque estate
On sprawling emerald fields, an ancient world of times gone by
Let me introduce my brother
A bearded gentleman, historian
Sucking on his pipe, distinguished accent
Making me uptight, no accident
I wanna stay alive
Everything about this place just doesn't feel right
I, I don't wanna die
Suddenly I'm frightened for my life
I wanna say goodbye
This could be the last time you see me alive
I, I may not survive
Knew it from the moment we arrived
Would you like to see our secret holy place?
I come here late at night to pray to him by candlelight
Then peering through the glass I saw with disbelief
Still dressed in royal clothes the saint behind the altar
History recalls during times of war
Legend has been traced back inside these castle walls
The soldiers came to hide in barrels filled with wine
Never to escape, these tombs of oak are where they died
Down the cellar stairs I disappear
Like the angel's share the end is near
Come and have a taste, a rare vintage
All the finest wines improve with age
I wanna stay alive
Everything about this place just doesn't feel right
I, I don't wanna die
Suddenly I'm frightened for my life
I wanna say goodbye
This could be the last time you see me alive
I, I may not survive
Knew it from the moment we arrived
Could this be the end? Is this the way I die?
Sitting here alone, no one by my side
I don't understand, I don't feel that I deserve this
What did I do wrong? I just don't understand
I just don't understand
Give me one more chance, let me please explain
It's all been circumstance, I'll tell you once again
You took me for a ride promising a vast adventure
The next thing that I know I'm frightened for my life
Now wait a minute man, that's not how it is
You must be confused, that isn't who I am
Please don't be afraid, I would never try to hurt you
This is how we live strange although it seems please try to forgive
The chapel and the saint, the soldiers and the wine
The fables and the tales all handed down through time
Of course you're free to go, go and tell the world my story
Tell about my brother, tell them about me, the Count of Tuscany
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Nitephall
To me, this song isn't so much about the trepidation of the narrator as it is about the loneliness and sorrow of the Count. We all have aspects of our personalities or our lives that may cause others to reject us, judge us, or turn away in disgust. People tend to form their impressions of others based on preconceived notions and first impressions. The Count is asking the narrator to please look deeper. He sums it all up in one line: "This is how we live/ Strange although it seems/ Please try to forgive." The depth of the Count's sorrow and loneliness can be heard in the plaintive melody of Petrucci's solo guitar, after the narrator has retreated into the cellar to hide. The Count is a man simply wanting to make a connection with the rest of the human race, but the circumstances of his life make that very difficult. In the end, the Count's visitor becomes his only significant connection to the outside world. He sends him on a mission to tell the world about him and his brother. It seems the Count and his brother will only truly live in stories and fables.