Sometimes, for a moment of bliss
And the passion, we're craving
There's a message we miss
Sometimes when, the spirits left alone
We must believe in something to find if we've grown
Tragic reflex, shattered calm
Static progress, senses gone
Numb awareness, final psalm
Swept away with the tide
(Swept away with the tide)
Through the holes in my hands
(Through the holes in my hands)
Crown of thorns at my side
(Crown of thorns at my side, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Drawing lines in the sand
Sometimes, if you're perfectly still
You can hear the virgin weeping
For the savior of your will
Sometimes, your castles in the air
And the fantasies you're seeking, are the crosses you bear
Sacred conflict, blessed prize
Weeping crosses, stainless eyes
Desperate addict, faith disguised
Swept away with the tide
(Swept away with the tide)
Through the holes in my hands
(Through the holes in my hands, yeah)
Crown of thorns at my side
(Crown of thorns at my side)
Drawing lines in the sand
We fabricate our demons, invite them into our homes
Have supper with the aliens and fight the war alone
We conjure up our skeletons, enlist the den of thieves
Frightened from our closets, then sewn upon our sleeves
In the stream of consciousness, there is a river crying
Living comes much easier, once we admit, we're dying
Sometimes, in the wreckage of our wake
There's a bitterness we harbor and hate for hatred's sake
Sometimes we, we dig an early grave and crucify our instincts
For the hope we couldn't save
Sometimes a view from sinless eyes
Centers our perspective and pacifies our cries
Sometimes the anguish we survive and the mysteries we nurture
Are the fabrics of our lives
Swept away with the tide
(Swept away with the tide, yeah)
Through the holes in my hands
(Through the holes, holes in my hands)
Crown of thorns at my side
(Crown of thorns at my side)
Drawing lines in the sand
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Nitephall
So is this song basically saying that all our endeavors are as lines drawn in the sand because we're inherently sinful, fallen creatures? That nothing we do really matters because we're corrupt? More heavy religious imagery in this one, doubtless written by Portnoy. That guy saw everything through some kind of twisted religious mindset based on punishment. For someone who proclaims a faith in god so avidly in his songs, he sure doesn't seem to be much reassured by it. On the contrary, the religious view espoused so frequently in his lyrics is dark and guilt-ridden. I've wondered often what kind of upbringing Portnoy had, to have developed such a negative world view. At least Portnoy's out of the band now, so I suspect we won't be dealing with enigmatic religious imagery in Dream Theater's songs anymore.