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i. overture |
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Words and music by geddy lee, alex lifeson, and neil peart |
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"and the meek shall inherit the earth." |
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Ii. the temples of syrinx |
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Words by neil peart, music by geddy lee and alex lifeson |
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... "the massive grey walls of the temples rise from the |
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Heart of every federation city. i have always been awed |
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By them, to think that every single facet of every life is |
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Regulated and directed from within! our books, our music, |
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Our work and play are all looked after by the benevolent |
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Wisdom of the priests..." |
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We've taken care of everything |
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The words you hear the songs you sing |
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The pictures that give pleasure to your eyes |
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It's one for all and all for one |
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We work together common sons |
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Never need to wonder how or why |
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We are the priests of the temples of syrinx |
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Our great computers fill the hallowed halls |
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We are the priests of the temples of syrinx |
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All the gifts of life are held within our walls |
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Look around this world we made |
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Equality our stock in trade |
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Come and join the brotherhood of man |
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Oh what a nice contented world |
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Let the banners be unfurled |
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Hold the red star proudly high in hand |
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We are the priests of the temples of syrinx |
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Our great computers fill the hallowed halls. |
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We are the priests of the temples of syrinx |
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All the gifts of life are held within our walls. |
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Iii. discovery |
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Words by neil peart, music by alex lifeson |
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... "behind my beloved waterfall, in the little room that was |
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Hidden beneath the cave, i found it. i brushed away the |
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Dust of the years, and picked it up, holding it reverently in |
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My hands. i had no idea what it might be, but it was |
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Beautiful" ... |
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... "i learned to lay my fingers across the wires, and to turn |
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The keys to make them sound differently. as i struck the |
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Wires with my other hand, i produced my first harmonious |
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Sounds, and soon my own music! how different it could |
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Be from the music of the temples! i can't wait to tell the |
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Priests about it! ..." |
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What can this strange device be? |
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When i touch it, it gives forth a sound |
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It's got wires that vibrate and give music |
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What can this thing be that i found? |
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See how it sings like a sad heart |
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And joyously screams out its pain |
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Sounds that build high like a mountain |
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Or notes that fall gently like rain |
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I can't wait to share this new wonder |
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The people will all see its light |
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Let them all make their own music |
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The priests praise my name on this night |
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Iv. presentation |
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Words by neil peart, music by alex lifeson |
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... "in the sudden silence as i finished playing, i looked up |
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To a circle of grim, expressionless faces. father brown |
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Rose to his feet, and his somnolent voice echoed |
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Throughout the silent temple hall." ... |
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... "instead of the grateful joy that i expected, they were |
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Words of quiet rejection! instead of praise, sullen |
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Dismissal. i watched in shock and horror as father brown |
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Ground my precious instrument to splinters beneath his |
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Feet..." |
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I know it's most unusual |
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To come before you so |
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But i've found an ancient miracle |
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I thought that you should know |
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Listen to my music |
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And hear what it can do |
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There's something here as strong as life |
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I know that it will reach you |
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Yes, we know it's nothing new |
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It's just a waste of time |
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We have no need for ancient ways |
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The world is doing fine |
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Another toy will help destroy |
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The elder race of man |
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Forget about your silly whim |
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It doesn't fit the plan |
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I can't believe you're saying |
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These things just can't be true |
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Our world could use this beauty |
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Just think what we might do |
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Listen to my music |
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And hear what it can do |
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There's something here as strong as life |
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I know that it will reach you |
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Don't annoy us further |
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We have our work to do |
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Just think about the average |
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What use have they for you? |
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Another toy will help destroy |
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The elder race of man |
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Forget about your silly whim |
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It doesn't fit the plan |
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V. oracle: the dream |
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Words by neil peart, music by geddy lee and alex lifeson |
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... "i guess it was a dream, but even now it all seems so |
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Vivid to me. clearly yet i see the beckoning hand of the |
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Oracle as he stood at the summit of the staircase" ... |
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... "i see still the incredible beauty of the sculptured cities |
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And the pure spirit of man revealed in the lives and works |
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Of this world. i was overwhelmed by both wonder and |
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Understanding as i saw a completely different way to life, |
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A way that had been crushed by the federation long ago. i |
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Saw now how meaningless life had become with the loss |
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Of all these things ..." |
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I wandered home though silent streets |
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And fell into a fitful sleep |
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Escape to realms beyond the night |
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Dream can't you show me the light? |
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I stand atop a spiral stair |
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An oracle confronts me there |
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He leads me on light years away |
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Through astral nights, galactic days |
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I see the works of gifted hands |
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That grace this strange and wondrous land |
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I see the hand of man arise |
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With hungry mind and open eyes |
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They left the planets long ago |
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The elder race still learn and grow |
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Their power grows with purpose strong |
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To claim the home where they belong |
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Home, to tear the temples down... |
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Home, to change.. |
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Vi. soliloquy |
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Words by neil peart, music by geddy lee and alex lifeson |
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... "i have not left this cave for days now, it has become |
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My last refuge in my total despair. i have only the music of |
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The waterfall to comfort me now. i can no longer live |
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Under the control of the federation, but there is no other |
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Place to go. my last hope is that with my death i may pass |
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Into the world of my dream, and know peace at last." |
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The sleep is still in my eyes |
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The dream is still in my head |
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I heave a sigh and sadly smile |
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And lie a while in bed |
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I wish that it might come to pass |
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Not fade like all my dreams |
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Just think of what my life might be |
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In a world like i have seen |
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I don't think i can carry on |
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Carry on this cold and empty life |
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Oh...noo! |
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My spirits are low in the depths of despair |
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My lifeblood spills over.. |
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Vii. grand finale |
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Music by geddy lee, alex lifeson, and neil peart |
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Attention all planets of the solar federation |
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Attention all planets of the solar federation |
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Attention all planets of the solar federation |
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We have assumed control. |
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We have assumed control. |
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We have assumed control. |