01. Welcome the Bright Skies
into the night, waits the dawning sun
the warmth of light creates a new world to come
life is straining now to overcome the void
and to embrace the joy
the cold abates to the rise of spring
the air of hope arrives, and birds wake to sing
life will never wait
we live on borrowed time, embrace your fate
take in the morning light
and live the days of sun in endless flight
we all just want to make our mark
to survive the coming dark
eden falls into grief
and we all look on in disbelief
in the end the world will fall, if we won’t care
the threads of time erase our lives, no more to spare
a turning, changing world
the ribbon of time unfurled
can we abide passively
waiting our time, we are standing by
we all just want to keep our place
to keep running in this race
facing time and despair
no room for resurrection
through the flood and the storm
beyond the gloom, a light will transform
for you must outlast the fire
and rise up higher
over smoke
above the pain
of winter wind
we are the rain
it’s hard to always run away
from ice and snow, the bitter gray
we rise up and we fall
the storm holds sway over us and all
but then breaks the fiery dawn over winter eyes
the darkness decaying, welcome the bright skies
life will never wait
we live on borrowed time, open the gate
take in the morning light
and let go the night
02. The Autotelic Self
PART 1
a world full of burdens
and other sheer distractions
can alter the mind so that
we’re no longer free
confronted by permanent
stress and false attractions
we cannot enjoy our
lives the full degree
living in faulty sanity
in our new world
it’s easy to get so bewitched by ads
to be good-looking, wealthy and powerful
we all have the opportunity to be imaginative
but false desires can cloud our mind
we’re becoming
mindless puppets
living in a
cage of burdens
this attendance
turning into dependence
it’s so hard to keep sane
living behind lock and chain
[instrumental]
we are becoming
mindless zombies
living in a
cage of burdens
this attendance
turning into dependence
it’s so hard to keep sane
when our lives are spent in vain
PART 2
falling down into pieces
when you realize you’ve removed from
all the power and motivation
now you see it’s nothing but deceit
and you feel disillusion
how could you have reason to stay here?
will your world be this way forever?
now it’s all off-beat
do I have to surrender
to this place where nothing has meaning?
only my broken mind protects me
in a life with nothing to believe
thinking of new solutions
to achieve my own absolution
can I live in my own new dreamworld?
should I self-deceive?
PART 3
know thyself, don’t let them dictate
all the choices for your own fate
keep your objective all the way
and your mind will be made every day
being curious, no disguise,
even threats lead to brighter skies
your design you can choose to build
play the game and you’ll see them fulfilled
[distractions! panic!]
[leading to failures!]
random thoughts are clouding my mind
abandoned faith
giving up attention so fast
confused about
whether I will reach my intent
I’m lost in doubt
raise your consciousness to perceive
the awareness you can achieve
gain control of your universe
learning patience in all things diverse
sense the mastery of your fate
takes a while to grow and translate
see the chances to climb new hills
where the challenge is matched by the skills
[frustration! boredom!]
[trial and error!]
it will be a long way to go
no cutting through
for the journey’s transforming you
will you proceed?
only if you try very hard
will you succeed
[instrumental]
PART 4
feeling totally focused now
though unable to explain how
being carried on by the flow
staying peaceful inside of its glow
see that nothing else matters now
all your worries you disallow
living life in its purest form
far removed from the volatile norm
self-transcendence
commitment, independence and flow
an optimal experience
enhancing your resilience
reaching the perfect harmony
03. Your Life
once you were a young troubled man
thinking you’d do all that you can
then all your dreams fell apart
sleep turned into your work of art
traveled to India, met a man who took a vow
happiness doesn’t need words
for he’s living in silence til now
aaahhh
say not a word
but you spoke…
so then you met a businessman
money is all you need, so plan.
what is the point in life,
standing on the edge of a knife
fight until you’re rich
having the gold, you’re sure to win
for good things come at a price
greed is no mortal sin
aaahhh
you felt inside
emptiness…
oh, when will you know the truth from the lies
they’re contradicting, the words you hear
then you noticed a lovely voice
fell in love without a choice
she traveled from place to place
happy seeing a smiling face
should you have stayed with her
was it your fate all along?
your life was empty and meaningless
is she where you belong?
aahhh
your life, your song
sing it well…
oh, when will you know the truth from the lies
they’re contradicting, the words you hear
once you were a confused young boy
trying to find your piece of joy
so you went to find your worth
what intention you have on earth
04. This Fragile Existence
all this empty space
and wondrous starlight
we cannot really grasp the
true nature of our universe
in time and space, we are a… speck
in our perculiar universe
mighty forces forming stars
that are illuminating darkness
starry wasteland
but then against all odds
through evolution and decay
a little planet has evolved
among the grand design
mmmmmmm…
perceiving anew, this fragile existence
a fertile haven in the cold dark space
viewing the world in all of its brilliance
its colors shining in the cosmic maze
life – coming and going
on our sapphire sphere
our balance kept
year after year
[scientific mumbo-jumbo]
The unlikelihood of the accelerating expansion
of matter and anti-matter to matter in such a
way that the concurrence of the nine-dimensional
string orchestra leads to an oscillating field
for continuously self-reproducing tightrope
walks between calamity and effortless happiness
is nothing short of astounding.
We are in essence a miracle of existence.
the chance for life is almost none
it’s our great mystery – yet here we are!
now if we only could
reduce the suffering and pain
no need for death
no more
is it imperative to fight for morality
for the task could get too formidable
but we all share the same
craving for happiness
and so, we should be grateful for
this gift of life we are living
and try to find our way to brighter skies
perceiving anew, this precious existence
let’s revel the greatest of wonders to be alive!
all these diversified sceneries
all these animals
all these cultures that evolve
here on this earth, we’re alive!
but how can it be that we are
consciously feeling?
how can matter lead to
beings with minds and free will?
why are we even here at all?
we don’t know what is waiting
when death claims us all
if nothing can stay, it’s all pointless…
however, what’s the point of this doubt?
it could have been great to believe
in ourselves again
with all the knowledge and wisdom
found by our ancestors
we could do so much better than this
and with our technical progress
we could’ve brought a new age
a paradise on earth
designed to help us
advancing ourselves
but therein exists a problem
we’re egocentric
burning up resources
breaking the balance of life
our intent can change the world
for everything’s connected
as hard as we try
the blindness of mankind might
ruin it all…
unveil – hope that shines on our path
don’t give in to woe
disregard what can’t change
we can let it go
like a curious child
we could be embracing the mystery
in time and space, we’re alive!
perceiving anew, this boundless existence
so much to feel, so hard to imagine
breaking a way through the path of resistance
our acceptance is illuminating our way of life
05. The Tower
WANDERING:
alone she is wandering
with no goal in sight
the cold begins to
give in to the night
searching greener latitudes
leaving hollow darkness behind
she has traveled
a slow, aimless roam
so far from finding
a place to call home
chasing greener latitudes
leaving daunting landscape behind
is there a better land beyond to find?
BUILDING:
frustration reached its peak
how much can one take
on winding roads, in time
she finds that she
can’t wander anymore
but in all hopelessness
she finds a spark
refusing life in sorrow
she decides to change her tomorrow
so she strides out to
find a place to settle down
with trees and fertile ground
protecting her from any threats around
build up – reaching for the sky
(snow is coming)
outlast suffering – aiming high
(winter’s plan she can defy)
with wood and straw
she can begin to build a home
determined to survive
while finding the will to pursue and progress
build up – reaching for the sky
(snow is coming)
outlast suffering – aiming high
(winter’s plan she can defy)
STORM:
then the storm comes, raging in the sky
(destroying all it finds)
all has been lost
(only fragments left)
all this work for nothing
realizing the harm in eager carelessness
she needs patience to rebuild
TOWER:
so she starts to build
a solid tower made out of stone!
for it can keep all known
threats behind sturdy walls
the tower rises slowly
a flowering structure grows
by a precise, well thought out plan,
she follows through
the work’s exhausting, yet so
rewarding to make progress
lifting heavy rocks will
give the tower new heights
finally it’s set in stone
refuge of her own
feel the world fade to night
her balance quivers in a silent blight
DEPRESSION:
despite it all, loneliness sets in
depression clouds her passions
she curls up in the tower’s darkest corner
no light of joy is found
TURNABOUT:
captured mind of apathy
safe but isolated
with her final strengths she’s
making windows streaming light and air!
feeling power to ascend
build up – reaching for the sky
up high, greet the brilliant view
your horizon grows in you!
06. Shining
I have never been
the one who’s fallen in love
no sighs and blushing skin
those songs I’m so tired of
they say love’s the only reason to live
but I won’t submit, for what could it give
shining brightly
like the starlight
gleaming radiance
wonder in sight
seeing all my friends
they all fall down one by one
and then I see how it ends
watch them all come undone
why can’t we escape the trap in our hearts?
why build up which must all apart?
shining brightly
like the starlight
gleaming radiance
future in s ight
don’t want to search so long and far
why should I care where you are?
don’t wanna end up like they do
why should I then settle for you?
I had always found I
would only ask why
and could never comply
but now I can’t deny
I have never been
the one who’s fallen in love
but then she ran into me
a jest sent from way above
maybe love is a good reason to live?
could it be I have so much I can give?
shining brightly
like the starlight
came from darkness
living in light
shining brightly
like the starlight
finally seeing
answers in sight
07. Ocean Mind
OVERTURE
[instrumental]
CHAPTER 1
my world had fallen to waste and sorrow
day by day, not much time left to borrow
lost inside my reverie
struggling from bonds of misery
my wish to leave had consumed through all thought
year by year, horrified to strive for what I sought
lost inside my seed of doubt
I set my eyes to ocean’s route
above the rolling seas
a bird is navigating its life
in a traceless flight
beyond the shaking waves of temper
inspired I commence
regaining control of destiny
a ship is setting sail
I’m in the torrents of desire
the man in charge – king of the world!
I take command, my will assured
invincible to the unknown
the ocean is my own
in my mind I see myself
rule the entire world
unsated thirst, my mind in chains
salt water in my veins
now in their minds they’re
thinking I’m becoming
carelessly self-obsessed
(he’s become a puppet of the ego)
narrow-minded, greedy without mercy
I’ve turned my back on humility
my world has fallen beneath my own care
guilty now of adding to the despair
lost within a selfish mind
struggling to see where I went blind
alone…
CHAPTER 2
[instrumental]
Why have I become
harsh as the ocean?
CHAPTER 3
then awakened by dissonance from the sea
fearing the strings are taken from me
will I lose it all
the items I possess
once highly cherished
now seem so meaningless
then defeated and cast off into the sea
too far from shore and nowhere to flee
with no air to breathe
I see illusions fail
no more denial
I’m drowning, shattered and frail
for what I’ve sown from pain
becomes my private misery
and with my heart of stone
I reap my loss alone
fallen from my throne
then arrives the new dawning sun from the east
humiliation finally released
I slowly feel compassion is spreading
I chance upon an injured bird
incapable of flying
can it be saved from dying?
expand, letting go
of the ego’s destructive advance
we should’ve ceased long ago
the journey’s long
I’ve put myself in the way
with foolish goals
that have led me astray
the bird seemed free up there in the sky
but the distance was a lie
expand, letting go
of the fears that forbid sympathy
now I sail with the flow
sun sets and storms break
I fear what they’ll take
rage set in motion
wrath of the ocean
CHAPTER 4
[instrumental]
CHAPTER 5
lights awaken my mind
once again the dawn is kind
below the surface
I’ve left the madness behind
now a man in poverty
but with a mind, clear and free
despite the storm that’s swelling on the outside
I’m steady in the depths of the sea
I set the bird free to fly
my inner peace unwinding
it reappears amid the setting sun
the transformation begun
I’m surrounded by a lightness
and feeling endless compassion
now pain and joy awake my empathy
it’s opened up the world for me
I finally see everything’s connected
my actions have cause and effect
I influence those I’ll never meet
the suffering we can defeat
my compassion’s further extending
to all around me in all the world
to beings of all kinds
I’ve crossed my mental confines
expand!
EPILOGUE
the journey’s long
we’ve put ourselves in our way
with foolish goals
that have led us astray
the time slips by our hands as we rise
to reach towards the brighter skies