Arjen Anthony Lucassen - Lost In The New Real

"Just a few ancient questions left. Mr. L. What the hell is real? Who am i and why not? Why don't we smell the roses anymore? When do we get another shot? Truly. Madly. Magic sun and moon and from sand to dust and dust to earth. Mama. Yours… Voight-Kampff."

[A. GHOSTS]

Drifting In a world I don't belong
I miss her, how can i face this life alone?

I do remember
Like it was yesterday
You and me together
Back in a different age

Reaching for the ghosts haunting my mind
Dreaming of the ones I left behind

Hopeless… there is nothing I can do
Knowing I can never be with you again

[B. DEAD OR ALIVE]

Why did you bring me back?
Like a lab rat in a maze
Am i dead or alive?
With all these wires stuck in my brain
Why did you wake me up?
Locked in this virtual jail
Why was I revived?
Is this all some game?
Lost in this maze
Locked in this brain

So this is the end…
Why did you bring me back?
Like a lab rat in a maze
Or maybe a start
Am I dead or alive?

With all these wires tuck in my brain
So what happens now…
Why did you wake me up?
Locked in this virual jail
Can't find a way out…
Why was i revived?
Is this all some game?

[C. SYNTHETIC STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS]

I could decide to stay here
And dream on forevermore
To live without the danger
And the fear I felt before
A life devoid of sadness.
No more suffering and pain In a realm of make-believe
Within the limts of my brain

But can I really fool myself
(could I thrive inside this lucid dream?)
Into believing I'm still me
(in this mind-machine technology)
A synthetic state of consciousness
(could I be a part of this New Real?)
I am therefore I think

Could I dream forevermore
Without the fear I felt before
There'll be no suffering and pain
Within the confines of my brain

[D. BLISSFUL IGNORANCE]

[Instrumental]

[E. A SECOND CHANCE?]

I remember dying
Fading into black
I remember dreaming
Of a second chance

The New Real – a paradise?
Inviting – exciting – a new home
The New Real – a web of lies?
Confusion – delusion – I am alone
The New Real – a golden dream?
Serenity – my destiny – a new home
The New Real – a cold machine?
Mistaken – forsaken – I am alone

[F. SWITCH ME OFF]

Please switch me off
I am sure now
I don't belong
In this New Real

Please shut me down
I am fine now
Thanks for the dream
You can switch me off

Now I know this is not real
I can't trust the way I feel
I'm alive… but in a dream
Am I only… a machine?