Trans-Siberian Ochestra What Is Eternal Lyrics

[BEETHOVEN]

AND HERE IN THE NIGHT AS I FEEL THE INFERNO
I STARE IN THE DARK THINKING WHAT IS ETERNAL
THE MAN OR THE MOMENT THE ACT OR THE REASON
THESE THOUGHTS FILL MY HEAD AS I CONTEMPLATE TREASON

OF DREAMS I HAVE HAD AND DREAMS I HAVE PONDERED
WHEN LATE IN THE NIGHT MY MIND IT WOULD WANDER
TO THINGS I HAVE DONE AND THEN QUICKLY REGRETTED
WHILE DENYING VICES MY LIFE HAD SELECTED

AND I THINK WHAT I'VE DONE OR HAVE YET TO BEGIN
AND THE MAN I'VE BECOME AND THE MAN THAT I'VE BEEN
NOW CAUGHT IN A WALTZ WITH THE ETERNAL DANCER
I'M COURTED BY DEATH BUT DEATH ISN'T THE ANSWER
I SAY

ALL I WAS MEANT TO BE
COULD I SUDDENLY JUST DECIDE NOT A THOUGHT WOULD SURVIVE
COULD IT BE MY LIFE'S WORTH ENDED THERE WITH MY BIRTH

IF I COULD SEE SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN THERE BEFORE ME
AND TRADED HIS SOUL FOR A MOMENT OF GLORY
HIS PENANCE OR MERCY BY SPIRITS DEBATED
WHILE JUDGED ON A SCALE THAT'S BEEN HEAVILY WEIGHTED

AND WHAT HAVE I DONE COULD THERE BE SUCH A SIN
IN THIS MAN I'VE BECOME IN THIS MAN THAT I'VE BEEN
NOW CALLING TO GOD FROM THE PIT'S VERY BOTTOM
I PRAY HE FORGIVES EVERY SIN I'VE FORGOTTEN
THIS DAY

AND WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT MY FATE IT WOULD CONJURE
THIS TWIST IN THE ROAD ON WHICH I HAVE WANDERED
EACH VISION AND DREAM NOW COMPLETELY DISMEMBERED
TO GIVE ONE'S WHOLE LIFE AND FIND NOTHING'S REMEMBERED

AND WHAT GOOD'S A LIFE THAT LEAVES NOTHING BEHIND
NOT A THOUGHT OR A DREAM THAT MIGHT ECHO IN TIME
THE YEARS AND THE HOURS THE SECONDS AND MINUTES
AND EVERYTHING THAT MY LIFE HAS PLACED IN IT
BETRAYED
BETRAYED
BETRAYED

THE THINGS I HAVE DONE THE PLACES I'VE BEEN
THE COST OF MY DREAMS THE WEIGHT OF MY SINS
AND EVERYTHING THAT I'VE GATHERED IN LIFE
COULD IT BE LOST
COULD IT BE LOST IN THIS
COULD IT BE LOST IN THIS
COULD IT BE LOST IN THIS NIGHT

[Crushed by the dilemma he finds himself in and unable to reach a decision, Beethoven tries to recall the particular actions in his life that have led to his d___ation. In anger, he confronts Fate for having dealt him such a cruel hand in life. Taken a back by his accusations, she offers to review his life with him and to change anything that he wishes to change.]

[Delighted with this unexpected proposition, Beethoven accepts. When she asks where he would like to start, Beethoven says the first thing he would change is his childhood. Fate takes him back through time where he finds himself as a young child sitting at a piano. He has just been cruelly slapped by a tutor for having failed to receive an appointment to the emperor's court. His tutor is trying to create a new child wonder, similar to Mozart, but unlike Mozart, Beethoven is an awkward and gangly youth. Now, sitting alone at the piano, he is trying to console himself by playing a melody that he finds soothing. Beethoven recognizes the melody as the future Sixth Symphony and sitting down next to the child completes the tune. The child smiles at this kindly adult and after they talk for awhile, asks if they might meet again and finish the song. Beethoven reassures the child that one day that just might possibly happen.]