The following is a behind-the-scenes look at what makes Infinitive Forest...who we are, what the music means, and so forth. To some, this is unimportant and irrelative information, but as a part of the message we are trying to convey, one of being personal and open, we feel it is important that everyone have access to the hidden nuances and meanings contained within what we do. "The Song Writing Process" is a brief look at how the music of Infinitive Forest comes together.

Click here for:

Behind the Music

Here is a line-by-line breakdown of what the lyrics mean, as Glyolis unravels them...

"Unity."

"Driftwood."

"Wheel."

"Before You Leave."

"Life in a Mirror."

"Divisions."

"Eyes of Your Beholder."

"Aquas Requiem."

"The Last Battle."

Unity

Real Audio Clip

Notes: "Unity was the first song I ever wrote all the way through, and it has a very interesting story behind it. When Phat and I first decided back in '95 to form a band, we figured it would be a good idea to have some original songs, since all we knew were covers to other band's stuff. One night, I was sitting in my room looking for inspiration, and I picked up the book that has given so many other bands so much inspiration, from Bob Dylan to Jimi Hendrix...The Bible. I opened it and began to read, I don't recall which passage, but I believe it was in Psalms. The idea being conveyed in the passage was that of "One", of the Unity of God with all things. I began to write, and got the first verse out, after flipping a few pages over to Matthew and getting the phrase, 'Let the dead bury their dead.' I picked up my guitar and felt almost pure inspiration, and began to play what is now the rhythm to 'Unity.' After that, it seemed that inspiration had ceased.
"That night as I went to bed, I set my notebook with the first four lines of 'Unity' written in it on my nightstand along with a pen. Sometime in the early morning hours, around 3 or 4 am, I had a dream where I was on stage, playing the music I had just been dabbling with. However, it flowed...a bass guitar played with me, a Uilean Pipe or flute, a baritone ukelale, drums...it all fit together. In addtion, the rest of the words were there. Quickly, I sat up in bed and scribbled out the words and the music that had been in my dream, from the chord progressions to the other verses and chorus, but I remember my hands feeling numb and everything seemed to come out like chicken scratches. I went back to bed and didn't dream again that night. The next morning I popped wide awake and grabbed the notebook. I flipped open to the first page and, to my horror, it was blank---I had dreamt the whole bit of writing anything down! I spent the rest of that morning upset with myself, because I couldn't remember anything except that I had dreamt the rest of 'Unity' but lost it.
The next night, I once again put the notebook on the nightstand. Sleep came slowly, as I was restless and cranky, but it did come. Once again, around 3 or 4 am, I dreamt that I was on stage, and amazingly enough, it was the same exact song, just as I had dreamt it the night before! As soon as the song was over, I sat up in bed, flipped on the lamp, and promptly smacked myself so hard I saw stars and left a huge red mark on my face, just to make sure I was awake. I scribbled down the same information I had thought I had gotten down the night before, but this time it flowed from my head to the paper smoothly.
"The next morning, I woke up, and once again grabbed the notebook. Shakily, I opened it, but sure enough, there were my notes, just as I had written them. I consider 'Unity' to be one of our most inspired songs yet." ---Glyolis

One, and yet I know-
One, so let us tread.
And all across the land
The voice on the wind-
"Let the dead bury their dead."

Chorus:

Wrath of the heavens
Come crashing down on me-
To hold you in my arms,
Or to set you free?

*So just unlock your heart
And open up the door--*
(These two lines are from Revelations 13:26)
Enter into my life,
And dwell forevermore.

One, and I gain strength-
One, together we'll rejoice.
And suddenly it seems I'm living
Just to see you,
Just to hear the sound of your voice.

(Chorus)

One, and through the fields I wander-
One, in the heart of it all.
And I promise I'll never leave you
I'll be there for you,
If ever you should fall.

Driftwood

This song was dedicated to a good friend of mine, Amanda Smith, and the rest of the Spanish Fork High School A Cappella Choir and 1997 Senior Class. The name "Driftwood" came from a hotel we stayed at in Florence, Oregon, named Driftwood Shores on our 1997 A Capella Choir tour. It was one of the first melodies I wrote on guitar, and has been redone several times to add and subtract a few minor details here and there, along with a rhythm that we added when Jimi became a member of I.F. The lyrics have been changed time and time again, but the theme of the song is the same...that we should remember the good times, but we also need to make sure good times and good memories are still being made now. After all, memories are about the only thing we can take with us to the next life.

Passing thru to springtime days
Sun shines down upon my face
The waves roll up upon my feet
As I surrender to memory's retreat

In my mind I travel there
In my soul I know no fear
In my heart I'm there again
And in my eyes you're still a friend.

Chorus:
All the joy that I've known
All the love that we've shown
All the pain through the years
Is erased through your tears...

Now those days have past for good
But I'd go back if I could
To live again what now is gone
Yet in our hearts lives on and on

Looking around me I say,
"Let's make the most of today."
No regrets for the past
Dry these tears up at last

Additional Chorus:

All the joy that I've known
All the love that we've shown
All the pain through the years
Is erased through your tears...

Though the sun now may set
Never shall we ever forget...

Wheel

Chorus in WAV format

"This song is named after The Wheel of Time, a fantasy series by Robert Jordan, a great influence in my life, and Phat's as well. The song is loosley based around events in the story---memories that some of the main characters have of their hometown village, a small place where their form of entertainment is to read books about Jain Farstryder and other fictitious adventureres, and how they all dreamed of going on adventures of their own, but when life hit them and they all had to run in the middle of the night, reality struck that those adventures weren't so grand and glorious as they thought. The Ways are gateways to a world created by Aes Sedai that allow passage between different places on the continent at different points, but through the Tainting of the Dark One on saidar, or the male half of the One Power, they became dangerous to travel. Read the books, to really understand all of it. It is also tied in with another person influential to my life, a girlfriend I had who taught me a lot about relationships and dealing with them. Like most of us guys, including myself, we have dreams of one day having 'a castle on a hill,' so to speak...dreams of what our ideal life would be. Leave it to women to pull us down in our moments of daydreaming and tell us we're fools. I guess it keeps our feet on the ground, though..." -Glyolis

(Intro: Ooooo...... Ooohhhh....)

Do you remember the times we shared
In the long forgotten summer days
Having fun in the shade of the old elm tree?
Those summer days...

Do you remember the time that I told you
I'd build a castle on a hill
And we'd pretend to have our own kingdom?
And I will....

Do you remember the time that you told me
My ideas were more foolish still
And you laughed and said it would never happen?
But it will...

The years go by and the seasons go
I don't ask why but still I know
That dreams can be achieved...
And I will...

Do you remember being taught by our elders
And reading books by candlelight
Of all the adventures we would dream of
In the night...

Do you remember being confined to a village
Not knowing how to feel
And I said I'd help you escape
And I will...

Do you remember the night that we left
And I brought you on my heels?
I swore then that I'd always defend you
And I will...

The years go by and the Wheel turns on
And the Ways back home are all long gone
But we will visit again one day...
And we will...

Do you remember moments all alone
When no one was around
We would talk of our hopes and goals
And the sound...

Do you remember when I told you
That I'd get down and kneel
And feel my love grow stronger for you
And I will...

The days go by and the pain still fades
And it all ends in a Masquerade
But it won't end all loneliness...
And I will...

The years go by and the seasons go
I don't ask why but still I know
That dreams can be achieved...
And I will...
And I will...
And I will...
I will.

Before You Leave

"This song was written based around a few things, based in a sort of fantasy day-dream in my own mind, a role-playing type theme. Individual references will be given with the lyrics. The music itself came fairly easily with the words...like they just fit together. I began playing the cords on the guitar one night and when I had written them all down, the words seemed to come naturally. When inspiration strikes, hey, take advantage of it." -Glyolis

*Too much apologizin'
It's too late.
What's done is done now
Felt no hate.

Sit and talk here
For a while.
Throw a wink
And give a smile.

They call to you
So lend an ear.
Listen to what
No one else hears.*
This entire first verse is based around a group of friends and I that I met online in the channels of IRC...a role-playing group, with a setting in a medieval tavern. Things weren't always peaceful between us, but overall we were great friends.

Chorus: *Time after time after time goes by, and-
Time after time after time goes by me-*
Time...a universal theme. It cannot be created, destroyed, or controlled by man. It flows always without stopping. Pink Floyd, as well as other numerous sources, have written entire songs, poems, and essays on the subject. Time flows on always.

Before you leave
Shut the door
Wind is cold and
It's blowing o'er.

Before you leave
Shut the door
Wind is cold...

*Watch the world
Through my window.
Little baby and
The old widow.*
The theme around this is, 'Take your time to look watch the world as it passes around you,' continuing on with the theme of ever passing time...baby to old widow.

*Raise the garden
Plant the seeds.
Starve the lies
Of what they need.

Helping hands grasp
Not knowing their harm.
Cheribum faces
Hiding devilish charms.*
You ever have those friends that want to help you or seem to want to, but they do things behind your back or even to your face that hurts?

Time after time after time goes by, and-
Time after time after time goes by me-
Before you leave
Please find the Light.
*The Watchtower beacon
That shines in the night*
This has reference to the song, "All Along the Watchtower" by Jimi Hendrix, NOT Jehovah's Witnesses(no offence to them).

Before you leave
Please find the Light.
The Watchtower beacon...

Let it go now
Loose your grip.
*Sands fall away*
The sands refer both to an hourglass and sands of a shore falling off the ship as it sails out to sea.

Board your ship.

At the wheel
The captain stands.
"Draw anchor!"
Is his command.

The journey is not
Truly begun yet.
As you turn and wave
Sail into the sunset.

Time after time after time goes by, and-
Time after time after time goes by me-
Before you leave
Look me in the eye.
Know we'll meet again
No final goodbye.

Time after time after time goes by, and-
Time after time after time goes by me-
Time after time after time goes by, and-
Time after time after time never ends.

Life in a Mirror

"Life in a Mirror" was written one day while sitting in my chair, just letting my thoughts drift about a recent incident in my life in which I unintentionally hurt a friend that I had just recently gotten to know. As I stared in to the mirror, I began to think about how we all seem to look in the mirror and see what we want to see, and how sometimes that image is distorted by our self-perception. The mirror is framed, it has a confined conotation to it, generally, and has endless depth when you look in to it(ever put two mirrors face-to-face so they reflect endlessly?), but that is also limited by the dimensions of the mirror itself...ironic in it's own terms. Many literary references talk about walking through the mirror or life on the other side of a mirror, and the idea appealed to me. The music was written about the same time, I stumbled on one chord and knew how the song was supposed to sound, every chord and nuance. Thus it was written, and so it is played."
I never saw you standing there
Had I, would I have dared?
So many questions remain unseen
This is what it's like to be me.

Chorus:

Life in a mirror
Things seem the same
Life in the mirror
Happy and sane.

And so you see me, not the same as I do
You don't care and I'm as lost as you
Someday we may know for sure
All these answers to procure.

Chorus:

Life in a mirror
Things aren't the same
Life in the mirror
We won't play their game.

Some people talk big and grand
Those who remain quiet really understand
The sunlight reflects my name
All is different but still the same.

Chorus:

Life in a mirror
Things are just fine
Life in the mirror
Passing the time.

Then one day you realize
There are things you can't disguise
And it all shows through in a flash
Emotion can shatter the glass.
Chorus:

Life in your mirror
Things seem so framed
Life in the mirror
No one is to blame.

So who decides what's for sure?
Which is your side of the mirror?
There's no way of telling who's who
And no way of saying you're through.

Chorus:

Life in a mirror
Who are we to say?
Life in the mirror
We'll get out some day.

Life in a mirror
Things seem the same
Life in the mirror
Happy and sane.

Divisions

"This is another song about feeling broken up on the inside, 'mixed emotions' if you will. Have you ever wanted something, to be with somebody or somewhere, but you're torn inside as to what to do? Or sometimes you can't do anything about it but live with it. That was the subject of this song, written after a good friend and I decided it would be best to stay friends after all."

Divisions Solo in Real Audio

Now as I lay here
I think to myself
I begin to wonder
What can help

The world around me
Continues to spin
I start to look
And gaze within

Chorus:

And if you could only see
What all of this madness
It does to me
You would wonder
What is wrong
As I wonder
Where I beong
Tonight. . .

Now as I lay here
Torn apart
I can't seem to place
This restless heart

I don't want your love
Just a friend
Someone to talk to
With an ear to lend

Chorus

With the division
This inward spin
But I know that we
All can win

So dim the lights
And close the door
Don't leave me to
Hurt any more

Chorus

Additional Chorus:

And do you believe that the stars
Above shine down over our heads
To show us the way?

And do you believe I will remember you
No matter what I do
Or say?

Eyes of Your Beholder

"Originally, this song was written around a friend of mine that goes by 'Swebber.' It contains references to the book of Isaiah. It has sort of a dark approach, the general feeling of things gone wrong."

Real Audio Clip

I can't see understanding
Wrapped in this cloak of mystery
All feeling is forbidden this day
Transcendent mist of infinitive forests

(chorus:)

Tell me why?
Why must you run from me?
Seems so unjustly
All that I've done for you
And what you put me through. . .

When the candle is burning low
And when the tides are high
Your darkest secrets are made
The viprous tongue disillusioned me

(chorus)

Blinded in your comfort
Unseeing for the dead
Gain sight out of obscurity
The Eyes of Your Beholder

(chorus)

I can't see understanding
Wrapped in this cloak of mystery
All feeling is forbidden this day
Transcendent mist of infinitive forests

Aquas Requiem

Calm reflections on a cold surface
Tiny ripples echo vastly
Outstretched hands reaching from darkness
Careless plunge into the depths

(chorus:)

Pull me in this watery grave
Buried far below the mocking moon
Forever to remain her slave
Darkened pool seals my doom
Nigra Rosae Obitus

Frigid wind blows across the pond
Gentle waves caress my body
Beat no longer aching heart
Forlorn lillies bear an epitaph

(chorus)

Stark trees wave goodbye
Overshadow the pond so serene
Silently slipping from lucidity
Siren's song, take another

Nigra Rosae Obitus
Nigra Rosae Obitus
Nigra Rosae Obitus

The Last Battle


"This song, if you read 'The Song Writing Process,' was fully written out as 6 full pages of random thoughts, and the music was odd...it seemed to flow out when I picked up the guitar and automatically placed my fingers where they should go. This was the second full song ever performed by I.F., and remains one of our favorites to do to this day. Even though some of the emotions that helped create it have faded, the principal behind it continues to be a factor in my life and renews some of those feelings every time we perform it on stage."

This coldest hour
This darkest moment
Desperation's power
Why was I chosen?

The night is dark
The winter's solace
My outlook stark
Just to see your face.

I throw up my hands
In a fit of despair
And all across the land
Lightning fills the air.

(Chorus:)

I can't believe it's come down to this,
The Last Battle 'gainst the shadows of Darkness-
It's up to us now, it's hit and miss,
The Last Battle 'gainst the shadows of Darkness...

My emotions for sale
Like the Tairen Maule*
There's love in a bale
Untouched against the wall.

Hope, scorn, fear, greed,
all in their separate piles
Sadness growing like weeds
And the floor is littered with smiles.

But what's the price that you will take
When you sale the rest of me?
How much gold could you make
With your false auctioning?

(Chorus, repeat)(fill-in guitar & instruments)

I won't call for you again
But I'll be standing here
I always thought we were just friends
But I'll admit I loved you dear.

I feel the knives in my back
And more stabbed through my heart
I stare as the world goes black
As my mind and body part.

If you find you're still attached
You can try to yell and call
But I may not be coming back
I'm building up The Wall.

(Chorus)

(Vamp out/Outro:)
You flaunt fate before my eyes
Another love crime
But what you don't realize
Your destiny is also mine...
*© 1992 Robert Jordan, TSR Books