A Change Of Seasons (Original live version) - Mike Portnoy

I remember a time
My frail, virgin mind
Watched the crimson sunrise
Imagined what it might find
Life was filled with wonder
I felt the warm wind blow
I must explore the boundaries
Transcend the depths of winter's snow

Innocence caressing me
I never felt so young before
There was so much life to see
Yet I knew there must be more

But those days are gone now
Changed like a leaf on a tree
Blown away forever
Into the cool autumn breeze
The snow has now fallen
And I know where I stand
All of my childhood memories
Left lying in the sand

In my den of inequity
Viciousness and delicacy
Struggled to find the sane
Struggled to ease the pain
Ignorance surrounding me
I've never been so filled with fear
Now I know that there is more
The warmth is gone
But the chill forever here

I'll always remember
The chill of November
The news of the fall
The sounds in the hall
The clock on the wall, ticking away
" Seize the day "
I heard him say
Life will not always be this way.
Look around, and hear the sound
Another time like this can't be found.

We can learn from the past
But those days are gone

In my frail, virgin mind
Words have lost my way
I have to seize the day
To home I returned

Preparing for her flight
I held with all my might
Fearing my deepest fright
She walked into the night
She turned for one last look
She looked me in the eye
I said, 'I love you... Good-bye.

Please don't go

Instrumental Section

So far so few between
My eyes filled full
With desire fulfilled
All my dreams came true
All the world,
And all of you
Everyday there's a constant reminder
Of all the pleasures we shared together
Love is not just a passing word
It's a state of heart that goes on forever

I was blinded by a paradise
Utopia high in the sky
The love there will never come away
Deep in sorrow, wandering faraway

I stood outside in the rain for us
I tried to work out all of the pain for us
I sat alone and took the blame for us
My mind has torn and gone insane for us

Innocent sinner
Repeat offender
Promiscuous promiser
A faith lender
Indecisive decisions
Torn with heartless divisions
Watering all my visions of love

Of all the world, I give to you
All of the world,
All the world, I give to you
All of the world

Instrumental Section

I'm much wiser now
A lifetime of memories
Run through my head
Memories they taught me
For better or worse, alive or dead
I realize, there's no turning back
Life goes on the offbeaten track
I sit down with my son
Can't you see the crimson sunset
He's my only one
Now that my time has come
Now that my day is done
Looking into the sun he said
'Don't go, don't go,
please don't go, now.
Don't go, don't go, don't go, don't go.

Burning My Soul (Demo from 1997) - Mike Portnoy

The screamed repeats of the phrase 'Burning my soul' are done by Mike Portnoy. The whispered phrase 'Soul' is done by ???

I awoke from a dream today
Man it seemed so real
Close my eyes and try to drift away
But memories keep haunting me

A thorn in my side, a chip on my shoulder
A lump in my throat, the size of a boulder
The chill up my spine, can't get any colder
And you wonder why I can't smile

A knot in my gut, an ape on my back
In the heat of the moment
I'm knocked off the track
You drop the ball, I pick up the slack
And you ask me why my hair's gray

I say it's green and then you tell me it's red
Keep your thoughts and ideas
Locked inside of your head
We've got someone
Who can think for you instead
And he sounds just like the last one

Twisting, turning
Losing all sense of yearning
Living and learning
The pressure keeps on burning my soul
(Burning my soul)
(Soul)
Burning my soul
(Burning my soul)
(Soul)
Burning my soul

Responsible thinkers
Throw caution to the wind
But I find myself
Speaking from within
I can't live my life
Walking on eggshells
To stay on your good side

Using your words
Controlling my life
Can't you see it's my words
That gives you your life
So I hurt your feelings
Well I'm really sorry
But I don't give a shit, no...

Twisting, turning
Losing all sense of yearning
Living and learning
The pressure keeps on burning my soul
(Burning my soul)
(Soul)
Burning my soul
(Burning my soul)
(Soul)
Burning my soul
(Burning my soul)
(Soul)
Burning my soul
(Burning my soul)
(Soul)
Burning my

Instrumental section at this point would later become Hell's Kitchen on Falling Into Infinity.

Twisting, turning
Losing all sense of yearning
Living and learning
The pressure keeps on burning my soul
(Burning my soul)
(Soul)

Burning my soul

Repeat this block 6 times.

(Burning my soul)
(Soul)
Burning my soul
(Burning my soul...)
Burning my soul

Hollow Years (demo version) - John Petrucci

He's just the kind of man
You hear about
Who leaves his family for
An easy out
They never saw the signs
He never said a word
He couldn't take another day

Carry me to the shoreline
Bury me in the sand
Walk me across the water
In the writing of a tired hand
You'll see the message getting clearer
And maybe you'll understand

Once the stone
You're crawling under
(Once the stone)
Is lifted off your shoulders
(Lifted off)
Once the cloud that's raining
Over your head disappears
The noise that you'll hear
Is the crashing down of hollow years
She's not the kind of girl
You hear about
She'll never want another
She'll never be without
She'll give you all the signs
She'll tell you everything
Then turn around and walk away

Carry me to the shoreline
Bury me in the sand
(Into the waves)
Walk me across the water
In the echoes of a tired voice
You'll hear the message getting clearer
And maybe you'll have no choice

Once the stone
You're crawling under
(Once the stone)
Is lifted off your shoulders
(Lifted off)
Once the cloud that's raining
Over your head disappears
The noise that you'll hear
Is the crashing down of hollow years

Carry me to the shoreline
Bury me in the sand
(Into the waves)
Walk me across the water
And maybe you'll understand

Once the stone
You're crawling under
Is lifted off your shoulders
Once the cloud that's raining
Over your head disappears
The noise that you'll hear
Is the crashing down
(Crashing down, crashing down, crashing down)
Crashing down of hollow years

Once the stone
You're crawling under
Once the stone
You're crawling under
Once the stone
You're crawling under
Once the stone
You're crawling under
Once the stone
You're crawling under
Once the stone
You're crawling under
Once the stone
You're crawling under

Lines In The Sand (demo version) - John Petrucci

Sometimes, for a moment of bliss
And the passion, we're craving
There's a message we miss
Sometimes when, the spirits left alone
We must believe in something
To find if we've grown

Sometimes, if you're perfectly still
You can hear the virgin weeping
For the savior of your will
Sometimes, your castles in the air
And the fantasies you're seeking
Are the crosses you bear

Swept away with the tide
(Swept away)
Through the holes in my hands
(In my hands)
Crown of thorns at my side
(Crown of thorns at my side)
Drawing lines in the sand

Tragic reflex, shattered calm
Static progress, senses gone
Numb awareness, final psalm

Sacred conflict, blessed prize
Weeping crosses, stainless eyes
Desperate addict, faith disguised

Swept away with the tide
(Swept away)
Through the holes in my hands
(In my hands)
Crown of thorns at my side
(Crown of thorns at my side)
Drawing lines in the sand

Take Away My Pain (alternate lyrics I) - John Petrucci

I was sitting on the edge of his bed
Staring at the headlines on the paper
He said, 'Look at poor Gene Kelly
I guess he won't be singing in the rain.
You can take away my heroes
Can you take away my pain

Take away my pain
Leave the cold outside
Please don't let it rain
Don't stumble on my pride
Take away my pain
I'm not frightened anymore
Just stay with me tonight
I'm tired of this fight
Soon I'll be knocking at your door

She was standing by the edge of his bed
Staring at the message on their faces
He said, 'What else can you do, babe?
I guess I won't be coming home again.
They just took away all my promises
Make them take away my pain

Take away my pain
Leave the cold outside
Please don't let it rain
Don't stumble on my pride
Take away my pain
I'm not frightened anymore
Just stay with me tonight
I'm tired of this fight
Soon I'll be knocking at your door

His final scene
The actor bows
And all those years
Are gone somehow
The crowd applauds
The curtain falls
There'll be no encore after all

I was sitting on the edge of my bed
Staring at the paper through my tears
It read, 'Say Goodbye to Jesus'
The world he left will never be the same
You took away my hero
Will you take away my pain

Take away my pain
Let the cold inside
It's time to let it rain
There's nothing left to hide
Take away my pain
I'm not frightened anymore
I'm learning to survive
Without you in my life
Til you come knocking at my door...

Take Away My Pain (alternate lyrics II) - John Petrucci

I was sitting on the edge of his bed
Staring at the headlines on the paper
He said, 'Look at poor Gene Kelly
I guess he won't be singing in the rain.'

Then we talked about the weather and the game
Election day and things I can't remember
But all that I could think of
Was this would be the last time
That we'd talk about anything
You took away my heroes
Can you take away my pain

Take away my pain
Please don't let it rain
Take away my pain
I'm not frightened anymore
I'll be knocking at your door

She was standing by the edge of his bed
Staring at the message on their faces
He said, 'What else can you do, babe?
I guess I won't be coming home again.'
They just took away all my promises
Make them take away my pain

Take away my pain
Please don't let it rain
Take away my pain
I'm not frightened anymore
Just stay with me tonight
I'm tired of this fight
Soon I'll be knocking at your door

His final scene
The actor bows
And all those dreams
Are gone somehow
The crowd applauds
The curtain falls
There'll be no encore after all

I was sitting on the edge of my bed
Staring at the paper through my tears
It read, 'Say Goodbye to Jesus'
The world he left will never be the same
You took away my hero
Will you take away my pain

Take away my pain
Let the cold inside
Time to let it rain
There's nothing left to hide
Take away my pain
I'm not frightened anymore
I'm learning to survive
Without you in my life
Til you come knocking at my door...

Keep knocking, keep knocking
Knocking at my door

O Holy Night

Studio demo from 1988, with Charlie Dominici on vocals.
- Cappeau de Roquemaure (Traditional)

O holy night
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
'Til he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A prayer of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn

Fall on your knees
Oh hear the angel voices
Oh night divine
Oh night, when Christ was born

Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.

Fall on your knees
Oh hear the angel voices
Oh night divine
Oh night, when Christ was born
Oh night divine
Oh night, when Christ was born **A**
Oh night, when Christ was born
When Christ was born

Alternate ending - ("Acoustic Dreams" CD) Beginning at **A** above.

Oh night, when Christ was born
Oh night divine
Oh night, when Christ was born
Christ was born

Alternate ending - (Fan Club Christmas CD 1996) Beginning at **A** above.

Oh night, when Christ was born
Oh night divine
Oh night, when Christ was born
When Christ was born
Christ was born