Tribulation (Stripped) - Matt Maeson

Familiarity trickles down through the narrow corridors of faith In the pathways of Jerusalem I breathe Nature's grace, radiantly glowing cold, she pours the wine onto my flesh I bathe in the stream, I wash away the ash Throughout the vastness of time - Alone, alone Throughout the vastness I climb - Alone, alone Twice born - blood is spilled from the cups of ghosts Twice born - close the eyes to receive the host Precedence is given to the dreamer Precedence is given to the brave In catacombs I dance the dance of Death, I run away from fear In illo tempore, was that so, where do we go from here? We are naked in the darkness, we are one Yet there is solitary in the vast expanse of mind, the threshold to eternity We all find ourselves wandering through the pastures of Arcadian splendor Are we going to the time before time? Remember, remember Throughout the vastness of time - Alone Throughout the vastness I climb - Alone, alone Ever closing in on the shadows of the strange attractor A return to a paradise that we have lost

Dolorous Lifeless in her gaze Blank reflection A memory merged with the haze Rabid, in fervor You brought it here From deep pits of woe and dismay From the chasm that opens in us In the festering wound Where death holds sway Deep down black rivers flow Fissures in the stone Down below Down there the tide is slow In eternities alone Down below It brought us here to this shadowy place Where there's naught to do but pray Out of time's the time Fallen from grace The bells chime To carry my curse away Deep down black rivers flow Fissures in the stone Down below Down there the tide is slow In eternities alone Down below Deep down black rivers flow Fissures in the stone Down there the tide is slow In eternities alone Down below Fissures in the stone Down below In eternities alone

On the first night I called to the Devi The power at the base of the tree On it's roots a dragon was gnawing Longing for it's chance to be free From the earth she was sprung, the support of this world To whom we're all but the image of a child The destroyer of safety at the threshold of the path The road that will lead us into the wild On the second night I bathed in the waters Soaking up the dripping juices of the moon I found the stream of blood and I pleaded Please, grant me my wished for boons On the third night as I sat by my fire While inviting all the denizens to my side A city of jewels appeared before my eyes And I prostrated before my deathly bride Leaving the shelter for the great wilderness From birth to birth you have walked by my side Leaving the shelter for the great wilderness The place where the worlds open wide On the fourth night as the wind rushed through the tree I was ready to dispel my fears You rode up to me, with a noose in your hand To the unstruck music of the spheres Leaving the shelter for the great wilderness From birth to birth you have walked by my side Leaving the shelter for the great wilderness The place where the worlds open wide On the fifth night I heard it, as pure as white snow The seed that is clothed in space And at the seat of the lover and the beloved I humbly received their grace They call her the one with the earrings Ascending from terrestrial planes Now standing straight, a mirror was made Now fit for the great wild plains

I saw, and I swear An old man with a dead locked stare And he said to me "You're too old to be pretending" But you don't know me, I ain't got no legacy And he said to me, "It's not too late to pick up the pieces" Woo, woo Yeah Woo, woo So I said that I smoke And been known to drink my share "You're young, and you're drunk" He said with a stone-cold glare But you don't know me, I ain't got no legacy And he said to me, "It's not too late to pick up the pieces" Woo, woo Yeah Woo, woo You're walking in the shadows Walking in the shadows of your fear And you're headed for the gallows Sin around your throat and no one's near So before I leave, just know, just know Oh, before I leave, just know, just know Oh, before I leave, just know, just know It's not too late to pick up the pieces Woo, woo Yeah Woo, woo It's not too late to pick up the pieces I ain't got no legacy Yeah I ain't got no legacy Now just breathe

Cliffy's cuttin' close to the power line But his daddy can't tell 'cause he just as high And I wanna let him know but I won't this time 'Cause I'm runnin' real low and he's my supply Oh, so just tell me Are you still hurtin' And where did you come by All of those burdens Oh, so just tell me Are you still hurtin' And where did you come by All of those burdens Oh, so I rumble and I tumble with the man upstairs He said "Boy, you gotta stop holdin' out your hand" I'm not gonna go away, I'm still involved You ain't drownin' me out with that alcohol Oh, so just tell me Are you still hurtin' And where did you come by All of those burdens Oh, so just tell me Are you still hurtin' And where did you come by All of those burdens 'Cause I— bet my life-on you Oh I— bet my life-on you Oh I— bet my life-on you Oh I— bet my life-on you Oh, so just tell me Are you still hurtin' And where did you come by All of those burdens Oh, so just tell me Are you still hurtin' And where did you come by All of those burdens

These streets are your canvas baby Do you know that means? This country it stands upon your Beautiful colors and dreams So rest easy and wake up baby Be who you want to be Cause we the people are restless baby And we the people are free So lift up your hands to the pale blue sky We're unified and I'm lifting mine Hold tight the hand of the heart that breaks Stomp down your feet and the ground will shake Giants We are giants So have hope and I promise baby You will see what I mean Cause we the people are restless baby And we the people are free So lift up your hands to the pale blue sky We're unified and I'm lifting mine Hold tight the hand of the heart that breaks Stomp down your feet and the ground will shake Giants We are giants Giants We are giants