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A Time of Shadow

by Dead Heroes Club

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1.
If these be our halcyon days, What can we hope to find? Will our future years be washed with tears? - A fate that’s sealed and signed. For now we can but sail the ship - steady as she goes. Avoid the rocks, the hidden shocks, and the icy winds that blow Steady as she goes… But you know we sail without a destination, And one by one we fade away. And who says time will make it easier? Don’t we all long for our yesterdays? So the story goes… Look how the world seems colder now – as we stumble to concede, That the lies and creeds of hypocrisy will outlive the air we breathe. If I could only find the will to take the mighty to the broken ones, And say “if your deeds were fair, justify them there To the daughters and the sons of the injustice you have done.” But you know I sail without a destination, And in the end I’ll fade away. And who says time will make it easier? Don’t we all long for our yesterdays? So the story goes…. You know I don’t believe in all the things I read, I just can’t trust the meaning. This is all a theatre play but there’s no plot or lines to say, And we’re just the actors for one season. Hold on – there’s nothing left to say to you… And so I join the ‘Passion Play’ and hide out in the masquerade, Careful not to give myself away. How wonderfully we play our parts upon this stage of hidden hearts, With the final twist yet to be unveiled. Hold on – There is nothing left to say to you… I remember once, I walked behind A black car in a funeral line, my face reflected in its glass. And I noticed how I looked dignified, ennobled by the tears I cried, So I turned my face towards the mass. Hold on – There is nothing left to say to you… Death on the skyline, bombs at the bus stop, Tears in the terrace a thousand miles away. Little lady Lilliput, gentle as a snowdrop, She’ll blow your head off if you get in her way. Jesus in a moneybag, crosses at the gift shop, Salvation or redemption, pay for what you need. Actors in the pulpits, preying on the sinners, Stigmatic revelation, did you see the statue bleed? In this theatre of the absurd - Here’s the strangest truth that you’ve ever heard. A gunman with a jury for the children of the ghetto, “A bullet in the kneecap should help them understand!” “Do as we say don’t do as we do!” Say all the little Hitlers with their tin-pot plans. In this theatre of the absurd - Here’s the strangest truth that you’ve ever heard…
2.
(I) A Stranger Appears Sitting in a house of reverence many years ago I asked the lord of my dominion Was there a path that he could show? To take me from my sense of sorrow and mediocrity - But only silence filled the air and so I drifted off to sleep. Then one day I woke and found a stranger in the looking glass, His face was old; he’s eyes were cold, And I was almost too afraid to ask… Is this what I’ve become? What else could I have done? And now the storm is beating against my old raincoat, As I wander down these familiar roads, In my hand another doctor’s note. But even now I get to thinking: maybe it’s not too late, To tunnel out of destitution and make good my escape - Then I catch a glimpse of a stranger in the looking glass, His face is cold; his eyes so old And I am almost too afraid to ask… Is this what I’ve become? What else could I have done? (II) The Reflection Speaks Out of confusion and into sight, Come the remnants of your dreams, Only you can make them real. And when the open doors shut tight, Don’t fall down on your knees. Just make the cold hearts feel. And though the days of youth are long gone now, You’ve got the fire to see you through – The Flame is still in you… Out of the ruins of the past Come the promises you made To yourself in younger days. And although your world is weary now, Don’t count yourself betrayed, This is the compromise you made. And though the days of youth are long gone now, You’ve got the fire to see you through – The Flame is still in you… Days of another kind lie up ahead, How can you see them if you just look behind? And looking through eyes of your favourite disguise You pretend to give sight to the blind. Look for me here; I’ll be standing beside you. Against the turn of the years The future will find us… Songs with a melody you’ve never heard Are playing somewhere down the line…. While stories abound of a truth gone to ground And a hero waiting somewhere in time… Don’t weep, don’t fear, don’t hide - this is the stranger’s time. Don’t weep, don’t fear, don’t hide - we can swim against this tide.
3.
Could this be the time? LET us go then, you and I, To search for the child, whatever he brings we’ll crucify. We live for the money; the money’s red-hot, We open up ground between the have and have-nots. 21st century: cradle to grave, money makes money aboard this gravy train. Here we are - face to face, No guiding star - in this inhuman race. Waiting on a life line, But my lifeblood is running cold. Everything falls apart, The centre cannot hold. What truth can we find when history covers up its crimes? By unknown design we’re still born against the heartless sky We live for the moment; the moment’s gone by Things draw to an end so we pray for an afterlife The 21st century human disease: eyes to the skies, I’m looking out for me… Here I am- Face to face With the also-rans - in this inhuman race. Waiting on a life line, But communication’s running cold. Everything falls apart The centre cannot hold.
4.
Has anybody seen the Nazarene or the angels of the past? We need them now to save us somehow, this light is fading fast. Can anybody take the war we make or the fire in the sky? Crush it all down into a hole in the ground…forget it for a while? Is there a soldier’s heart in the holy man? I guess I must’ve missed the holy twist that says “death to the other side!” Who gave these words to Muhammad’s verse or to the one who came to die? And who is it that insists “read into this…the path has been clearly laid” To justify the wave that comes again in jihad or crusade? Is there a killer’s heart in your holy man? I looked in the eyes of one who died, No flowers or crosses, his wounds could disguise. Where is the faith that brings us peace? Where are the arms of love to make the pain cease? Goodbye father…your angels have flown…goodbye! Hear the faith maker pitch his line, Telling us how to live if we’re to reach the divine. He’ll march us to the Promised Land. With fire in our eyes and death on our hands… Goodbye mercy…now we’re all alone…goodbye! Has anybody seen the Nazarene…? A hunter dressed in preacher’s clothes, Offers a silent prayer for his gathering of crows. He’ll march us to the Promised Land, But we’ll find it’s a kingdom made for the souls of the damned. Goodbye glory…your day is done…goodbye! Behind sacred doors, waging holy war - Here comes the firebrand with a trip switch in his hand. Blood from books of peace, vengeance on the streets - Is that what the good word says? Hey - who’s listening anyway? Lit by human light, angels fly by night With twisted words of faith and infected shards of grace. And in my own homeland, slaughter for the lamb, If you’re from the other side For God and country they’ll take your life. Expect no mercy from the light… I don’t need the words you bring to me. I don’t need your homemade theology. I don’t fear the tide you’ll turn on me, I’m in the presence of the spirit, can’t you see? And in a corner of the sky An Angel waits and sings a silent lullaby All her tears, they’re falling down on me I’m in the presence of the spirit can’t you see?
5.
In the time you took to fall, I saw the whole world waking, From the houses of old tales across the rooftops chasing - Where the sleepers are waking. And so we walked old friend in memory, Bathed in the light of the good days. And all we once knew found new form: Our youth, our strength, the good days… And voices sing out - they say… “The sleepers are waking, returned from the night - In the new mist of morning.” With light in their eyes and no earthly disguise, And the sound of laughter from the old house, And a welcome by the door. In the time it takes to fall I saw the sleepers waking, From the houses of old songs across the rooftops chasing - Their voices sing out - they say… “The sleepers are waking, returned from the night - In the new mist of morning.” With all that they need and no earthly disease And a home fire burning in the old house, And a final shelter from the storm. All we once knew: the houses of home. Giving away the days of sorrow, Giving in to the living light of memory
6.
All that you’ve ever seen in me, Is all that I’ve ever wished to be. The truth like a weapon cuts me down That’s why I’ve been hiding underground. A time of shadow has come, All that I’ve worked for - undone. A time of shadow has come… As winter closed upon the dream, I fell in out of summer’s evening. “The future’s not all that it used to be!” Cried a voice from out of the dreaming. “There’s nothing more here I can do.” Said the angel upon my shoulder. And as her wings threw shadows on me - off she flew Now I’m running out of time… Get me out of here, From the blood and the tears I’ve cried Get me out of here into another place another time. Look at the time…oh no! As darkness drowned another day I took passage on a ship of deceiving “Deception’s not all that it seems to be!” Cried the captain from out of the evening “Through time and tide I’ll get to you.” Said the hangman up by the gallows And though I felt no fear then – still I knew I was running out of time… Get me out of here… Raise your glass to the king - you know he lost everything. When fame and fortune arrived they plucked out his eyes, Gave his sight to the soul takers. Barely cold in his grave, they re-packaged his name And the moneymen knew, “what a great career move!” Nothing sells like a fallen hero! You and I we’re the same in a roundabout way: Time will take what we’ve got and refashion the lot, Until we can’t tell the saved from the saviour. See how time marches on across the words of a song No more seasons of doubt, I’ve got to find a way out! Though I just don’t believe in it any more! All that you’ve ever seen in me… And so reality steals in, It wakes me from the dreamer that I have been. And so my love I’ll turn to take the strain, But I don’t think I’ll be coming back again. A time of shadow has come… How suddenly I lose my strength This is a time of consequences now. From the lips of those I’ve loved Poison words rain from above now. These winter winds are blowing colder There’s no angel on my shoulder now. What the hell was I thinking? Don’t consider just keep drinking…now. A time of shadow has come, With all of the saviour’s songs left unsung - I am undone…

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released November 17, 2009

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Dead Heroes Club Mayo, Ireland

Dead Heroes Club are probably Ireland's only current Progressive Rock band Although as one rock critic points out "the blood of Genesis, Yes, King Crimson, Tull, Pink Floyd and others floods their veins', Dead Heroes Club manage to achieve an original and inventive approach to their music. DHC offer modern melodic and passionate music & songs that deal with themes rooted in the modern world. ... more

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