Verse 1 THE CLOCK STRIKES THREE, A DIGITAL GLARE My eyelids burn, electric stare Brain stem humming, a high-tension wire I drink the darkness, fueled by fire! JOLTS OF CAFFEINE, a mainline injection Fighting the pull of soft reflection The world is dimmed, the air is cold A story that will not unfold! I refuse the slow descent, the crushing weight I seal the door against the fate! Pre-Chorus (Tempo slightly speeds up, drums get busier) My muscles twitch, the rusted gears are grinding The ghost of rest, a memory I'm binding! I know the speed, the pace can never cease I trade salvation for this false release! Chorus (Maximum speed and aggression) ZERO HOUR EXHAUSTION! I'M RUNNING ON FUMES AND FIRE! NO RETREAT, NO CAUTION! PUSHING THE TEMPO HIGHER! THE SLEEP OF AGES CALLS MY NAME! I BURN THE MATTRESS, FEED THE FLAME! I WILL NOT BREAK THE CYCLE'S HOLD! I WILL NOT WATCH THE FUTURE UNFOLD! AWAKE! AWAKE! ETERNALLY WIIIIRED! Verse 2 SHADOWS WRITHE like oily smoke on glass Every moment moves too fast, too fast Paranoia is the air I breathe The truths the morning cannot unweave! I hear the whispers in the silent fan The slow corruption of the sleeping man The dream machine is hungry, vast and deep It seeks the weakness when the body sleeps! To lose the grip, the power and the strain To fall apart and wash away the pain! Guitar Solo (Shredding) (Fastest section of the song. Whammy bar dives, intricate, punishing scale work, and harmonized speed runs.) (Chant during the last 4 bars of the solo): (Voice of Dread): YOU'RE SLOWING DOWN! (Singer): NO! (Voice of Dread): YOU'RE FALLING BACK! (Singer): NEVER! Chorus (Maximum speed and aggression) ZERO HOUR EXHAUSTION! I'M RUNNING ON FUMES AND FIRE! NO RETREAT, NO CAUTION! PUSHING THE TEMPO HIGHER! THE SLEEP OF AGES CALLS MY NAME! I BURN THE MATTRESS, FEED THE FLAME! I WILL NOT BREAK THE CYCLE'S HOLD! I WILL NOT WATCH THE FUTURE UNFOLD! AWAKE! AWAKE! ETERNALLY WIIIIRED! Outro (Riff repeats and accelerates, drums maintain a relentless blast beat) The throttle sticks! The RPM is red! AWAKE! AWAKE! WAKE! WAKE! (Fade out with rapid, chaotic guitar feedback and final cymbal crash)
