[Verse 1] I spent my life with pages in my hands A quiet world I tried to understand Every book a place where I could stay A refuge from the busy day [Chorus] Time alone, at last, at last All the years I waited now have passed Shelves of stories, pages wide The world is gone, and I step inside [Verse 2] Nuclear fire turned streets to ash All the people gone in a sudden flash Yet in the ruins, I found my prize A library of wonder before my eyes [Pre-Chorus] No voices left to speak my name Time moves on, but nothing is the same [Chorus] Time alone, at last, at last All the years I waited now have passed Shelves of stories, pages wide The world is gone, and I step inside [Bridge] Cracks and rubble, a fragile tower I bend to read in my final hour The lenses fall, the world goes gray Every book I loved fades away [Guitar Solo] [Melodic, plaintive solo with bends and echoing notes] [Final Chorus] Time alone, at last, at last All the years I waited now have passed Shelves of stories, pages wide But my glasses broke — my reading denied
