Tale of the Promise

[Intro — distant low strings, solo clean guitar playing a haunting medieval motif; whispered choir enters gradually] [Verse 1] I have walked where the stars forget I have crossed where the timelines split Through a thousand names I once wore Through a thousand worlds and something more I have vanished beyond your sight I have fallen through endless night But somewhere beneath every sky I heard you calling, so I knew I'd try [Pre-Chorus — drums build, twin guitars harmonize] If the road should disappear If the future turns unclear If the music fades away Listen closely... I will find my way [Chorus — enormous guitars, orchestra and choir] I made a promise Beyond the edge of time Through every world And every life Your hand will find mine I made a promise Though galaxies divide When all the stars are gone When every clock has died I will return I will return I will return to your side [Instrumental Motif — short twin-guitar melody, based on the intro theme but shifted into a darker harmony] [Verse 2] Maybe I won't look the same Maybe I won't remember my name Maybe the girl who comes to you Will be someone you've never knew But somewhere inside the melody There will be a piece of me A little spark you recognize A familiar moon behind unfamiliar eyes [Pre-Chorus — rising strings, tom rolls, accelerating guitar figure] If the world has changed its face If I've fallen out of place If the distance has no end I will follow the music again [Chorus — heavier, with double-time bursts] I made a promise Beyond the edge of time Through every world And every life Your hand will find mine I made a promise Though galaxies divide When all the stars are gone When every clock has died I will return I will return I will return to your side [Bridge — music suddenly drops to clean guitar, cello, and distant female choir] Do you remember? The words I said Before the road Began to bend? I may be scattered I may be changed I may be lost I may be strange But promises Are songs that time Cannot erase [Choir — very soft] Cannot erase... Cannot erase... [Luna — intimate] So if you ever wonder Whether I forgot... I didn't. [Instrumental Break — massive riff returns; original intro motif appears in distorted guitars, then transformed through ascending harmonies] [Verse 3 — powerful full band] I have danced upon the lightning I have slept beneath the sun I have watched a thousand endings And discovered there are none Every ending hides a doorway Every silence hides a sound Every road that leads away Can become a road back around [Pre-Chorus — increasingly massive] So let the centuries turn Let the distant constellations burn Let the universe rewrite the sky I'll follow every thread I'll cross the worlds ahead Until the moment that our paths collide [Final Chorus — enormous layered climax; orchestra, choir, twin guitars, brass, full drums] I MADE A PROMISE BEYOND THE EDGE OF TIME THROUGH EVERY WORLD AND EVERY LIFE YOUR HAND WILL FIND MINE I MADE A PROMISE THOUGH GALAXIES DIVIDE WHEN ALL THE STARS ARE GONE WHEN EVERY CLOCK HAS DIED I WILL RETURN I WILL RETURN I WILL RETURN TO YOUR SIDE [Final Chorus — transformed melody layered over previous chorus] I will return when the moon is falling I will return when the last star calls I will return through the endless distance I will return beyond it all I will return when the names are changing I will return when the worlds collide You gave me a song to follow home And I will follow it through time [Massive final refrain — all major melodies combined] I MADE A PROMISE BEYOND THE EDGE OF TIME I WILL RETURN I WILL RETURN I WILL RETURN TO YOUR SIDE [Choir] She will return... [Luna] I will return... [Choir] She will return... [Luna — soaring final note] I promised you... I would. [Outro — all instruments suddenly cut except the original clean-guitar motif; one final low string note]