Producer:     John Petrucci, Mike Portnoy

Recorded :    October 2008 – March 2009 at Avatar Studios in New York City

A nightmare to remember
I'd never be the same
What began as laughter
So soon would turn into pain

The sky was clear and pretty
The air was thick and still
Now I'm not one to soon forget
And I bet I never will

Victim for a moment
The perfect irony
A flawless new beginning
Eclipsed by tragedy

The uninvited stranger
Started dancing on his own
So we set the path to the growing pride
And we need our way back home

Life was so simple then
We were so innocent
Father and mother
Holding each other

Without warning, out of nowhere
Like a bullet from the night
Crashing glass, rubber and steel
Scorching fire, glowing lights

Screams of terror, pain and fear
Sound of sirens, smoke in my eyes
Silence stillness, blackened silence
No more screaming, no more cries

Stunned and bewildered
Cold and afraid
Torn off and broken
Frightened and dazed

Lying on the table
In this unfamiliar place
I'm greeted by a stranger
A man without a face

He said 'son, do you remember?'
'Do you even know your name?'
Then he shined a light into my eyes
He said 'take this for the pain'

Hopelessly drifting
Fading in beautiful agony
I am endlessly falling
Lost in this wonderful misery

In peaceful sedation I lay half awake
And all of the panic inside starts to fade
Hopelessly drifting, fading in beautiful agony

'Tell me, does this hurt you?'
Said the faceless man
'Can you move all of your fingers?'
'Can you try your best to stand?'

I asked about the others
'Is everyone OK?'
He told me not to worry
As he turned and looked away

Hopelessly drifting
Fading in beautiful agony
I am endlessly falling
Lost in this wonderful misery

In peaceful sedation I lay half awake
And all of the panic inside starts to fade
Hopelessly drifting, fading in beautiful agony

Day after day
And night after night
Replaying the events
'Did they ever see the red light?'

Over and over
Scene by scene
Like a recurring nightmare
Haunting my dreams

How can you prepare
For what would happen next
Your son should never have to see
His father in such a mess

It's a miracle he lived
It's a blessing no one died
By a crazy kind of fun
Everyone survived

Life was so simple then
We were so innocent
It will stay with us forever
A nightmare to remember