In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Freedom calls my name
Serenity keeps me sane
Happiness, it dulls the pain
Honest to see my place
Open to other ways
Willingness to understand
Justice but do not judge
Courtesy for others' flaws
Kindness, it's not that hard
Self-restraint of tongue and pen
Inventory, my daily friend
Analysis let down your guard
Look in the mirror
What do you see?
The shattered fortress
That once bound me
Faithful ascent, through darkest fires
I've found the path to take me higher
You're smart enough for me to trust go live your life now
Just keep these steps in your life and you'll know how
If you're not sure, ask yourself,
"Have I done to them as I would have them do to me?"
Look in the mirror
What's that you see?
The shattered fortress
Fly now be free
Faithful ascent, through darkest fires
I've found the path to take me higher
I once thought it better to be right
But now I have finally seen the light
Sometimes you've got to be wrong
And learn from mistakes
I live with serenity now
Not self-righteous hate
(Help me be a channel of Thy peace
That where there is hatred, I may bring love;
That where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness;
That where there is discord, I may bring harmony;
That where there is error, I may bring truth;
That where there is doubt, I may bring faith)
Now that you can see all you have done
(That where there is despair, I may bring hope;
That where there are shadows, I may bring light)
It's time to take that step into the kingdom
(That where there is sadness, I may bring joy)
All your sins will help to make you strong
(That I may seek rather to comfort, than to be comforted.
That I may seek to understand than to be understood)
And help you break right through the prison wall
(That I may seek to love, rather than to be loved,
For it is by self-forgetting that one finds,
It is by forgiving that one is forgiven)
Keep all of me,
The desires that once burned me deep inside
Help me live today
And help to give me grace
To carry out your way
I am ready, help me be all I can be
I am ready, help guide me and keep me free
I am responsible when anyone, anywhere
Reaches out for help, I want my hand to be there
I am responsible when anyone, anywhere
Reaches out for help, I want my hand to be there
Serenity keeps me sane
Happiness, it dulls the pain
Honest to see my place
Open to other ways
Willingness to understand
Justice but do not judge
Courtesy for others' flaws
Kindness, it's not that hard
Self-restraint of tongue and pen
Inventory, my daily friend
Analysis let down your guard
Look in the mirror
What do you see?
The shattered fortress
That once bound me
Faithful ascent, through darkest fires
I've found the path to take me higher
You're smart enough for me to trust go live your life now
Just keep these steps in your life and you'll know how
If you're not sure, ask yourself,
"Have I done to them as I would have them do to me?"
Look in the mirror
What's that you see?
The shattered fortress
Fly now be free
Faithful ascent, through darkest fires
I've found the path to take me higher
I once thought it better to be right
But now I have finally seen the light
Sometimes you've got to be wrong
And learn from mistakes
I live with serenity now
Not self-righteous hate
(Help me be a channel of Thy peace
That where there is hatred, I may bring love;
That where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness;
That where there is discord, I may bring harmony;
That where there is error, I may bring truth;
That where there is doubt, I may bring faith)
Now that you can see all you have done
(That where there is despair, I may bring hope;
That where there are shadows, I may bring light)
It's time to take that step into the kingdom
(That where there is sadness, I may bring joy)
All your sins will help to make you strong
(That I may seek rather to comfort, than to be comforted.
That I may seek to understand than to be understood)
And help you break right through the prison wall
(That I may seek to love, rather than to be loved,
For it is by self-forgetting that one finds,
It is by forgiving that one is forgiven)
Keep all of me,
The desires that once burned me deep inside
Help me live today
And help to give me grace
To carry out your way
I am ready, help me be all I can be
I am ready, help guide me and keep me free
I am responsible when anyone, anywhere
Reaches out for help, I want my hand to be there
I am responsible when anyone, anywhere
Reaches out for help, I want my hand to be there
Lyrics submitted by hallowedbe666, edited by Octavarium64
The Shattered Fortress Lyrics as written by John Petrucci John Myung
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Correction to the opening stanzas: Freedom calls my name Serenity keeps me sane Happiness it dulls the pain
Honest to see my place Open to other ways Willingness to understand
Justice but do not judge Courtesy for others' flaws Kindness it's not that hard
Self-restraint of tongue and pain Inventory my daily friend Analysis let down your guard
After the first chorus in X. Restraint, the second verse should be: You're smart enough for me to trust go live your life now Just keep these steps in your life and you'll know how If you're not sure, ask yourself "Have I done to them As I would have them do to me?"
Then the end of X. Restraint should be: I once thought it better to be right But now I have finally seen the light Sometimes you've got to be wrong And learn from mistakes I live with serenity now Not self-righteous hate
The end of XI. Receive is printed as: I am ready Help me be all I can be I am ready Help guide me and keep me free
Then the last step, XII. Responsible, is print just once as: I am responsible When anyone, anywhere Reaches out for help I want my hand to be there
-Marc.