A Nightmare to Remember

[Verse 1: James LaBrie]
A nightmare to remember
I'd never be the same
What began as laughter
So soon would turn to pain
The sky was clear and frigid
The air was thick and still
Now I'm not one to soon forget
And I bet I never will

[Guitar Solo]

[Verse 2: James LaBrie]
Picture for a moment
The perfect irony
A flawless new beginning
Eclipsed by tragedy
The uninvited stranger
Started dancing on his own
So we said goodbye to the glowing bride
And we made our way back home
Life was so simple then
We were so innocent
Father and mother
Holding each other

[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 3: James LaBrie & Mike Portnoy]
Without warning
Out of nowhere
Like a bullet
From the night
Crushing glass
Rubber and steel
Scorching fire
Glowing lights
Screams of terror
Pain and fear
Sounds of sirens
Smoke in my eyes
Sudden stillness
Wrapped in silence
No more screaming
No more cries

[Chorus: James LaBrie]
Stunned and bewildered
Cold and afraid
Torn up and broken
Frightened and dazed
Stunned and bewildered
Cold and afraid
Torn up and broken
Frightened and dazed

[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 4: James LaBrie]
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? (Son, do you remember?)
Do you even know your name?"
Then he shined a light into my eyes
And said, "Take this for the pain." (Take this for the pain)

[Chorus: James LaBrie]
Hopelessly drifting
Bathing 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
Bathing in beautiful agony

[Verse 5: James LaBrie]
"Tell me does this hurt you?" (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 okay?"
He told me not to worry as he turned and looked away (Don't worry)

[Chorus: James LaBrie]
Hopelessly drifting
Bathing 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
Bathing in beautiful agony

[Instrumental Break]

[Bridge: Mike Portnoy]
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?
No son should ever have to see his father such a mess
It's a miracle he lived, it's a blessing no one died
By the Grace of God above, everyone survived

[Instrumental Break]

[Outro: James LaBrie]
Life was so simple then
We were so innocent
It will stay with us forever
A nightmare to remember