Letters From The Labyrinth

2015
  1. TIME & DISTANCELyrics

    TIME & DISTANCE

    TIME AND DISTANCE
    PLACED BEFORE THEE
    HOPE AND BEAUTY
    HAVE WE DUTIES
    AS TO WHAT EACH MOMENT’S GIVEN FOR

    STARS HAVE MADE US WONDER
    LIGHTNING WED TO THUNDER
    POWER GLORY
    FRAGILE STORIES
    WOVEN THROUGH ETERNITY

    TIME REFINES US
    DEATH RESIGNS US
    AND IT’S CLEVER
    FOR IT NEVER
    TELLS US WHEN THAT MOMENT IS TO BE

    ALL THESE QUESTIONS OF EXISTENCE
    WE PURSUE WITH SUCH PERSISTENCE
    WHAT
    WHERE
    WHY
    WHEN
    IS THE DAY WE WILL SEE

    AND EACH CHILD THAT IS UNBORN YET
    MUST REMEMBER
    MUST REMEMBER
    AND THE COST OF ALL OUR HUMAN PROGRESS
    IS A GREAT DEBT
    IS A GREAT DEBT
    AND THE JOURNEY SO LONG AGO BEGUN

    AND THE JOURNEY SO LONG AGO BEGUN
    IS NOT OVER TILL WE’RE ALL SAVED
    AND OUR LIVES AND GOD ARE ONE

    THROUGH THE DISTANCE
    LORD PLEASE STAY CLOSE BY OUR SIDE
    THROUGH THE DISTANCE
    LORD PLEASE STAY CLOSE BY OUR …
  2. MADNESS OF MENLyrics

    MADNESS OF MEN

    (Instrumental)
  3. PROMETHEUSLyrics

    PROMETHEUS

    THERE COMES A TIME TO DECIDE
    THERE COMES A TIME TO CHOOSE SIDES
    FOR IN A WORLD IN THE DARK
    A SINGLE THOUGHT IS A SPARK

    THAT IGNITES
    AND IT BURNS
    AS IT SPREAD ACROSS THE NIGHT
    IT DETECTS
    AND PROTECTS
    AS ITS LIGHT IT CALLS FORTH

    EINSTEIN AND EDISON
    TESLA AND EDDINGTON
    PROMETHEUS WAS THE ONE
    THAT FIRST SHOWED US

    HOW FAR MINDS COULD SEE
    CHANGING DESTINIES
    NOTHING HAS TO BE
    IF WE WISH IT

    THERE COMES A TIME TO DECIDE
    DO WE UNITE OR DIVIDE
    AND IF THE WORLD’S BLIND TO SPARKS
    TO BE THE VOICE IN THE
    DARK
  4. MOUNTAIN LABYRINTHLyrics

    MOUNTAIN LABYRINTH

    (Instrumental)
  5. KING RURIKLyrics

    KING RURIK

    (Instrumental)
  6. PRINCE IGORLyrics

    PRINCE IGOR

    (Instrumental)
  7. THE NIGHT CONCEIVESLyrics

    THE NIGHT CONCEIVES

    THE SUN GOES DOWN
    THE LIGHT IT LEAVES
    THE MIND CAN’T IMAGINE
    WHAT THE NIGHT CONCEIVES

    THE SIREN WAILS
    SHE FLIRTS, SHE CALLS
    PROMISE NOTHING
    BUT SHE OFFERS ALL

    SHE’S THE CHAMBERED ROUND
    IN THE MAGAZINE
    SHE’S THE FIRST ONE OUT
    BUT THE EXIT’S CLEAN

    WHEN SHE FIRST WALKS BY
    YOU FEEL DRAINED AND BLED
    WITH THOSE ARCTIC EYES
    AS SHE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID

    SHE SAID

    OH YEAH

    WHEN SHE APPEARS
    ALWAYS CENTER STAGE
    BUT WHEN THE SPOTLIGHT COMES
    YOU KNOW SHE’LL DISENGAGE

    WITH A FELINE SMILE
    AND A WINK THAT’S SIN
    CAN’T SAY WHERE SHE GOES
    ONLY WHERE SHE’S BEEN

    SHE’S THE CHAMBERED ROUND
    IN THE MAGAZINE
    SHE’S THE FIRST ONE OUT
    BUT THE EXITS CLEAN

    SHE’S GOT ARCTIC EYES
    SHE’S ELECTRA GLIDE
    THE NIGHT BETS ON HER
    AND YOU JUST LET IT RIDE

    THE WHEEL KEEPS TURNIN’
    MY MIND KEEPS LEARNIN’
    THE NIGHT STILL BURNIN’

    LET IT RIDE

    THE DAWN IS CLOSE
    THE DARK RETREATS
    THE WORLD’S STILL HERE
    THE HEART STILL BEATS

    TIME GOES ON
    THE EARTH STILL TURNS
    AND WITH THE NIGHT
    SHE WILL RETURN

    SHE’S THE CHAMBERED ROUND
    IN THE MAGAZINE
    SHE’S THE FIRST ONE OUT
    BUT THE EXIT’S CLEAN

    WHEN SHE FIRST WALKS BY
    YOU FEEL DRAINED AND BLED
    WITH THOSE ARCTIC EYES
    AS SHE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID

    THE DICE KEEP EARNING
    THEY KEEP RETURNING
  8. FORGET ABOUT THE BLAME - SUN VERSIONLyrics

    FORGET ABOUT THE BLAME - SUN VERSION

    I WASN'T SURE WHAT YOU WERE THINKING
    I SAW A DISTANCE IN YOUR EYES
    THE PASSION WE ONCE HAD IS FADING
    INTO THE WHIRLWIND OF OUR LIVES

    BUT YOU SIT RIGHT THERE
    LIKE YOU DON'T CARE
    IF WE TRY REAL HARD
    WE'LL GET SOMEWHERE 'CAUSE

    IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LOVIN'
    IT'S NOT ABOUT THE PAIN
    TELL ME WHAT YOUR HEART SAYS
    FORGET ABOUT THE BLAME

    IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LOVIN'
    IT'S NOT ABOUT THE PAIN
    TELL ME WHAT YOUR HEART SAYS
    FORGET ABOUT THE BLAME

    FORGET ABOUT THE BLAME

    IF LOVE IS STRONG THEN WE WILL MAKE IT
    THE BURNED OUT FLAME WE CAN RELIGHT
    THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO
    I'M NOW A PART OF YOU AND
    I CAN'T TAKE LIVING SEPARATE LIVES

    BUT YOU SIT RIGHT THERE
    LIKE YOU DON'T CARE
    AND YOU TELL ME THAT YOUR LIFE'S NOT FAIR
    BUT WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN CROSS TO BEAR

    IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LOVIN'
    IT'S NOT ABOUT THE PAIN
    TELL ME WHAT YOUR HEART SAYS
    FORGET ABOUT THE BLAME

    IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LOVIN'
    IT'S NOT ABOUT THE PAIN
    TELL ME WHAT YOUR HEART SAYS
    FORGET ABOUT THE BLAME

    IT'S ALL FOR THE LOVE
    IT'S ALL FOR THE LOVE
    IT'S ALL FOR THE LOVE
    IT'S NOT ABOUT THE PAIN

    OUR TWO HEARTS BEAT THE SAME

    FORGET THE BLAME
    IT'S ALL FOR LOVE
    IT'S NOT FOR PAIN
    FORGET THE BLAME

    IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LOVIN'
    IT'S NOT ABOUT THE PAIN
    JUST TELL ME WHAT YOUR HEART SAYS
    FORGET ABOUT THE BLAME

    IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LOVIN'
    IT'S NOT ABOUT THE PAIN
    TELL ME WHAT YOUR HEART SAYS
    FORGET ABOUT THE BLAME

    IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LOVIN'
    IT'S NOT ABOUT THE PAIN
    TELL ME WHAT YOUR HEART SAYS
    FORGET ABOUT THE BLAME

    FORGET ABOUT THE BLAME
    FORGET ABOUT THE BLAME
    FORGET ABOUT THE BLAME
  9. NOT DEAD YETLyrics

    NOT DEAD YET

    COLD CASH
    QUICK DASH
    DON’T HAVE NOTHING ELSE I CAN SAY

    COPS COME
    CAN’T RUN
    LAWYERS JUST GOTTA DELAY

    WHAT CRIME?
    SUNSHINE
    CAN’T BE ANYTHING THAT I DID

    I WAS USED
    SO CONFUSED
    DEBTS WOULD MOUNT
    COULDN’T COUNT
    BUT I NEVER DID NOTHING I HID

    GOTTA JUST LAY LOW
    TIME IS ON MY SIDE
    LET THE CLOCKS ROLL ON
    SAY I CAN’T DECIDE
    LET THE CLOCKS ROLL ON
    I HAVE NO REGRETS

    LET THE CLOCKS ROLL ON
    LET THE CLOCKS ROLL ON
    LET THE CLOCKS ROLL ON
    ‘CAUSE I’M NOT DEAD YET

    WILD CHILD
    NICE STYLE
    FASHION IS WHAT EVER YOU WEAR

    NO SIN
    BEGINS
    UNDERSTANDING WHO REALLY CARES

    IT’S FREE
    WITH A SMALL FEE
    WHEN WORDS DON’T MEAN WHAT THEY SAY

    CALL THEM OUT
    LET ‘EM DOUBT
    LET ‘EM SWEAT
    WITH REGRET
    THAT THEIR GAME, YOU’LL NO LONGER PLAY

    GOTTA JUST LAY LOW
    TIME IS ON MY SIDE
    LET THE CLOCKS ROLL ON
    SAY I CAN’T DECIDE
    LET THE CLOCKS ROLL ON
    I HAVE NO REGRETS

    LET THE CLOCKS ROLL ON
    LET THE CLOCKS ROLL ON
    LET THE CLOCKS ROLL ON
    ‘CAUSE I’M NOT DEAD YET
  10. PAST TOMORROWLyrics

    PAST TOMORROW

    LAST NIGHT DREAMT I WAS FALLING
    A NEW BORN THROUGH THE YEARS
    LONG BEFORE I KNEW SORROW
    LONG BEFORE I KNEW FEAR

    I TRIED NOT TO AWAKEN
    CLUNG TO THIS CHILDHOOD’S SLEEP
    AFRAID ALL MIGHT BE TAKEN
    BUT SLEEP LIKE CHILDHOODS CEASE

    CHILDHOODS CEASE

    A STREET OF ALL ILLUSIONS
    THAT WERE SO REAL TO ME
    BUT ARE THEY TRUE ILLUSIONS
    IF THEY ARE ALL YOU SEE

    THE STARS KEEP ALL OUR SECRETS
    SAFE IN THE NIGHT THEY DWELL
    AND AFTER TIME ETERNAL
    THEY ALL STILL LISTEN WELL

    WHERE OUR HOPES HAD SOMEHOW GROWN
    SOMETHING I HAD NEVER KNOWN
    SOMEHOW THEY HAD CROSSED THE DARK UNNOTICED

    FAR ENOUGH TO WISH UPON
    THEN RETURN AND CARRY ON
    STARS WILL WHISPER TO THE NIGHT
    BEHOLD THIS

    LIFE IS REAL
    BUT SO OUR GHOST
    SIDE BY SIDE
    ALONG TIMES COAST
    AND TO OTHERS
    WE WALK ON UNNOTICED

    ETERNITY
    ITSELF HAS SHORES
    WE WILL MEET
    AGAIN ONCE MORE
    OF ALL THERE IS
    TO LEARN IN LIFE

    PLEASE KNOW THIS
    I WILL BE THERE
    CHILDHOODS SLEEP
    CHILDHOOD SLEEPS

    I WILL BE
  11. STAYLyrics

    STAY

    HEY CHILD
    OUT ON YOUR OWN
    YOU NEVER LOOKED BACK
    NEVER CALLED HOME
    YOU NEVER TURNED ‘ROUND
    TELL ME THE GAMES THAT YOU PLAYED

    NIGHT TIME
    WANDER THE STREET
    YOU NEVER GIVE GROUND
    NEVER RETREAT
    YOU’RE ALWAYS OZ BOUND
    HAVE ALL THE DREAMS BEEN BETRAYED

    STAY
    HERE WHERE THE DREAMS TEND TO STRAY
    HERE YOU’RE SAFE

    WHEN THE NIGHT
    FADES AWAY
    WHEN THE NIGHT
    FADES AWAY

    HEY THERE
    OZ REFUGEE
    YOU TOOK THE WRONG ROAD
    HATTERS AND TEA
    ARE ALL THAT YOU FOUND
    OUT ON THE GREAT WHITE WAY

    TIMES CHANGE
    YOU NEVER DID
    LIFE CAME
    YOU OVERBID
    JOIN US
    VESSELS OF COURVOISIER

    STAY
    HERE WHERE THE DREAMS TEND TO STRAY
    HERE YOU’RE SAFE

    WHEN THE NIGHT
    FADES AWAY
    WHEN THE NIGHT
    FADES AWAY
  12. NOT THE SAMELyrics

    NOT THE SAME

    I HEARD A NOTE
    IN THE DARK
    WHERE IT SLIPPED INTO MY MIND
    AND SOMEHOW STILL REMAINS

    TIME COMES AND GOES
    EBBS AND FLOWS
    AND SOMEHOW THAT SINGLE NOTE
    STILL RINGS ON AND SUSTAINS

    FOR I NEED SOMEONE
    NOT JUST ANYONE
    FOR WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE
    ANYONE
    ANYONE
    ELSE
    IS NOT THE SAME

    THERE WAS A SOUL IN THE DARK
    AND IT FLIES ACROSS THE NIGHT
    TOWARDS A FAR DISTANT FLAME

    CROSS FOREST AND STREETS, EVERY BEAT
    KEEPS IT MOVING TOWARDS A GOAL
    IT MAY NEVER OBTAIN

    FOR IT NEEDS SOMEONE
    NOT JUST ANYONE
    FOR WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE
    ANYONE
    ANYONE
    ELSE
    IS NOT THE SAME

    YOU WERE THE HOPE THAT I KEPT
    SECRETLY INSIDE AND BY
    MY WHOLE LIFE IT WAS FRAMED

    SOME NEVER SAW OR SUSPECTED
    THAT IT WAS THERE AND I
    ALL ALONE KNEW YOUR NAME

    FOR WE NEED SOMEONE
    NOT JUST ANYONE
    FOR WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE
    ANYONE
    ANYONE
    ELSE
    IS NOT THE SAME
  13. WHO I AMLyrics

    WHO I AM

    ALL THESE DAYS THAT LAY BEFORE ME
    ALL THESE DAYS THAT LAY BEHIND
    DOES TIME JUST GO ON FOREVER
    WHOSE DECISION
    WHOSE DESIGN

    DEATH LIFE
    WRONG RIGHT
    PRAY WILL YOU TELL ME
    WHO DECIDES

    DARK NIGHT
    DAYS LIGHT
    PRAY WILL YOU TELL ME
    WHO DIVIDES

    EVERY YEAR CONTAINS ITS SEASONS
    SUMMER, WINTER, SPRING AND FALL
    SOME PASS FASTER THAN THE OTHERS
    SOME FORGOTTEN SOME RECALLED

    LONG SHORT
    OWNED BOUGHT
    GATHERING TRINKETS
    FROM TIMES TIDES

    RICH THOUGHTS
    LOST SOUGHT
    STILL THE CLOCK TURNS
    AND CAN’T BE BRIBED

    I KNOW
    I SEE
    I HEAR
    DO YOU UNDERSTAND

    THE COST
    IN YEARS
    IN TEARS
    THE WEIGHT OF THE DAMNED

    THAT BUILD
    TO LAKES
    THEN WAKE
    AND FLOOD CROSS THE LAND

    WE WATCH
    THE WAVES
    CARVE OUT
    THEIR PRE-ORDAINED PLANS

    EACH LIFE
    EACH GRAVE
    AND THEN
    FILL EACH ONE WITH SAND

    LISTEN WHAT I SAY
    TIME DOES NOT BETRAY
    EVERY MOMENT CAST
    GUARANTEED TO PASS

    EVERY MOMENT CLOSE
    SOON TO TURN TO GHOST
    SOME TO DISAPPEAR
    OTHERS SHADOWS CLEAR

    SHADOWS WITHOUT LIGHT
    SOON BECOME JUST NIGHT
    LEAVING IN OUR MIND
    WHAT IS LEFT BEHIND

    DO YOU HEAR WHAT I SAY
    EVERY LIFE’S NUMBERED DAYS
    JOINED WITH HOURGLASS SAND
    FEEL IT RUN THROUGH YOUR HANDS

    STILL THEN NO ONE KNOWS NOW
    THE TRUE WHY WHEN AND HOW
    AND WHEN TIME’S OUT OF SAND
    WILL THEY KNOW WHO I…
    AM
  14. LULLABY NIGHTLyrics

    LULLABY NIGHT

    (Instrumental)
  15. FORGET ABOUT THE BLAME - MOON VERSION (Lzzy Hale)Lyrics

    FORGET ABOUT THE BLAME - MOON VERSION (Lzzy Hale)

    I WASN'T SURE WHAT YOU WERE THINKING
    I SAW A DISTANCE IN YOUR EYES
    THE PASSION WE ONCE HAD IS FADING
    INTO THE WHIRLWIND OF OUR LIVES

    BUT YOU SIT RIGHT THERE
    LIKE YOU DON'T CARE
    IF WE TRY REAL HARD
    WE'LL GET SOMEWHERE 'CAUSE

    IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LOVIN'
    IT'S NOT ABOUT THE PAIN
    TELL ME WHAT YOUR HEART SAYS
    FORGET ABOUT THE BLAME

    IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LOVIN'
    IT'S NOT ABOUT THE PAIN
    TELL ME WHAT YOUR HEART SAYS
    FORGET ABOUT THE BLAME

    FORGET ABOUT THE BLAME

    IF LOVE IS STRONG THEN WE WILL MAKE IT
    THE BURNED OUT FLAME WE CAN RELIGHT
    THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO
    I'M NOW A PART OF YOU AND
    I CAN'T TAKE LIVING SEPARATE LIVES

    BUT YOU SIT RIGHT THERE
    LIKE YOU DON'T CARE
    AND YOU TELL ME THAT YOUR LIFE'S NOT FAIR
    BUT WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN CROSS TO BEAR

    IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LOVIN'
    IT'S NOT ABOUT THE PAIN
    TELL ME WHAT YOUR HEART SAYS
    FORGET ABOUT THE BLAME

    IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LOVIN'
    IT'S NOT ABOUT THE PAIN
    TELL ME WHAT YOUR HEART SAYS
    FORGET ABOUT THE BLAME

    IT'S ALL FOR THE LOVE
    IT'S ALL FOR THE LOVE
    IT'S ALL FOR THE LOVE
    IT'S NOT ABOUT THE PAIN

    OUR TWO HEARTS BEAT THE SAME

    FORGET THE BLAME
    IT'S ALL FOR LOVE
    IT'S NOT FOR PAIN
    FORGET THE BLAME

    IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LOVIN'
    IT'S NOT ABOUT THE PAIN
    JUST TELL ME WHAT YOUR HEART SAYS
    FORGET ABOUT THE BLAME

    IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LOVIN'
    IT'S NOT ABOUT THE PAIN
    TELL ME WHAT YOUR HEART SAYS
    FORGET ABOUT THE BLAME

    IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LOVIN'
    IT'S NOT ABOUT THE PAIN
    TELL ME WHAT YOUR HEART SAYS
    FORGET ABOUT THE BLAME

    FORGET ABOUT THE BLAME
    FORGET ABOUT THE BLAME
    FORGET ABOUT THE BLAME

Letters From The Labyrinth is TSO's first full-length album since 2009's Night Castle. Fans who purchase tickets to the 2015 Winter Tour will be among the first to hear it.

The overall concept is based on TSO's "Night Castle" (2009) and a dialogue between the wisdom of the past and the hopes for the future, via a correspondence between a child and an old friend of the child's grandfather.

On "Letters From The Labyrinth" TSO deals with subjects as broad as humanity's journey through the ages ("Time & Distance"), and as specific as bullying ("Not The Same"), the fall of the Berlin Wall ("Prometheus") and the world banking controversies ("Not Dead Yet").

Release Date November 13, 2015

Produced By Paul O'Neill

Co-Produced By Dave Wittman

Recording & Mix Engineer Dave Wittman