The Temptation of St. Anthony

The Expats dragged their path along the arid road to Babylon Mornings dawned and twilights passed through hills and vales and cataracts They rode their lowly caravan across the barren borderlands But nothing living's living on that crooked road to Babylon Mother lead them safe to shelter father keep them in the cold Brother give your hand to help them lend your light and lead us home Beneath the tow'r of silence in the shadow of the seraphim Men and beasts discussed and trained the careful art of slow decay In time I noticed chips and cracks like webs across the hourglass Recall this was a dream of mine refraction symbols undefined Heed the man who tries to change you fear the things he tried to know Moving according to their own nature culling places as they go Take my body take my look take me as I never could It's only fair our iron should rust all you want is sand and dust Many tried and none got far but I know what you really are Masquerades and alibis spreading truths that fracture minds Father father everlasting shattered in a billion parts They will try to repossess that dangerous weight in both our hearts Everything's a simulation manufactured to protect Everyone is out to get you lay down amen Nothing living lives forever follow me into the void Bending at the faults of pleasure cut me when you're paranoid Halfway there again forever falling in cascade effect I can see this unendurable stasis what're we ready to forget