[Music by Petrucci, Portnoy, Rudess, & Myung. Lyrics by Petrucci.]

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.


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?.


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?
Blackened silence?

No more screaming,
No more cries?.


Stunned and bewildered;
Cold and afraid;
Torn up 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,
And said, ?Take this for the pain.?


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?.


?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 okay??

He told me not to worry
As he turned and looked away.

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?.

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.

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