Cormorant - Waking Sleep lyrics

In the woods of Belarus, veiled in snow, the edifice awaits Horded close inside are the five, their every movement watched by delegates One by one they're led inside, vacancy becomes their truth to tend A voice from the ether, "The procedure is initiated." They open the vents The vapor settles in the temperate air The five waiting, holding their knees, scanning the room Finding nothing but rations, provisions that they promised Years of transgressions As they sit and wait, the memories give way to unnerving truth A simple trade of freedom, avowal to stay awake First day gone "Bear witness, my young allies, their sleep will never come." Five see dawn "No talent more instrumental. No need to lay with the sun." Fourth night, drawn, finds peace Program devised by men who couldn't know Deep in Belarus, under bureaucratic pall Wake to the seventh day, a sudden end to their colloquy Calm in the chamber now, an arithmetic anomaly Faintly whispers start, the paranoia becoming clear Joined in breathless tones, the five conspire An incoherent choir Watched through the gla** Under sway of the gas Aware of covert stares Silent but for their breath Gather proof to make their plans March in lines through woods of the North A faction born of desperate times Sleep a weakness to give forth The ninth begins like all the rest Take vital signs, conduct the tests The screaming starts, no forewarning Their agony is given speech The wailing lasts until sundown, a sudden end gives them pause A silence coating the chamber, the dread of something gone wrong And now the voice from the ether announces imminent breach And from the first they encounter, "We don't want to be freed." The five are lost, eyes to the paneled sky Their battered mouths speak in concert "We transcend d**h. We must remain awake. We are the madness within you." Wretched forms beat at the wall Left to dream their waking sleep