Ayreon - The Day That The World Breaks Down

[Chronicle 1: The Frame]
Location: Andromeda System: Planet Alpha
The Historian:
A brooding atmosphere of unease has been spreading over Alpha, a miasma of anxiety and fear that is almost palpable. And it's no wonder. These are critical times for the Alphan race. Our planet faces seemingly insurmountable ecological and political problems, and we are poised on the brink of extinction. Despite the Opposition Leader's fierce objections, the President has given the computer mainframe known as “The Frame” free reign to solve the worldwide crisis, whatever the cost. But computer intelligence has now far exceeded Alphan intellectual capacity and control. The “Frame” has assumed complete control, and has shut down nearly all vital computer-regulated systems. With all manual overrides disabled, it's been impossible for us to put the systems back online.

It looks as if the cold, rational intellect of the “Frame” has reached the logical conclusion that the only way to salvage planet Alpha is to eliminate the cause of all the problems: us.

[The Historian:]
A silence so deafening
As the stillness surrounds us
A rush of fear is surging through our veins

A shadow so menacing
Darkens our horizon
What have we done?
Is this the end
When death descends?

[The Opposition Leader:]
Don't say I didn't warn you
You'll recall my words
The day that the world breaks down

Don't claim you didn't see it
Are you prepared to die?
The day that the world breaks down

[The Chemist:]
I can't believe we're in danger
I can't believe that we've let it come this far

[The Counselor:]
We must prepare for the changes
We must prepare for
The day that the world breaks down

[The Opposition Leader:]
Don't expect we will survive this
There'll be no way back
The day that the world breaks down

Don't assume it's all a nightmare
We won't stand a chance
The day that the world breaks down

[The Chemist:]
I can't believe this is happening
I can't believe we are headed for a fall

[The Counselor:]
We must prepare for the blackening
We must prepare for
The day that the world breaks down

[The Prophet:]
I can feel it in my heart
I can see it in the stars
Behold: It's all been foretold
The future unfolds
The day that the world breaks down

[The Captain:]
I always knew this would happen
Not many believed in my cause
I'm sure they will all turn to me now
I'm sure I'm the only one
Who can save us

[TH-1:]
StarBlade

[The Captain:]
From this fate

[The Captain:]
I always knew they would need me
Not many showed faith in my plans
I'm sure they will listen to me now
I'm sure that I'm the only one

[TH-1:]
StarBlade

[The Captain:]
Who can save us
From this fate

[The Astronomer:]
Yes I believe you are the answer
Yes I agree you are the key
Your future lies in the heavens
Our future lies beyond the stars

[TH-1:]
StarBlade

[The Astronomer:]
We will save them

[TH-1:]
StarBlade

[The Astronomer:]
We will save them

[TH-1:]
StarBlade

[The Astronomer:]
From this fate

[TH-1:]
01110100 01110010 01110101
01110011 01110100 01010100
01001000
00110001

[The President:]
I must have been blind
I mean it should've been obvious
Straight out of my mind
To rely on a cold machine

The signs are strong
I know I was wrong
I know they will hate me now
But I will come clean
And destroy this cold machine

[The Diplomat:]
This is not over
Not as long as we're alive
If we join our forces
We will make it

This is not over
As a race we must survive
And in the end we'll cross this bridge... together

[The President:]
We're losing this fight
And yes - we got ourselves to blame
I guess it seems right
In the mind of the cold machine

I'll fix every flaw
I'll break every law
I'll tear up the rulebook
If that's what it takes
You will see
I will crush this cold machine

[The Diplomat:]
This is not over
I am sure we'll find a way
Out of this desperate situation

This is not over
Even if it all seems hopeless
For in the end we'll cross this bridge... together

[The Biologist:]
I can feel it in the air
The signs are everywhere
Communications grind to a halt
Traffic has stopped
The grid starts to fail
Planes crashing down
We're getting closer to
The day the world breaks down