Lyrics:

- john petrucci
[studio demo, available on the cd single for the song 'lie'. ]
[additional verse on this version, starting at 03:37, is kevin ]
[moore's last lyrical contribution to dream theater. ]
[a live version is also available on the fan club christmas cd 1998.]

If i'd started from the top
And worked my way down
There'd be no reason
To live forever
To live forever

The starvation has turned
Me outside in
And the wind has blown
Me halfway across the world
Across the world

Why was i born
In an age of distrust
I'd offered some change
For a photograph

It will always stay the same [**a**]
You will always be the same

Until i saw the desire for revenge
My heart never once went astray
As long as i have to die in the attempt
Then there is no reason
To live forever

I found you where [03:37]
They left you there
A passing word that's gone forever

And searching my memory for answers
I saw the words of a letter you wrote
She said 'you don't have to live forever,
You don't want to live forever.'
And everything's changing now,
I don't want to live forever.

[alternate ending - (live in tokyo home video)]
[beginning at **a** above. ]
It will always stay the same
Always be the same

Until i saw the desire for revenge
My heart never once went astray
As long as i have to die in the attempt
Then there is no reason
To live forever

Until i saw the desire for revenge
As long as i have to die in the attempt
If i had to charge the attack
Let me
No reason
No reason
No reason
No reason
To live forever

[alternate ending - (studio acoustic version - 'subconscious' cd)]
[recorded as james labrie's vocal audition in 1990. ]
[beginning at **a** above. ]
It will always stay the same
Always be the same

Until i show desire for revenge
My heart never once went astray
As long as i have to die in the attempt
Then there'd be no reason
To live forever

Until i show desire for revenge
As long as i have to die in the attempt
As long as i have to die in the attempt
Then there'd be no reason
No reason
No reason
To live forever
To live forever
'this just in from baghdad... seven patriot missiles
Have been spotted above cuba.'