Fates Warning - Guardian Lyrics
These walls are stained engraved with pain
You will find them under shadows casting shame
Some it's all they've ever known
Angels of the fortunate sons come and go...
You may not
Guardians and the Reaper fight
The will to live shall win
Mares of hope ride through their dreams
Blinding light awakens sleeping dawn
It seems it was all a dream, an endless dream
I will wish upon a star
I believe in you and if my will has strayed afar
I remembered you
Will you remember me
Penance unabsolved
Answer me, save my will
Have you forgotten me
Pace the hallway blindman
For a million miles of stars
His mind has seen.
Think you may he lives in darkness
We're the dark he's seen the light of dream
Karen, she's been asleep forever
I know she hears me
She has so much to say,
The machine shoots sparks
Through her eggshell mind
A tear streams from her face
Into my hand, into my heart
I'm a fire without a flame
A helpless child without a name
With broken wings catch me I'm falling
I'm a question with no answer
Who are you that takes my life away from me
Unveil the boundaries of the black
I had a dream I was you strong as the fire
In your veins then when I called out your
Name I would remain to witness the pain
I am beyond silent black I will be back
As your guardian
Angels in white you have sacrificed
You witness and bury the pain
You walk hand and hand with the fear stricken child
Strengthen the weak and the lame
Have you seen beyond the unborn
The pillar of penance and lore
Perpetual journey into the realm
The sovereign servitor
Other Lyrics by Artist
- Fates Warning - Pale Fire
- Fates Warning - Something From Nothing
- Fates Warning - Still Remains
- Fates Warning - Disconnected Part 2
- Fates Warning - Left Here
- Fates Warning - Simple Human
- Fates Warning - River Wide Ocean Deep
- Fates Warning - Another Perfect Day
- Fates Warning - Heal Me
- Fates Warning - Pieces Of Me
- Fates Warning - So
- Fates Warning - One
- Fates Warning - The Strand
- Fates Warning - Shelter Me
- Fates Warning - Island In The Stream
- Fates Warning - Down To The Wire
- Fates Warning - Face The Fear
- Fates Warning - Monument
Rand Lyrics
- Fun Lovin' Criminals - There Was A Time
- Fun Lovin' Criminals - Dickholder
- Fun Lovin' Criminals - Little Song
- Fun Lovin' Criminals - Kill The Bad Guy
- Fun Lovin' Criminals - Too Hot
- Fun Lovin' Criminals - Stray Bullet
- Fun Lovin' Criminals - Living On The Streets
- Fun Lovin' Criminals - Lost It All
- Fun Lovin' Criminals - Friday Night
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Fates Warning Guardian Comments
Fav album ever. John Arch was so unique. One of a kind. I cried man.
🙏🏻🤘🏻
fucking great music forever.
Classic metal ballad not cheesy at all
Fuck u. You tube.
First song on playlist in my 87 iroc z Camaro good song to cruise to.
A very beautiful and perfect song. I never tire of listening to it !
I honestly don't know what he is saying until the chorus, but he sounds good.
Those were the golden Metal Times! A song for eternity.
This one of my favorite albums of all time. I loved Fates with Arch singing. Takes me way way back.
Best intro to a song...*ever*
live version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65WcSaKdigE
one of the best epic album ever written
Musicão do caralho!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
fajne, bardzo mi sie podoba
That album cover awakens such obscure lore within my imagination.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheMetalABCs/
I used to jam this album
While burning a good one before going to my high school dances in the mid 80s! Fates are fucking amazing!;John Arch,or Ray Alder, it doesn't matter ! !!
Loved these guys since I was a kid. I saw them in Chicago with John Arch in '86. Incredible.
The vocal phrasing combined with his range, unmatched ! Jon Arch 👍
I have this on vinyl good album
Sounds like Armed and Dangerous by Anthrax at first.
One of the greatest Metal songs of all time! John Arch!
Kumodraž je sa vama braćo.
Old memories!
Masterpiece
Had almost forgotten this song after..yeah, like 30 years till I just finally finished up playing The Last Guardian on PS4, and this song came back to me...the "I had a dream I was you" part still gets me. Now to find their song "Damnation".
one of the most epic prog metal song of all times
still sikk as phuck
This shit reminds me of something I've never heard before.
That's because you haven't heard anything like it before, that's the whole point! It's not shit, maybe it's your brain that can't process how good Fates Warning is. Personally, I ALWAYS gravitate to the music more than the vocals, the vocals sometimes draw me with some bands, but the music usually is what gets me to either like or dislike any song or band. That said, most of the growly vocals in metal turns me off and disrupts my ability to hear the music behind it, so inevitably I am almost always turned off by that stuff. John Arch's vocals - as I mention above in the wrong comment thread, I see more as an instrument on it's own, which happens to harmonize with the other instruments in Fates Warning. Furthermore, John Arch put out some solo material years after this album came out, his styling hadn't changed much, but it does seem to be a bit clearer. Give his solo song, "Cheyenne" a listen and see if it appeals to you a little more, it is softer at times and heavy at times and it is a longer song than the norm but it is poignant and incredible. Hopefully it changes your mind a little bit.
the meaning of sorrow
Heard 'em first here and now, they just blew my socks off
John arch is one of the most under-rated vocalist. Especially this song. Just listen to the harmonies and the melody lines. It always bring a tear to my eye when I hear this song. Its so nice to hear a SINGER, not someone that is growling. This is from an era when you had to be able to sing to front a band. Anyone can growl.
As much as I prefer clean vocals, growling is extremely difficult and straining and I personally don't know a single singer who can do it properly.
This is by far my personal favorite album of all time. From beginning to end this is a masterpiece.
Wer das nicht geil findet hat NULL Ahnung von Musik!
Beautifully mesmerizing.
Greatest prog metal balad ever.
Greatest Prog metal band EVER! *drops the mic*
number one of all progmetal songs ever
This is from my teen years. Saw them on this tour in Rhode Island
the best intro ever
Drips with emotion-perfect in every way.
this song isn't music it's art.touches my heart
Anastasia Castrovillo ...I thought music was an art form?
Music is just an art form.
Why do people hate on the vocals? I really like them.
+Skullsplitter although I really like this band I can understand some reasons why. The extremely throaty vocals and very strong American accent can sound a bit annoying.
7dayspking -- American accent? What, are British accents preferred? No, wait, horrible Swedish accents are preferred, amarite?
Arch sounds like every run of the mill power/prog vocalist? He has one of the most distinct voices I've ever heard and I don't think I've ever heard vocal melodies like his in any other metal or rock band. Sure his singing is a bit nasal and throaty but not overly so and he hardly has a particularly strong accent.
@Rickey T The reason why people like John Arch's vocals is because they are tone-deaf idiots.
@Petri Helenius Don't like the vocals? Fuck you!!
I copy/pasted this from somewhere else on the web but this song is apparently about:
"....that this song is a dedication to all the handicapped people, and John Arch's brother in particular. He said in an interview: "I have a brother who is quadrapaligic and has no will left, but for some reason outlives his life expectancy by almost 20 years. That inspired the mood for that song."
He also said: "This past year Jim asked me to sing Guardian with them and after the show a guy walked up to me and told me he had been in a bad accident and he was told he probably wouldn't walk again. He said while he was in the hospital listening to Guardian he realized the message and what it meant to him. I felt really good knowing it helped him through a tough time in his life."
I've been listening to Fates Warning and been a massive fan of their music since the first song I heard, when I bought the "Best of Metal Blade, volume one" in 1984 on cassette. I bought the compilation tape just to get a sample of the different bands that I have never heard previously, I also bought volume two the following year. Both of those cassettes I stretched out years ago and could only get volume one on CD since. Best two sample CDs I have ever purchased and they introduced me to bands that blow my mind STILL. Fates Warning is at the top of the list. John Arch's vocals are at times very difficult to understand, but they blend in so well with the heaviness and cohesiveness of the song structures. I view Arch's voice to being an instrument on it's own and it fits perfectly, if I don't fully understand what he is saying then it doesn't really matter until I can find a lyric sheet to read.
I meant to post this under the next comment. Sorry.
This song is like Pantera's Hollow or Metallica's One. Standing next to someone one who is helpless is like looking into the soul of a person who is deep pain that they cannot escape. Music is so healing in these kinds of circumstances I feel, because it has helped me with my broken soul. God I love this song John Arch is one hell of a singer.
Omg I think I just nuted in my pants!! I'm gonna be listening to band they're touring with the new queensryche as well !!
These walls are stained, engraved with pain
You will find them under shadows
Casting shame
Some it's all they'll ever know
Angels of the fortunate sons come and go
You may not
Entities pass in the night
Guardians and the reaper's fight
The will to live shall win
Mares of hope ride through their dreams
Blinding light awakens sleepin' dawn it seems
It was all a dream, an endless dream
I will wish upon a star, I believe in you
And if my will has strayed afar
I remembered you, will you remember me?
I the one you sentenced, penance unabsolved
Answer me, save my will
Have you forgotten me?
Pace the hallway blind man
For a million miles of stars
His mind has seen
Think you may he lives in darkness
We're the dark
He's seen the light of dream
Karen's been asleep forever
I know she hears me
She has so much to say
Machine shoots sparks through her egg shell mind
Tears stream from her face
Unto my hand, to my heart
I will wish upon a star, I believe in you
And if my will has strayed afar
I remembered you, will you remember me?
I'm the one you sentenced
Penance unabsolved
Answer me, save my will
I'm a fire without a flame
Helpless child without a name
With broken wings, catch me I'm falling
I'm a question with no answer who are
You that takes my life away from me
Unveil the boundaries of the black
I had a dream I was you
Strong as the fire in my veins
And when I called out your name
I would remain to witness the pain
I am beyond silent black
I will be back as your guardian
Angels in white you have sacrificed
You witness and bury the pain
You walk hand and hand with the fear stricken child
Strengthen the weak and the lame
Have you seen beyond the unborn?
Pillar of penance and lore
Perpetual journey into the realm
The sovereign servitor
I will wish upon a star, I believe in you
And if my will has strayed afar
I remembered you, will you remember me?
I the one you sentenced, penance unabsolved
Answer me, save my will
Have you forgotten me?
Answer me, save my will
Have you forgotten me?
Answer me, save my will
Have you forgotten me?
Answer me, save my will
Have you forgotten me?
Songwriters
JIM MATHEOS, JOHN ARCH
Bloodmoondream thx
Music goes to Jim. Lyrics are all John.
you said that right!
Thanks for printing the lyrics of this great song.
kick ass i can hear where Dream Theather comes . this fill the fap between Rush and them
Fill the fap?
*feel the fap
MrStefan124 lolz
Ahahahaah what?
anything but the fap alekhandro!
The Dwarf has good taste.
I think this song is about a young boy, or young man, in a hospital wondering if god (or in particular the young man's guardian angel) has given up on him. I'm not religious, but Fates Warning make a lot of references to the Bible in their early work. The reason I think it's set in a hospital (possibly a mentally ill hospital) is because of the characters of the Blind Man and Karen (who's been asleep forever, sounds either like a coma, or mental illness that effects her and the blind man who speaks of dreams).
Also in the song the young man has a dream where he sees himself through the eyes of his guardian angel ("I had a dream where I was you, strong as the fires in my veins") after which he no longer has lost the will to live (mentioned in the beginning of the song) as he was remembered in the end.
A pretty strange concept. That's my view on it anyway, have a read of the lyrics and tell me what you think?
@Andrew Kramer I agree. Really like when it's fresh and deep like that. Helloween - Future Word, like it also. Fates Warning is so underrated. Going to see Iron Maiden here in Göteborg att Ullevi 17 June. Will be amazing. Listen to Seether - Rise Above. It's about how the singer Sean lost his brother, he killed himself. About living with the memories but still Rise Above it. Mend yourself.
+Andrew Kramer reminds me of pink floyd style lyrics....I just discovered Fates Warning and Ghost and I have to say I really like them....this is the kind of songwriting style I use....I do not like labels but when people ask I say my/our music is Progternadelic Rock (Progressive-Alternative Psycedelic Rock) lol
Gore Bag close but its actualy about a blind guy who lost his sight in a bad axcident and the rest that you say is right he thinks his gardian forgot about him
Music and its lyrics is like a famous artist's work and open to interpretation. So if it works for your minds eye this way embrace it lovingly and share the song with others who may not have heard of this great metal band.
Every religion has its guardians, from what I can tell the ones we have in the Christian religion are malfunctioning...at the least.
nearly 30 years on.... still a masterpiece
this band is great and they are from my home state
What you if all
I know he's not deaf....if you read my post i said John arch died when he left fates and vice versa.....there careers collapsed without each other....i meant it metiphorically
+Anthony Marez I absolutely agree. Fates did their thing. Moved on, but never reached the heights that was destined for them with John. In an alternate universe, they're still together and put out 30 years of the most amazing metal music ever written.
Excellent.
Hell yeah a very underated band.where did they go?
@Eric Denson Playing keep it true with the original line up in 2016 in Germany, also still playing with the new line up.
going to see them 102415 in houston they are still touring seen them 3 times in last 3 years
Still around but sound different since Ray Adler is the singer.
However Arch and Matheos did do an album a couple years ago under the name arch/matheos that might be of interest to you.
The drawing looks like a picture of Cern in all its confusion
Good song!
By passing i mean leaving, cuz when he left the band fates and him both passed, imho what might have been...lol
+Randy Jones Not sure why you're directing these quotes at me unless you're trying to tell me something in which case I will quote, "My opinion is just a point of view and your position is the other side".
+Bloodmoondream I know that I don't know you and you couldn't know me , but time and space collided and here we are , here we are I know that you don't understand and I can't explain , but circumstances conspired and here we are , here we are ....
+Randy Jones I never was much into this type of game playing plus I'm to old for that anyway. My whole point of posting is to make people realize or remind people that when it comes to music it's all subjective so it's pointless to argue over. Trying to sway someone who is looking for guidance is one thing but so often I see people arguing over who's better and being very belligerent when it's pointless and sickening. Comparing musicians abilities as to who's better is different. For example, Kurt Cobain, as amazing of a songwriter and vocalist that he was, he would never have been able to play guitar for a band like Fates Warning or say Dream Theater. Now I expect someone to reply with something like "Nirvana sucks". Well then there we go again when comparing bands. That's that person's opinion and who knows, that persons opinion might change some day with age and maturity…or not. It's all subjective to the listener.
On a side note, what blows my mind, is a lot of these metal bands like FW from back in the day were writing amazing music AND lyrics of great intelligence, poetry & maturity when they were still teens or young adults. I was never capable of doing that at that age nor did I know anyone personally that was.
+Bloodmoondream lol sorry dude , I was just waiting to blurt out some pleasant shade of grey lyrics before my time passed . I've been a Fates Warning fan since 1989 or 90 , I haven't even met many other people that knows who fates warning is so I go crazy on their post . I love both Fates albums with Kevin Moore as much as anybody , sorry I tried to push ya . O.S.I is amazing as well though lol
+Randy Jones No worries. You actually handled my comments extremely well. Been a fan since around '87, not long before you. I haven't been following them like I should but the first couple of Redemption albums sound just like FW w/Ray imo. Check them out if you haven't already.
If,John Arch wouldn't have passed fates warning would have had much more success, they're akin to maiden, Dream theater, among many others,idc when the music was made,I listen to music and imo fates warning was way before there time,R.I.P.J.A., who cares about an album cover, open your mind not your mouth
@Anthony Marez He's not dead.
+Anthony Marez But Alder is freakin amazing too! I dont think theres a need to compare them.
John Arch is not dead, you mean he left Fates Warning long ago.
they just wrote prettier music with John Arch
Dante Digiulio yes . Their best albums
#FATES WARNING~ Guardian < sj~13 #Progressive Metal ...awaken the guardian
That logo is so cheesy...
@ganondorfchampin I'm surprised you found fates warning , they're not a house hold name. Then the only thing you can say is "the logo is so cheesy". Have you even listened to any of their albums ? You are what people label "troll".
@Randy Jones I'm a progressive metal fan, of course I found them. No, I have not listened to all of their albums, but just for your information this song is in my favorites playlist. I'm saying their logo is cheesy because it is, so is the song, but it's the good cheesy that got me into [power] metal in the first place.
@ganondorfchampin They got better after Ray Alder and Mark Zonder joined them , they made 11 studio albums and only used that logo on the first 4 . Parallels by Fates Warning is my favorite all time album and it definitely fits the prog lable. I'm my opinion they are one of the few bands who kept getting better and better .
Just going to say I freaking love Savatage.
@ganondorfchampin Warriors , WARRIORS!!! Warriors of the world.
Early "Metal Church" had the same situation great singer first two album's then boom he was out for a pansy singer
@Snixelmix Nyx The hell? Mike Howe is an amazingly talented singer, you can't compare Wayne with him because they don't have the same voice range same goes for Bruce and Blaze but they are all amazing singers and kick ass at what they do and I'm sorry to say that but Mike Howe was the best replacement Wayne could have for the church and he nailed almost all of his songs live, plus the three Howe era albums are still considered to be some of the best materials they ever made according to the fans... But I have to agree with you that the replacement for Arch was kinda disappointing, I stopped loving FW as much as I used to when he left the band.
+Snixelmix Nyx Everything changes, it's the constant of life. I jam all Metal Church with equal love of it's own quality, each album being it's own combination of factors. Same with Fates Warning. Same with Sabbat. Same with the multiple singers of Black Sabbath. The sound matters and is it's own being, and change always brings critics. Awaken the Guardian will always be my fave album from youth, but No Exit totally kicked ass.
Ray alder is far from a pansy! You better listen to NO EXIT pal!!!
Had to order this album through the mail my record store didn't have it. Oh simple 80's I miss you.
Wow still amazing after all these years.This CD lives in infamy.John please make more music.
Have you heard the Arch/Matheos record? It had a bunch of nominations for best prog album of the year and it got great reviews by fans and critics.
+Jagen H'ghar It was pretty alty unfortunately, not really inline with their speed metal roots.
this is raw blackened speed metal
The most brutal sound ever created
@Banda Vesúvio Fates Warning!? At that time they were power progressive metal... Didnt know that you could sing like Bruce Dickinson and be in a black metal band....
@Nick Christ I think we were both being sarcastic, at least I was
@Nick Christ lol... smartass
@Nick Christ Blackened, not black. Meaning it has some influences from black concerning the instrumental part.
I prefer Ray Alder, but John Arch is also amazing.
As far as singers go I feel John Arch was so underrated in the 80s. Due to the fact that there was a certain kind of metal singer that fit the bill to make $$$ big bucks for the record companies. Stupid radio stations didn't even play them. I found them through some rock magazine, and I have been a fan forever. I had their tapes way back in the 80s.
Can't go through the whole song without getting emotional. This is what real good music does to you.
Everytime I hear "I had a dream I was you..." tears come down from my eyes.
@Robert Scott Right on. I know a lot has happened in [my] life since those days, but man where did the time go? I don't feel any different...Still just me...
Same here.Bad ass song.
@Keith Radons same i remember listening to this in high school back in the late 80s , still takes me back there
This song means so much to me!
This band is still badass but this is a great song one of the grestest songs ever!!!
After John Arch left I totally lost interest in this band..... He was way too unique to replace.
Mike Patton is also one of my Hero/Idols. Love that dude!
I always thought it would be cool to see Mike Patton, Steve Via, Devin Townsend, Mike Mangini, Victor Wooten or Michael Manring, Jordan Rudess and Jeff Loomis do an album and show. Of course Mike Patton would need free reign use of his electronic gadgets including the face mask microphone.
Yep! That would be the Shiites!
If their Egos would allow it.
Nice drum work too BTW Scott!! Patton303
Right on. Thanks man...
+patton303 Sorry for the reply 2 years too late. But I agree. After John, FW turned into a pussified, pseudo-intellectual, energy-less, and depressed version of a bad Yes album. They were too interested in trying to show what great musicians and how "deep" they were. Boring ....
@EHou01
Apology not needed. Still relevant!
Am I the only one that thinks that John Arch's voice sounds a little like Sebastian Bach?
Oh well. Maybe it's just me then.
I think it has a unique sound to it. I like the tone of it. He sure can sing
Agreed. I don't think people give John Arch enough credit. He may not have been with Fates Warning for very long, but some of their best songs, like this one, came out during his time in the band.
I thought that the first couple albums with Ray Alder were pretty good because they stuck with the prog metal sound, but they did sell out shortly afterwards, especially on their 'Parallels' album.
yeah man
I seen a tab book for this whole album in a music store not long ago...I'm sure it's out there.
Can some1 make tabs for this song, i cant find it anywhere.
takes me back to my 20s..... now 44
Yeah these guys should be way more popular, raw talent here.
id forgotten about these mother fuckers
Oh my god sooo facinating. I love this band *.*
How am I just finding out about this band? o_O there's so good..
i just listenned to it on the radio it s a really nice band learning
wow is so perfect! hail FW!
I know a form of hearing loss when voices and music just sounds terrible. Voices blur together to unhearable bubbling and music is unbearable. Perhaps someone with those symptoms attempted to listen. I think this is good anyway!
your comment really sucks, dont know anything about good music, maybe you are just a bieber fan
Do you even know how tough it is to pull of that kind of range. Do you?
Rrrk that vocalist makes my ears bleed >.>
I had a Shakespeare professor who said driving through Utah was like driving through the Moon. I guess that's only the eastern portion though, yeah? The west is all desert and government land isn't it?
Amazing song, amazing band, great musicians fates warning rules!!!!
What a great band. A legendary band. A terrific band from the otherworldly land of Utah.
You know i agree with this. 100%
Amazing song.
That's John Arch ... Both are awesome singers!
I met Ray Adler when I was just in middle school. My brother brought him over to my house to party out, and he signed a baseball for me. Not sure what I did with the ball, but shit I wish I would have known who was in my house that day.
I can still smell the weed burning, and hear the empty cans of Budweiser beneath my feet as I stumble across my bedroom coming home from a badass concert. Thanks for the memory.
34 people will burn in hell
Not a bad song on this album,but,this one stands above all! Everything you could want in an arrangement. Motherfucker, I love this version of Fates! This is music!
This song is yet so simple but so progressive at the same time. Fates Warning is a really surprising band by many means.
what an album and what an album cover
timeless indeed!
all i had to do was read your comment in the 1st five seconds of this song to like it. before the first minute was up, I agreed with you.
very powerfull song