Imaginations From The Other Side

Firstly, Welcome back. After a long hiatus, I have decided to reengage the more imaginative aspects of my mind. But we have to catch up on lost time. 

A query that had me pondering all day today is the concept of lifespans. There is nothing infinite in terms of lifespan. EVERYTHING has a lifespan. Abstract or concrete. From the pebble that shall be crushed someday, to the ideologies that have since perished, from the friendships that have since fizzled to the warmth that shall soon disappear. Energy- one argued is eternal. And my counter argument was that there is a finite time before energy changes its form, and hence corresponds to my lifespan postulation. 

If the theological understanding of the afterlife is to be applied, like energy, there is merely a change of form (possibly substance?). 

My newfound nihilistic views on the concept of lifespan has little to do with my career aspirations. People die. That is a fact. Immortality is a myth and even myths confound to the lifespan postulation. But is that such a bad thing. That a natural end shall be the undoing of everything. 

Some memories are worth keeping, thus shall be taken to our graves. and others will perish as their time comes. Resurrecting them - giving them life- shall only serve to bring them back to life temporarily as they will then be on a borrowed lifespan. 

The most bitter of memories therefore shall always fade. 

But what happens to our other memories? As a child, I vividly remember living in an imaginarium, a world that was make belief of elves and princesses and monsters and heros. Finding a way to escape the confines of the mundane walls of my classroom, i'd drift away for hours at end, without a worry in the world. And time seemed to pass by so slowly back then. Fast forward 20 years and I am now a timechaser. One who is constantly disapproving the fact that 24 hours a day is not enough; idealists imagine, realists work at it. Hence the concept of an ideal world is still left begging, but the real world is often used to subjugate our dreams. 

Hansi Kürsch (with the Umlaut), lead vocalist of Blind Guardian (as well as lyricist) was a fan of JRR Tolkien. Brought up in a strict german family with little appreciation for literature, the rebel in Hansi ensured he got his hands on Tolkien's works ie The Silmarillion, LOTR and the Hobbit. His infatuation with fantasy would largely influence his lyrical style, as I shall demonstrate.

The song title is Imaginations from the other side. The song describes the world of fantasy and fairy tales that he grew up in reading Tolkien; 

I 

Where are these silent faces   

I took them all

They all went away

Now you're alone 

To turn out every light so deep in me 

Hold on, to late

II 

Will I ever see them back again 

Or did they all die by my hand 

Or where they killed

By the old evil ghost

Who had taken 

The ocean, Of all my dreams

Which were worth to keep

Deep inside my heart

I wish I, Could get them back

From the everflow 

Before they'll fade away

 III

Imaginations from the other side 

Far out of nowhere

It got back to my mind

Imaginations from the other side

Far out of nowhere

It got back to my mind

Out of the dark

Back to the light

Then I'll break down

The walls around my heart

Imaginations from the other side

 IV

Where's the ocean's daughter

Was Peter Pan in Mordor

"No one's there to keep alive" x3

All these fairy tales

V

May I return to Oz

Will I meet the "Tin Man"

"Coward Lion" where are you

Without brain the scarecrow's lost 

In the middle of the lake

 VI

Stranded in the real world

Left in a world

No place for daydreams

Serious life

I fall into, I fall into a dark hole

And I can't come out

 VII

Do you know if Merlin did exist

Or Frodo wore the ring

Did Corum kill the gods

Or where's the wonderland

Which young Alice had seen

Or was it just a dream

I knew the answers

Now they're lost for me

Chorus

 VIII

I hope there is a way back

With my talisman

So I look into myself

To the days when I was just a child

Come follow me to wonderland

And see the tale that never ends

Don't fear the lion nor the witch

I can't come back

I'm lost but still I know 

There is another world

Stanza I and II talks about the realisation that we have stifled our imaginations. the day dreaming prowess that was 20 years ago has faded as such we've become subservient to reality, often allowing the phrase 'reality bites' eschew the abstract. It reiterates Hansi's genuine regret that he has stopped phasing into his dreams and he cannot recollect when that happened. 

Stanza III highlights the nostalgic connotations that are brought about by imaginations from the other side.

Stanza IV reveals his ignorance. He confuses the oceans daughter - Poseiden's children the Nymphs of the sea, Peter Pan (ageless flying boy) and Mordor (capital of New Zealand:P). the inner conflict is for all to hear as he repeats the line "No one's there to keep alive"- stressing that the lack of input allows these memories to die out. 

Stanza V highlights the characters of Oz, Stanza VI reiterates the realities of the real world. 

Stanza VII is the pathfinding phase. He recollects each of the stories but does not know for sure. The Legend of Merlin, who for most parts is Mythical is a character that is present in all of Tolkein's works as Gandalf. The pioneer old bearded wizard, Merlin, who served as advisor to King Arthur, may actually be an amalgamation of many wise men- signifying the realisation that amidst the fairy tales there was some truth. that amidst the imaginations, answers were laid bare for all to see. Whether Frodo dealt with the ethical dilemma of integrity vs supremacy. Whether Corum from the Swords Trilogy overcame the sorcerers (Gods) Chaos and Law - advocating a path of righteousness between anarchy and tranquility. He then goes to add on that the wonderland Alice traverses is possibly a dream and therefore may not be fiction after all as it would be then based on a true story. As a child he knew all the answers, without knowing the questions. and now when the questions appear, he has found himself looking in depth for more answers.

Stanza VIII - he reiterates the importance of reliving his childhood (in particular the vivid imaginations he had). 

And for those who like the blog just for the pictures - here you go:)