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E=mc²
Ayreon Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

It all came to me in the wake of a dream
Bending space and reversing the stream
The knowledge is mine to influence time
And avert our decline

We could use this to salvage mankind
Send projections into the past
As humanity fades in their minds
Let them know man won't last

It all came to me in the wake of a dream

This may be our last chance if we want man to survive
A mirror reflection
Show them our world as it dies
Cut through the barrier and do what no one has dared
Let's break the equation
E=MC2

Our first try was a minor success
No control, I can but guess
We have to move now, don't know just how
No mistakes are allowed
We can make no mistakes

I have sent it but nothing changes
Just a line in some nation lore
I don't know just how far it reaches
Everything's like before

It all came to me in the wake of a dream

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Ayreon's song E=mc² are about a scientist who has discovered a way to manipulate time and space in order to try and save mankind from extinction. The line "It all came to me in the wake of a dream" suggests that this revelation came to the scientist in a moment of epiphany, perhaps even in a dream. The scientist believes that they can use this knowledge to send projections of their dying world into the past so that people from earlier periods will know that humanity cannot survive without a major change. The line "Cut through the barrier and do what no one has dared" implies that this is a daring and dangerous idea, but one that is necessary to try and change the fate of humanity.


The scientist's first attempt is a "minor success," suggesting that they have some control over the process, but not enough to achieve their ultimate goal. The urgency of the situation is clear in the line "We have to move now, don't know just how / No mistakes are allowed." However, despite their efforts, the scientist finds that their message has not changed anything - "I have sent it but nothing changes / Just a line in some nation lore / I don't know just how far it reaches / Everything's like before." Ultimately, the song is a reflection on the limitations of human knowledge and the difficulties of trying to change the course of history.


Line by Line Meaning

It all came to me in the wake of a dream
The idea to use time travel to prevent humanity's decline came to me in a dream


Bending space and reversing the stream
Our ability to influence time will allow us to alter the course of history


The knowledge is mine to influence time
I possess the knowledge needed to utilize time travel to change the future


And avert our decline
Using time travel to alter the past will prevent humanity from facing extinction


We could use this to salvage mankind
Time travel could be our last hope to save humanity from destruction


Send projections into the past
We could send projections of our world into the past to warn people about the consequences of their actions


As humanity fades in their minds
The memory of humanity's existence is fading from people's minds


Let them know man won't last
We must make people aware that humanity is facing extinction


A mirror reflection
Our projections will serve as a reflection of what our world has become


Show them our world as it dies
Our projections will reveal the devastating effects of humanity's actions


Cut through the barrier and do what no one has dared
We must overcome our fear of the unknown and take risks to save humanity


Let's break the equation
We must defy the laws of physics to change the course of history


Our first try was a minor success
Our initial attempt at time travel was only partially successful


No control, I can but guess
We have very little control over the consequences of our actions


We have to move now, don't know just how
Time is running out and we must act quickly, even though we are unsure how to proceed


No mistakes are allowed
We cannot afford to make any mistakes in our attempts to save humanity


I have sent it but nothing changes
Our projections have not yet had any significant impact on the course of history


Just a line in some nation lore
Our efforts may only be remembered as a footnote in the history of humanity


I don't know just how far it reaches
We are uncertain about the extent of our ability to alter the past


Everything's like before
Despite our efforts, the present remains unchanged




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMES DEWITT YANCEY, LONNIE RASHID LYNN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@tatiameltauri1539

"It all came to me in the wake of a dream
Bending space, reversing the stream
The knowledge is mine to influence time
And avert our decline (we'll avert our decline)


We could use this to salvage mankind
Send projections into the past (telepathy time)
Etch humanity's fate in their minds
Let them know man won't last (It all came to me in the wake of a dream)


This may be our last chance
If we want man to survive
A mirror reflection
Show them our world as it dies
Cut through the barrier
And do what no one has dared
Let's break the equation... E=mc²
2x


Our first try was a minor success
No control, I can but guess
We have to move now; don't know just how
No mistakes are allowed
(We can make no mistakes)


I have sent it but nothing changes
Just a line in some ancient lore
(Medieval times)
I don't know just how far it ranges
Everything's like before
(It all came to me in the wake of a dream)

This may be our last chance
If we want man to survive
A mirror reflection
Show them our world as it dies
Cut through the barrier
And do what no one has dared
Let's break the equation... E=mc²"
2x



@ioio5050

Lyrics in italiano:

L'ispirazione mi venne al risveglio da un sogno
piegando lo spazio, invertendo la corrente
ho la conoscenza per influenzare il tempo
ed evitare il nostro declino.

Potremmo usare tutto questo
per salvare il genere umano
mandando una proiezione nel passato
mentre l'umanità svanisce nelle loro menti
fargli sapere che l'uomo non durerà

L'ispirazione mi venne al risveglio da un sogno

Potrebbe essere l'ultima possibilità
di far sopravvivere la razza umana
il riflesso di uno specchio
rallenterà il nostro mondo mentre muore
superando le barriere
faremo quello che nessuno ha mai usato
infrangiamo la legge
E = mc2

Il nostro primo tentativo fu un piccolo successo
nessuno controllo, ma immagino
che ora sia tempo di muoversi, solo non so come
non sono ammesi errori
non possiamo sbagliare

Ho inviato la visione ma niente è cambiato
solo una linea nelle notizie di qualche nazione
non so quanto lontano sia andata
tutto è come prima

L'ispirazione mi venne al risveglio da un sogno

Potrebbe essere l'ultima possibilità
di far sopravvivere la razza umana
il riflesso di uno specchio
rallenterà il nostro mondo mentre muore
superando le barriere faremo
quello che nessuno ha mai usato
infrangiamo la legge
E = mc2

(L'esito dell'Esperimento Finale
è stato affidato alle tue mani.)



All comments from YouTube:

@bambooflute2589

This is my favorite one from the album. What a song!

@CD_DC1

Remember first time listening to this great song in 2008. Still got the magic!

@mitchellrice7592

The lead up and solo at around 4 minutes may be the greatest of all time. Fits the mood so well.

@MegaAzornumbers09

i still remember when i was such a little kid and got introduced to the wonderful Ayreon from a portal 2 music video
best thing that ever happened to me

@tatiameltauri1539

"It all came to me in the wake of a dream
Bending space, reversing the stream
The knowledge is mine to influence time
And avert our decline (we'll avert our decline)


We could use this to salvage mankind
Send projections into the past (telepathy time)
Etch humanity's fate in their minds
Let them know man won't last (It all came to me in the wake of a dream)


This may be our last chance
If we want man to survive
A mirror reflection
Show them our world as it dies
Cut through the barrier
And do what no one has dared
Let's break the equation... E=mc²
2x


Our first try was a minor success
No control, I can but guess
We have to move now; don't know just how
No mistakes are allowed
(We can make no mistakes)


I have sent it but nothing changes
Just a line in some ancient lore
(Medieval times)
I don't know just how far it ranges
Everything's like before
(It all came to me in the wake of a dream)

This may be our last chance
If we want man to survive
A mirror reflection
Show them our world as it dies
Cut through the barrier
And do what no one has dared
Let's break the equation... E=mc²"
2x

@valoriel4464

Wow! Thx for your cmt. Reading along as they play. Yay. Excellent job.

@tjitse3916

If only this thing (the album) had a re-release on vinyl. The only folks selling are online and secondhand for up to €180,-.
I have a soft spot for this album, and it meant a lot to me throughout my painful years, right now it is on a very small list of albums I WOULD LOVE on vinyl.......this one and 10,000 by TOOL (which i love for the same reason).

@sucersdungeon

Michael Romeo is unreal.... my fav guitarrist of all time!

@RicardoA...

Killer solo by Michael Romeo.

@raramstad

literally the reason I'm here

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