I just cried out seven years worth of tears
Inhaled and let go of seven years worth of fears
Woke up in a place I don't recognize, I guess this is weird
Feeling a sense of pride when I look into the mirror
They say history don't repeat itself, but sometimes it rhymes
And that's why, I see parallels between the story of the West and mine
Periods of lightness, darkness, growth and decline
The only way to truly be defeated is when you decide to hide
We all have these times when we fall from grace
And maybe we all need to go on some ill-conceived crusade
Never really destined to succeed but somehow paving the way
To new people, ideas and knowledge to bring back to the game
Those Crusades did not go exactly as planned
Separated Brothers were out-gunned, but not out-manned
Returned with something more valuable than arid land
A few centuries later they were ready to expand
Even if these missions go down in flames, and we get burned
Never reaching that target, feels like nothing earned, nothing learned
Temped to descend farther and farther into the absurd
Taking on the mission is a sign that our spirit has returned
Before all the successes, before we get any piece of the pie
Comes the conscious decision no longer to hide
No longer be crippled by fear, hate, and those that we despise
Victimhood mentality has one result, way more tears to cry
The story of the West has lessons for me and for you
In dark times we need the spirit of Charlemagne to get us through
When we fell attacked from all directions, like we fucking screwed
Just barely surviving, can't even contemplate starting something new
And as long as we don't give up, decide not to succumb
To complacency, and settling for nothing but the crumbs
After seven years, I finally get a shot at something that aint dumb
I feel like its finally dawn, and in the horizon is the sun
Like my people in 1440, everything that was once great being renewed
Looking back at all that time when I didn't have a clue
The years I shrank followed by the years that I grew
Shifting to looking to the future, all the great things I be ready to do
The emotions overwhelm as I felt abused and deceived
Those dark points where I felt I could no longer do me
My own dark age, hiding what I really believe, so no-one could really see
So many people scared, mad and prepared to attack all who disagree
But when you observe your life and realize it's non stop lying
Only enabled by whatever drugs those around you are supplying
Only two choices ahead of you, one is slowly dying
The other is saying fuck it, time to just come out of hiding
Although at first it's filled with discomfort and fright
The more you do it, the more it just feels right
Over time, you will find, yourself more and more in places you like
Making plans, doing shit, finding ways to reach new heights
Like that uncovered dormant knowledge, lessons re-learned
The most important one is that the first wave is internal
The changes that need to be made, need be made within yourself first
Then your crew, their other peoples, your nation and the world