The Two Gates - Ayreon

And so it's come to this. Two Gates - two portals await. Let your choice be guided by
collective wisdom. Ah, hath the prospect of freedom ever tasted so good? One gate completes the
circle;one step away from your own dimension, your cherished time. One gate severs all
connections: one step away from the dreamworld of everlasting ebony. You call it Oblivion.
It is a brave soul who makes the first choice.

behold these gates, the first one plain and old
behold these gates, the second forged of gold
the gate of old spells out disgrace and shame
the one of gold cries out my noble name
I challenge death to meet me at this gate
I challenge Odin to pronounce my fate
and if I thrive I've overcome this land
but if I fail I'll die a worthy man
cowards whine beyond the olden gate
Valhalla shines beyond the golden gate
I walk alone so dare not follow me
but choose your own and die in agony
(fading into oblivion,)
What ever place might this be? Why ever happened so bad?
Eternity turns - darkness crushes down upon me! Ohh!
Like a big black deck of death - smothers my senses!
Makes me lose my sense of time! This cannot be a dream!
I need to be wide awake! Wide awake! When lucky risk come to take me!
Do not place among the warriors - to mark a place by Odin's side! Ahhhh!
we have been saved, our journey has ended
but tell us why, why this ordeal?
what was your aim, or was it just some game
have we've been humbled, or did we prevail?
we've been enslaved, our wounds have not mended
and who are you, what magicians or gods?
what was your plan, we don't understand
did we pass, or did we fail?