Faustian Echoes Lyrics - Agalloch

[Faust:] "I, Johannes Faust, do call upon thee, Mephistopheles!" 

[Faust:] 

O growing Moon, didst thou but shine 

A last time on this pain of mine 

Behind this desk how oft have I 

At midnight seen thee rising high 

O'er book and paper I bend 

Thou didst appear, o mournful friend 

[Mephistopheles:] 

I am the spirit that ever denies! 

And justly so: for all that is born 

Deserves to be destroyed in scorn 

Therefore 'twere best if nothing were created 

Destruction, sin, wickedness - plainly stated 

All of which you as evil have classified 

That is my element - there I abide 

[Manager: ] 

Scatter the stars with a lavish hand 

Water, fire, tavern wall 

Birds and beasts, all within command 

Thus in our narrow booth today 

Creation's ample scope display 

Wander swiftly, observing well 

From the Heavens, to the World, to Hell! 

The World of Spirits is not barred to thee! 

[Mephistopheles:] "Now then, Faustus. What wouldst thou have Mephisto do?" 

[Faust:] 

"I charge thee, Mephisto, wait upon me while I live... to do whatever Faustus shall command. Be it to make the moon drop from outer sphere, or the ocean to overwhelm the world. Go bear these tidings to great Lucifer: say he surrenders up his soul. So that he shall spare him four and twenty years, letting him live in all voluptiousness, having thee ever to attend on me. To give me whatsoever I shall ask." 

[Mephistopheles:] "I will." 

[Faust:] 

Sublime spirit, thou hast given me all 

All for which I besought thee, not in vain 

Didst thou reveal thy countenance in the fire 

Thou hast given me Nature for a kingdom 

With the power to enjoy and feel 

Only a visit of chilling bewilderment 

Thou [then me?] bringest all the living creatures 

And taught me to know my brothers in the Air 

In the deep waters and in the silent coverts 

When through the forest the storm rages 

Uprooting the giant pines which in their fall 

Crushing, drag down neighboring boughs and trunks 

Whose [growingly?] hollow thunder shake the hills 

Then thou dost lead me to a sheltering cave 

And revealest me to myself and layest bare 

The deep mysterious miracle of my Nature 

And when the pure moon rises into sight 

Soothingly above me, then about me hover 

Creeping from rocky walls and dewy thickets 

Silver shadows, phantoms of a bygone world 

Which allay the austere joy of meditation 

Now fully do I realize that Man 

Can never possess perfection 

With this ecstasy which brings me near and nearer 

To the Gods 

[Margarete: ] 

My mother the harlot put me to death 

My father the scoundrel ate my flesh 

My dear little sister laid all my bones 

In a dark shaded place under the stones 

Then I changed into a wood-bird 

Fluttering away 

Fly away 

[Mephistopheles:] 

Mankind, that foolish Cosmos 

Always acts as incomplete 

He thought himself to Be 

I am part of that part which was the Absolute 

A part of that Darkness which gave birth to Light 

The arrogant Light which would dispute 

Ancient rank of Mother Night 

Therefore I hope it won't be long before 

With matter it shall perish evermore! 

[Manager: ] 

Scatter the stars with a lavish hand 

Water, fire, tavern wall 

Birds and beasts, all within command 

Thus in our narrow booth today 

Creation's ample scope display 

Wander swiftly, observing well 

From the Heavens to the World 

The World of Spirits is not barred to thee! 

[Faust:] "So, still I seek the force, the reason governing life's flow, and not just its external show." 

[Mephistopheles:] "The governing force? The reason? Some things cannot be known; they are beyond your reach even when shown." 

[Faust:] "Why should that be so?" 

[Mephistopheles:] "They lie outside the boundaries that words can address; and man can only grasp those thoughts which language can express." 

[Faust:] "What? Do you mean that words are greater yet than man?" 

[Mephistopheles:] "Indeed they are." 

[Faust:] "Then what of longing? Affection, pain or grief? I can't describe these, yet I know they are in my breast. What are they?"" 

[Mephistopheles:] "Without substance, as mist is." 

[Faust:] "In that case man is only air as well!"