CONSPIRACY

::. Chris SQUIRE - Billy SHERWOOD .::


The Unknown

(2003)



1. Conspiracy 5'04
(Billy Sherwood / Chris Squire)
2. Confess 4'38
(Billy Sherwood / Chris Squire)
3. New World 7'22
(Billy Sherwood / Chris Squire)
4. 1/2 A World Away 5'48
(Billy Sherwood / Chris Squire)
5. There Is No End 5'14
(Billy Sherwood / Chris Squire)
6. The Wheel 5'27
(Billy Sherwood / Chris Squire)
7. Premonitions 4'10
(Billy Sherwood / Chris Squire)
8. The Unknown 11'31
(Billy Sherwood / Chris Squire / Jimi Haun)

bonus track

9. I Could 4'21

(Billy Sherwood / Chris Squire)

Total Time: 53:35


  • Chris Squire - Bass, Vocals
  • Billy Sherwood - Guitars, Keys, Vocals
  • Jay Schellen - Drums, Percussion
  • Jimi Haun - Additional Guitar (8)
  • Jordan Berliant - Additional Guitar (4)
  • Michael Sherwood - Additional Keys (3, 8)

    Produced by Billy Sherwood & Chris Squire
    Recorded & Mixed by Billy Sherwood at The Office
    Mastered by Chris Solem
    Artwork & Design by Bob Cesca

    The second album from Chris Squire and Billy Sherwood under the name CONSPIRACY, "The Unknown" is a concept album around the events of September 11 and their aftermath, the lyrics representing a marked shift compared to the pacific tone of prior Sherwood or Squire-penned words. In 2000, not long after his departure from YES, Sherwood announced a project entitled "The Unknown" involving Jimmy Haun ("Union" session guitarist), brother Michael Sherwood, Jay Schellen (World Trade), Jonathan Elias ("Union" producer) and others;
    Billy said the music would be "in the style of The MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA meets YES".
    Little was subsequently heard about the project, which presume failed to get anywhere, but it appears to be the source of at least the title and the title track of this album. Also guesting is "Magnification" executive producer and YES's manager, Jordan Berliant, while "Magnification"/Symphonic Live" artist Bob Cesca does a striking set of images of an industrial dystopia for the cover and booklet.

    The intial pressing of the album is in DigiPack form with a bonus track, "I Could", an alternate version of the first half of "Finally" on "The Ladder".





    1. Conspiracy

      Hidden in the darkest places
      Written on the smiling faces
      Architects of chaos forming
      Plans of grave intent unfolding

      Out of the blue when you never expect
      And you never can tell when you might be next
      When the moment is right
      When and where they'll strike
      And you never know why

      Out of the blue when you never expect
      And you never can tell when you might be next
      When the moment is right
      When and where they'll strike
      And you never know why

      Conspiracy
      Conspiracy
      See no signs of evil interest
      Somewhere in the mental matrix
      Laying out a trail of danger
      In the path of unknown strangers

      Out of the blue when you never expect
      And you never can tell when you might be next
      When the moment is right
      When and where they'll strike
      And you never know why

      Out of the blue when you never expect
      And you never can tell when you might be next
      When the moment is right
      When and where they'll strike
      And you never know why

      Conspiracy
      Conspiracy
      Conspiracy
      Conspiracy

      See no remorse or consequences
      All surreal through TV lenses
      Ending in a blaze of glory
      Just another breaking story

      In the wake of mass confusion
      Forced to come to no conclusion
      There's no time to stop and wonder
      Can you tame the rolling thunder?

      Out of the blue when you never expect
      And you never can tell when you might be next
      When the moment is right
      When and where they'll strike
      And you never know why
      Out of the blue when you never expect
      And you never can tell when you might be next
      When the moment is right
      When and where they'll strike
      And you never know why

      Conspiracy
      Conspiracy
      Conspiracy
      Conspiracy

    2. Confess

      I'll be there when you're on the edge
      When the rope seems it's reaching the end
      Just say the word and I'm running
      Only you keep me coming back for more

      I confess I don't want to live without you
      I confess I've so much to give to you
      I confess I'll forever be here for you

      Fortune works in the strangest ways
      Two worlds collide a new one is made
      I will be there when you're calling
      Only you keep me running back for more

      I confess I don't want to live without you
      I confess I've so much to give to you
      I confess I'll forever be here for you

      I'll be there when you're on the edge
      When the rope seems it's reached the end
      Just say the word and I'm running
      Only you keep me coming back for more

      I confess
      I confess
      I confess I don't want to live without you
      I confess I've so much to give to you
      I confess I'll forever be here for you
      Here for you

    3. New World

      Nobody thought in a million years
      How could it come to this?

      The great unknown leads the way
      Our history always on our minds
      Somewhere out there in the distance
      Calling from the ways of old gone by

      Somewhere out there strong resistance
      Haunted by the days of old gone by
      Forward motion is the mission
      Forward motion in this New World

      All aboard now
      All aboard now
      For the New World

      Blazing through the universe
      Following the footprints of all time
      The great unknown leads the way
      Our history days of old gone by
      Forward motion is the mission
      Forward motion in this New World

      All aboard now
      Rolling across the nation
      Station to station
      All aboard now
      For the New World

      Our history drawing near
      Detonation always on our minds
      Somewhere out there strong resistance
      Haunted by the days of old gone by
      Forward motion is the mission
      Forward motion in this new world

      All aboard now
      All aboard now
      All aboard now

      All aboard now
      Rolling across the nation
      Station to station
      All aboard now
      For the New World
      Rolling across the nation
      Station to station
      Rolling across the nation
      Station to station

      It's the New World train on a one way track
      It's a one way ticket and there's no way back.
      No way back
      No way back
      No way back

      New world train on a one way track
      It's a one way ticket and there's no way back
      No way back
      No way back
      No way back

    4. 1/2 A World Away

      When the stars begin to dream
      Somewhere dawn is breaking free
      As the night turns to day
      Somewhere sunlight fades away

      Holding on to memories from 1/2 a world away
      Waiting for the moment until we meet again
      As the moon pulls the tide
      Somewhere silver lines the sky

      1/2 a world

      Be gone the nights of fear and yearning my friend
      These are the days of our relearning
      1/2 a world away ............. 1/2 a world away

      Starlight begin dreamin'
      Somewhere dawn is breaking free again
      And where skies turn to gray
      Somewhere clouds are miles away
      Holding on to memories from 1/2 a world away
      Waiting for the moment until we meet again
      As the moon pulls the tide
      Somewhere silver lines the sky
      Be gone the nights of fear and yearning my friend
      These are the days of our relearning
      1/2 a world
      1/2 a world away ...... 1/2 a world away
      Be gone the nights of fear and yearning my friend

      So many centuries of violence
      For all the voices that fell silent
      The world is growing day by day by day

      Starlight begin dreamin'
      Somewhere dawn is breaking free again
      As the night turns to day
      Somewhere sunlight fades away

      Holding on to memories
      From 1/2 a world away
      Waiting for the moment until we meet again

      1/2 a world
      Be gone the nights of fear and yearning my friend
      These are the days of our relearning
      1/2 a world
      1/2 a world away
      1/2 a world away
      1/2 a world away ....... 1/2 a world away
      Be gone the nights of fear
      1/2 a world away ....... 1/2 a world away

    5. There Is No End

      Reach a new horizon
      Live beyond your dreams
      Feel the force surround you
      Fly to eternity
      Come out of the darkness
      And step into the light
      See the real world around you
      And never lose sight

      Some things are forever
      That's all we need to know
      And there is no ending
      So far we have to go....to go.....to go

      You can hold on tightly
      You can try to manipulate it
      You can build up an empire
      But you know you can't take it
      Navigating through the maze you've created
      What seems just round the bend
      You better stop and think again

      There is no end
      There is no end so far we have to go
      There is no end
      And in the end that's all we need to know....to know....to know
      There is no end that's all we need to know.....to know
      There is no end

      To reach a new horizon
      Live beyond your dreams
      Feel the force surround you
      Face eternity
      Don't waste the time you're given
      Live to the extreme
      Never know what's coming
      Or where it's gonna to lead ya
      No need to be afraid
      It's gonna be all right
      When the road takes a bend
      You just hang on my friend

      There is no end
      There is no end so far we have to go
      And in the end that's all we need to know
      There is no end so far we have to go
      So much there is to know
      And in the end that's all we need to know....to know.....to know
      That's all we need to know
      There is no end that's all we need to know
      Navigating through the maze you've created
      That's all we need to know

      There is no end
      There is no end
      There is no end
      There is no end
      There is ............

    6. The Wheel

      You look so far but still you've got so far to go
      How many light years would it take to see, we'll never know

      Sun will rise, Sun will fall Like a wheel we revolve

      The stars appearing on what seems an endless run
      How many lifetimes does it take to reach the farthest one?

      Like a wheel we evolve
      Sun will rise, Sun will fall
      No ending to it all
      Like a wheel we revolve
      Sun will rise, Sun will fall

      The universe provides a never-ending show
      So many wonders that are held inside, so many we'll never know

      Sun will rise, Sun will fall
      No ending to it all
      Like a wheel we revolve
      Sun will rise, Sun will fall
      No ending to it all
      Endlessly spinning on

    7. Premonitions

      The future knows
      Stories to be told
      Worlds to be found
      Life's spiral round
      Yet to be seen
      Places never been
      Fortune for all of us

      The future knows
      Stories to be told
      Worlds to be found
      Life's spiral round
      Dreams to be seen
      Places never been
      Fortune for all of us

      Premonitions of things that will be done
      Premonitions of things that will become
      Premonitions of things you're bound to see
      Premonitions unlock the mystery

      Do you see into tomorrow?
      Do you feel as if you've been before?
      Do you sense the coming changes looking through the open door?

      Premonitions of things that will be done
      Premonitions of things that will become
      Premonitions of things you're bound to see
      Premonitions of things that will become
      The future knows

    8. The Unknown

      Towers of life and dreams brought down

      Like any other morning people waking to the sun
      Ordinary lives making their way, through the steel canyons they roam
      Off to work then make it home

      The future was unknown
      Who would believe we'd go down that road
      No way around it ..... The unknown
      Who would believe we'd bear that load

      You've got your sense of freedom
      You're living with it right now
      You're thinking you're safe and sound
      Think again ...... Think again
      You're in a dream world
      This could be a nightmare
      This could be a nightmare

      Listen up ..... Listen up
      Now or never ..... Strike together
      Ultimate crime ...... Perfect timelines
      Come together ...... Perfect weather
      Ultimate crime ..... Perfect timelines
      Strike together .... It's now or never

      Towering dreams falling to earth
      Towers of life and dreams brought down
      Think again
      Don't fear the unknown.......Here we go
      Don't be afraid to go down that road
      Don't fear the unknown......Lock and load
      Don't be afraid to bear that load
      Don't fear the unknown.....Here we go

      Don't turn your back
      Just face the facts
      It's time to react
      Stay on track
      And let it roll
      Don't fear the unknown
      Don't be afraid to lock and load
      One by one you'll get it all right
      You'll never get away
      For all the lives you've taken in spite
      You're gonna have to pay
      Only one true justice can apply
      You're gonna get it all right
      Waking giant cannot be denied
      One by one you'll get it all right
      You can run away
      But now we've got you dead in our sight
      We're gonna have a day
      Now that you've had your say
      We're bringing our toys comin' over to play.

      Towering dreams falling to earth
      Towers of life and dreams brought down.
      Think again.
      One by one you'll get it all right
      You'll never get away
      For all the lives you've taken in spite
      You're gonna have to pay
      Only one true justice can apply
      You're gonna get it all right
      Waking giant cannot be denied
      One by one you'll get it all right
      You can run away
      But now we've got you dead in our sight
      We're gonna have a day
      Now that you've had your say
      We're bringing our toys comin' over to play
      We're bringing our toys comin' over to play

    9. I Could

      When I close my eyes I start imagining
      All the dreams /// leave me wondering
      /// ///
      Only in my mind what I want to be

      I could /// my feel
      I could feel no pane
      I could stop the fire
      I could bring the rain
      I could chase ///
      I could
      I could ///
      I could ///

      When I won along ///
      Crazy ///
      ////
      Only in my mind that I want to be

      I could face my feel
      I could feel no pane
      I could stop the fire
      I could bring the rain
      I could chase ///
      I could ///
      I could ///
      I could ///

      Why ///
      ///
      When I close my eyes I can feel so free
      Questions /// I know mistery

      I could face my feel
      I could feel no pane
      I could stop the fire
      I could bring the rain
      I could chase ///
      I could ///
      I could ///
      I could ///