12For small creatures such as wethe vastness is bearable only through love- Carl Sagan -3SHUDDE RBE F ORETHEBE AUTI F ULTHE DEEPEST SOLACE LIES IN UNDERSTANDING,THIS ANCIENT UNSEEN STREAM,A SHUDDER BEFORE THE BEAUTIFULAWAKE, OCEANBORNBEHOLD THIS FORCE BRING THE OUTSIDE INEXPLODE THE SELF TO EPIPHANYTHE VERY CORE OF LIFETHE SOARING HIGH OF TRUTH AND LIGHTTHE MUSIC OF THIS AWEDEEP SILENCE BETWEEN THE NOTESDEAFENS ME WITH ENDLESS LOVETHIS VAGRANT ISLAND EARTHA PILGRIM SHINING BRIGHTWE ARE SHUDDERING BEFORE THE BEAUTIFULBEFORE THE PLENTIFULWE, THE VOYAGERSTALES FROM THE SEASCATHEDRAL OF GREENTHE UNKNOWN, THE GRAND SHOW, THE CHOIR OF THE STARSINTERSTELLAR THEATRE PLAY, THE NEBULAE CURTAIN FALLSIMAGINATION, EVOLUTION, A SPECIES FROM THE VALEWALKS IN WONDER IN SEARCH OF THE SOURCE OF THE TALE4WE AKFANTA S YTHESE STORIES GIVEN TO US ALL ARE FILLED WITH SACRIFICE AND ROBES OF LUSTDISSONANT CHOIRS AND DOWNCAST EYESSELFHOOD OF A CONDESCENDING APEBEHOLD THE CROWN OF A HEAVENLY SPYFORGED IN BLOOD OF THOSE WHO DEFYKISS THE RING, PRAISE AND SING HE LOVES YOU DWELLING IN FEAR AND SINFEAR IS A CHOICE YOU EMBRACEYOUR ONLY TRUTHTRIBAL POETRYWITCHCRAFT FILLING YOUR VOIDLUST FOR FANTASY MALE NECROCRACYEVERY CHILD WORTHY OF A BETTER TALEPICK YOUR AUTHOR FROM LA CARTE FANTASYFILLED WITH SUFFERING AND SLAVERYYOU LIVE ONLY FOR THE DAYS TO COMESHOVELING TRASH OF THE UPPER CASTESMILING MOUTH IN A ROTTING HEADSUCKING DRY THE TEAT OF THE SCAREDA STORYTELLING BREED WE AREA STARVING CREW WITH SHOW-OFF TOYSFEAR IS A CHOICE YOU EMBRACEFROM WORDS INTO WAR OF THE WORLDSTHIS ONE WE FORSAKE WITH SCORNFROM LIES THE STRENGTH OF OUR LOVEMOTHER`S MILK LACED WITH POISON FOR THIS NEWBORNWAKE UP CHILD, I HAVE A STORY TO TELLONCE UPON A TIME56L ANLEAVE THE SLEEP AND LET THE SPRINGTIME TALKIN TONGUES FROM THE TIME BEFORE MANLISTEN TO A DAFFODIL TELL HER TALELET THE GUEST IN, WALK OUT, BE THE FIRST TO GREET THE MORNTHE MEADOWS OF HEAVEN AWAIT HARVESTTHE CLIFFS UNJUMPED, COLD WATERS UNTOUCHEDTHE ELSEWHERE CREATURES YET UNSEENFINALLY YOUR NUMBER CAME UP, FREE FALL AWAITS THE BRAVECOMETASTE THE WINERACE THE BLINDTHEY WILL GUIDE YOU FROM THE LIGHTWRITING NOUGHTS TILL THE END OF TIMECOMESURF THE CLOUDSRACE THE DARKIT FEEDS FROM THE RUNS UNDONEMEET ME WHERE THE CLIFF GREETS THE SEATHE ANSWER TO THE RIDDLE BEFORE YOUR EYESIS IN DEAD LEAVES AND FLEETING SKIESRETURNING SWANS AND SEDULOUS MICEWRITINGS ON THE GARDENS BOOK, IN THE MINUTE OF A LOVER`S LOOKBUILDING A SANDCASTLE CLOSE TO THE SHOREA HOUSE OF CARDS FROM A WORN OUT DECK A HOME FROM THE FELLOWSHIP, POISE AND CALMWRITE A LYRIC FOR THE SONG ONLY YOU CAN UNDERSTANDRIDING HARD EVERY SHOOTING STARCOME TO LIFE, OPEN MIND, HAVE A LAUGH AT THE ORTHODOX COME, DRINK DEEP LET THE DAM OF MIND SEEPTRAVEL WITH GREAT LAN, DANCE A JIG AT THE FUNERALCOME!789YOURSISANEMP TY HOP ETEAR ME TO BITS ENJOY THE SCENEOF SCREEN NAME VERBAL VANITYCHURNING THE WORDS IMBUED IN FILTHYOUR TONGUE OILY WATER UNDER MY BRIDGEYOU HAVE THE WORLD, IT`S ALL FOR YOUI WISH YOU`D FIND THE LOST IN YOUGRATEFUL FOR THE PAIN, IT PROVES WE`RE ALIVECAN YOU FEEL IT I CAN`T MAKE YOU WANT THE TRUTHIT`S UP TO YOUYOURS IS AN EMPTY HOPEYOURS IS AN EMPTY HOPEFEED ME TO PIGS IN YOUR FANTASIESYOUR SEA ROARS BITTER ELEGIESLIKE NARCISSUS WHO BRIBES THE POOLA HOLLOW VOICE, RUIN WITH A ROOF STOP! LIFE IS NOW, STILL ALL FOR YOUTURN FROM THE HATE, TURN FROM THE SMOKEI SEE THE PARCHMENT OF YOUR SOULTHE NOTES, THE SONGJOIN YOUR VOICEI CAN LET YOU HAVE THE WORLDIT`S ALL FOR YOUYOURS IS AN EMPTY HOPEYOURS IS AN EMPTY HOPE1011OURDE CADE SINTHESUNI CLIMBED OFF YOUR BACKNOT SO LONG AGOTO A BLOOMING MEADOWTO A PATH YOU`D MADE FOR THE LIGHTEST FEETMOTHERI AM ALWAYS CLOSE TO YOUI WILL BE WAVING EVERY TIME YOU LEAVEOH, I AM YOUTHE CARE, THE LOVE, THE MEMORIESWE ARE THE STORY OF ONEFATHERI AM ALWAYS CLOSE TO YOUI WILL BE WAVING EVERY TIME YOU LEAVEOH, I AM YOUTHE CARE, THE LOVE, THE MEMORIESYOU ARE FOREVER IN METHIS VERSE WE WROTEON A ROAD HOME FOR YOUALL THIS FOR YOUOUR WALK HAS BEEN SUBLIMEA SOARING RIDE AND GENTLE LEADYOU HAVE THE HEART OF A TRUE FRIENDONE DAY WE`LL MEET ON THAT SHORE AGAIN1213MYWAL DE NSAIN Y NIWL,GAUNT Y GOYDWIG FWSOG,GWENITHFAEN, CEN Y COED, AR LLEUAD,UN GWAY FADENYDD I DAPESTRI BYWYDLIGHT SHINES BRIGHT BEYOND ALL THE CITIES OF GOLDON A ROAD OF BIRDSONG AND CHOCOLATE SHOPSOF BUSKERS, JUGGLERS, INNKEEPER`S WELCOMING CALLTHE SOUND OF MIST, SMELL OF MOSS-GROWN WOODSWEAVING MY WINGS FROM MANY-COLORED YARNSFLYING HIGHER, HIGHER, HIGHERINTO THE WILDWEAVING MY WORLD INTO TAPESTRY OF LIFEITS FIRE GOLDENIN MY WALDENI WILL TASTE THE MANNA IN EVERY TREELIQUID HONEY AND WINE FROM THE DISTANT HILLSAN EARLY MORNING GREENWOOD CONCERTOGREETS MY WALDEN WITH ITS ETERNAL VOICE I DO NOT WISH TO EVADE THE WORLDYET I WILL FOREVER BUILD MY OWNFOREVER BUILD MY OWNFOREVER MY HOME14ENDL E S SFORMSMOS TBE AUTI F ULCOME ON, HOP ON, LET`S TAKE A RIDECOME AND MEET THE TRAVELERS WHO CAME TO TOWNTHEY HAVE A TALE FROM THE PAST TO TELLFROM THE GREAT DARK BETWEEN THE STARSWE ARE A SPECIAL SPECK OF DUSTA FLEETING MOMENT ON AN ARK A CELEBRATION, A RESTHAVENOF LIFELAY ON A FIELD OF GREENWITH MOTHER EVEWITH FATHER PINE REACHING HIGHLOOK AT YOURSELF IN THE EYES OF AYE-AYE UNFOLDING RENDEZVOUSDEEP INTO THE PASTFOLLOW THE AEON PATHGREET A BLADE OF GRASSEVERY ENDLESS FORM MOST BEAUTIFULALIVE, AWARE, IN AWEBEFORE THE GRANDEUR OF IT ALLOUR FLOATING PALE BLUE ARK OF ENDLESS FORMS MOST BEAUTIFULBEYOND AEONS WE TAKE A RIDE WELCOMING THE SHREW THAT SURVIVEDTO SEE THE TIKTAALIK TAKE HER FIRST WALKWITNESS THE BIRTH OF FLIGHT DEEPER DOWN IN PANTHALASSAA EUKARYOTE FINDS HER WAYWE RETURN TO THE VERY FIRST ONEGREET THE ONE WE`LL SOON BECOME 15Sit down before fact as a little child,be prepared to give up every conceived notion,follow humbly wherever and whateverabysses nature leads, or you will learn nothing- Thomas Huxley -1617EDE MARUHONE BY ONE WE LIGHT THE CANDLES OF THIS SHOWONE BY ONE, ENTER THE THEATRE OF THE PRIMAL BIRTHSILENTLY WATCH THE PLANETARY CURTAIN GO DOWNLAUGH AND REJOICE, AS THE POWERFUL PLAY GREETS YOU TONIGHT WE ARE THE EDEMA RUHWE KNOW THE SONGS THE SIRENS SANGSEE US DREAM EVERY TALE TRUETHE VERSE WE LEAVE WITH YOU WILL TAKE YOU HOMEWE`LL GIVE YOU A KEY TO OPEN ALL OF THE GATESWE`LL SHOW YOU A SEA OF STARLIGHT TO DROWN ALL YOUR CARES MIRRORHOUSES, THE SWEETEST KISSES AND WINES A DEBUSSY DIALOGUE BETWEEN WIND AND THE ROARING SEADANCE TO THE WHISTLE, TO THE PLAY, TO THE STORYTO INFINITE ENCORESLAUGH AT THE ROYALTY WITH SAD CROWNSAND REPEAT THE CHORUS ONCE MORE1819AL P E NGL OWONCE UPON A TIME A SONG WAS HEARDGIVING BIRTH TO A CHILD OF EARTH AND VERSETOGETHER WE SLAY ANOTHER FRIGHTEVERY JUBJUB BIRD, SPOOKS OF THE PASTCLOSE YOUR EYES AND TAKE A PEEKTHE TRUTH IS EASY TO SEE WE WERE HEREROAMING ON THE ENDLESS PRAIRIEWRITING AN ENDLESS STORYBUILDING A WALDEN OF OUR OWNWE WERE HEREGRIEVING THE SADDENED FACESCONQUERING THE DARKEST PLACESTIME TO REST NOW AND TO FINISH THE SHOWAND BECOME THE MUSIC, ONE WITH ALPENGLOWHAND IN HAND GUIDING ME INTO LIGHTYOU, THE FAIRYTALE GUISE IN BLUE AND WHITEYOU ARE MY PATH MY HOME MY STARA BEAUTIFUL TALE WITHIN THE TALEAND WHEN THE DUST NEEDS TO MOVE ONI WILL TUCK US IN ON A BED OF SNOWPAINTING WHITE, SILENCING THE VALLEY WE BUILTTOGETHER WE`LL SLEEP DEVOURED BY LIFE 2021THEEYE SOFSHARBAT GUL A( Instrumental )22THEGRE ATE S T SHOW ON EARTH1.) Four Point SixARCHAEAN HORIZONTHE FIRST SUNRISEON A PRISTINE GAEAOPUS PERFECTUM SOMEWHERE THERE, US SLEEPING2.) LifeTHE COSMIC LAW OF GRAVITY PULLED THE NEWBORNS AROUND A FIREA CARELESS, COLD INFINITY IN EVERY VAST DIRECTIONLONELY FARER IN THE GOLDILOCKS ZONESHE HAS A TALE TO TELL FROM THE STELLAR NURSERY INTO A CARBON FEASTENTER LUCATHE TAPESTRY OF CHEMISTRYTHERE`S A WRITING IN THE GARDENLEADING US TO THE MOTHER OF ALLWE ARE ONEWE ARE A UNIVERSEFORBEARS OF WHAT WILL BESCIONS OF THE DEVONIAN SEAAEONS PASS WRITING THE TALE OF US ALLA DAY-TO-DAY NEW OPENINGFOR THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTHION CHANNELS WELCOMING THE OUTSIDE WORLD TO THE STUFF OF STARS BEDDING THE TREE OF A BIOLOGICAL HOLY ENTER LIFEWE ARE HERE TO CARE FOR THE GARDENTHE WONDER OF BIRTHOF EVERY FORM MOST BEAUTIFUL23243.) The ToolmakerAFTER A BILLION YEARSTHE SHOW IS STILL HERENOT A SINGLE ONE OF YOUR FATHERS DIED YOUNGTHE HANDY TRAVELERSOUT OF AFRICALITTLE LUCY OF THE AFAR GAVE BIRTH TO FANTASYTO IDOLATRYTO SELF-DESTRUCTIVE WEAPONRYENTER THE GOD OF GAPSDEEP WITHIN THE PASTATAVISTIC DREAD OF THE HUNTEDENTER IONIA, THE CRADLE OF THOUGHTTHE ARCHITECTURE OF UNDERSTANDINGTHE HUMAN LUST TO FEEL SO EXCEPTIONALTO RULE THE EARTHHUNGER FOR SHINY ROCKSFOR GIANT MUSHROOM CLOUDSTHE WILL TO DO JUST AS YOU`D BE DONE BYENTER HISTORY, THE GRAND FINALEENTER RATKINDMAN, HE TOOK HIS TIME IN THE SUNHAD A DREAM TO UNDERSTANDA SINGLE GRAIN OF SANDHE GAVE BIRTH TO POETRYBUT ONE DAY`LL CEASE TO BEGREET THE LAST LIGHT OF THE LIBRARYWE WERE HERE!WE WERE HERE!WE WERE HERE!WE WERE HERE!4.) The Understanding5.) Sea-Worn Driftwood25262728ORCHE S TREDEGRANDE URViolinsViolasCelliBassesFlute / PiccoloOboe/Cor AnglaisBb ClarinetBb Clarinet / Bass ClarinetBassoon/ContrabassoonFrench HornsTrumpets Tenor TrombonesBass TromboneTubaHarpEthnic PercussionTimpaniOrchestral PercussionPerry Montague-MasonEmlyn SingletonDermot CrehanPatrick KiernanMark BerrowRita ManningBoguslaw KosteckiEverton NelsonPeter LaleBruce WhiteMartin HumbeyMartin LovedayDave DanielsJonathan WilliamsChris LaurenceSteve MairAndy FindonDavid TheodoreNicholasBucknallDave FuestJulie AndrewsRichard WatkinsPhilip EastopPhil CobbMike LovattMark NightingaleAndy WoodOwen SladeSkaila KangaPaul ClarvisStephen HendersonFrank RicottiChris TomblingSteve MorrisJackie HartleyEmil ChakalovPete HansonJim McLeodSonia SlanyRachel BoltAndy ParkerFrank SchaeferPaul KeggRichard PryceAnna NoakesNigel BlackKate MooreEd TarrantStephen HendersonGary KettelOrchestral Contractor - Isobel GriffithsAssistant Orchestral Contractor - Lucy Whalley29THEME TRO VOI CE SChoirmaster - Jenny OGradyAlexandra Gibson, Alice Fearn, Ann de Renais, Catherine Bott,Claire Henry, Deborah Miles Johnson, Elean-or Meynell, Emma Brain Gabbott, Grace Davidson, Helen Brooks, Jacqueline Barron, Jenny OGrady, Joanna Forbes, Jo Marshall, Kate Bishop, Mary Carewe, Morag MacKay, Rosemary Forbes Butler,Sarah Eyden, Soophia ForoughiAndrew Playfoot, Ben Fleetwood Smyth, Callum MacIntosh, David Porter Thomas, Gabriel Vick,Gerard OBeirne, James Mawson, Lawrence Wallington, Lawrence White, Michael Dore, Neil Bellingham, Richard Henders, Robin Bailey, Stephen Weller, Steve Trowell, Tom PearceTHECHI L DRE N SCHOI RYoung Musicians LondonChoirmaster - Lynda RichardsonOmar Ait el Caid, Bertie Beaman, Delphine Christou Hill, Oliver Cripps, Eleanor Grant, Rowan Hallett, Theo Harper, Jane Jones, Asha Lincogle-Gabriel, Jenson Loake, Celine Markantonis, Kaela Simi Masek, Ro-bert Masek, Marguerite Moriarty, Andrew Morton, Akinoluwa Olawore, Modadeogo Olawore,Christopher Sabiski, Alistair Spencer, George WebbOrchestra, Choirs and Percussion recorded at Angel Studios London.Engineered by Steve PriceAssisted by Jeremy MurphyThanks to Dee EllinghamOrchestra and Choir Conducted by James ShearmanMusic Preparation by Richard IhnatowiczOrchestra and Choirs Arranged, Orchestrated and Directed by Pip WilliamsAssistant to Pip Williams - Ilona Opulska(Pip Williams teaches Music and Music Technology at The London College of Music: special thanks to Sara Raybould and John Gummery.)I would like to dedicate my work on this album tomy children Sam and Joe and to my wonderful Ilona!-Pip30NI GHTWI S HAREFloor Jansen: VocalsMarco Hietala: Bass, vocals, acoustic guitarsEmppu Vuorinen: GuitarsTuomas Holopainen: Keys & pianoJukka Nevalainen: DrumsTroy Donockley: Uilleann pipes, low whistles, bodhran, bouzouki, vocalsDrums on this album were performed by Kai Hahto All music by HolopainenExcept: Weak Fantasy, Our Decades In The Sun & The Toolmaker by Hietala / HolopainenMy Walden by Holopainen / HietalaAll lyrics by HolopainenExcept: Weak Fantasy & Yours Is An Empty Hope by Holopainen / HietalaArrangements by Donockley / Hahto / Hietala / Holopainen / Jansen / Kinnunen / Nevalainen / VuorinenEndless Forms Most Beautifulwas produced by Tuomas Holopainenand co-produced by Nightwish & Tero TeeCee KinnunenRecorded at Rsk Campsite, Kitee, in August - September 2014 & at Petrax Studio, Hollola, in October 2014Engineered and recorded by Tero TeeCee Kinnunen and Mikko KarmilaMixed at Finnvox Studios, Helsinki by Mikko Karmila, in October - December 2014Mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox, in January 2015 Spoken parts in Shudder Before The Beautiful & The Greatest Show On Earth by Professor Richard DawkinsRecorded at Hats Off Studios, Oxford, by Michael TaylorSoundscapes & music echoes in The Toolmaker created by Jussi Tegelman,with Sea-Worn Driftwood featuring Francesco Lupica`s Cosmic Beam ExperienceCover artwork by Janne & Gina PitknenBand photography by Ville Juurikkala31Our sincerest love, gratitude and thanks to:Our families, friends and loved ones. Everyone involved in bringing Endless Forms Most Beautiful to life.The Rsk Campsite team / Ewo & Toni @ TDTC LTD / Pip Williams / Richard Dawkins / Juhana Karlsson /Mats Lindeqvist / Janne Wirman / Sami Laitila @ Konto Acoustics / Marja Brink / Nuclear Blast GmbH /Nuclear Blast Entertainment / Sony Music Finland / Universal Music Japan / Warner Music Australia /Patrick & SONY ATV / The Orchestre De Grandeur / The Metro Voices / The Young Musicians London /The Angel Studios staff / Nightwish internet teams.All our fans worldwide.W W W . N I G H T W I S H . C O MWorldwide Management & Booking:Till Dawn They Count Ltd Oy www.tdtc.filogo is a registered trademark owned by Potoska Publishing Ltd. Oy32At the back of our brains, there is a forgotten blaze or burst of astonishment at our own existence. The object of the artistic and spiritual lifeis to dig for this submerged sunrise of wonder- G.K. Chesterton -3334ALBUM VERSION1. SHUDDER BEFORE THE BEAUTIFUL 2. WEAK FANTASY3. LAN4. YOURS IS AN EMPTY HOPE5. OUR DECADES IN THE SUN6. MY WALDEN7. ENDLESS FORMS MOST BEAUTIFUL8. EDEMA RUH 9. ALPENGLOW 10. THE EYES OF SHARBAT GULA11. THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTHChapter I ) Four Point Six Chapter II ) Life Chapter III ) The ToolmakerChapter IV ) The Understanding Chapter V ) Sea-Worn DriftwoodINSTRUMENTAL VERSION 12. SHUDDER BEFORE THE BEAUTIFUL 13. WEAK FANTASY14. LAN15. YOURS IS AN EMPTY HOPE16. OUR DECADES IN THE SUN17. MY WALDEN18. ENDLESS FORMS MOST BEAUTIFUL19. EDEMA RUH 20. ALPENGLOW 21. THE EYES OF SHARBAT GULA22. THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTHChapter I ) Four Point Six Chapter II ) Life Chapter III ) The ToolmakerChapter IV ) The Understanding Chapter V ) Sea-Worn Driftwood