Centuries

It has haunted me— so every few years I make another attempt to find out what the lyrics are to Centuries, from the Orb album Cydonia. In 2004 I even wrote to Aki Omori through the Freaky Realistic website but never got a response. Last night I tried again and actually found one discussion with a very good attempts at decipherment… and a review with what could be the correct lyrics which I should have found so many years ago. I cannot believe how much time has passed.

Re: Music: Cutting Edge and What You Are Listening To?

THIS WEEK’s CHALLENGE… what are the correct lyrics????

Quote Originally Posted by CoffeeCup

I would like to share a fantastic piece of art with all of you. This is the song where the singers voice is a sort of a musical instrument. The voice and the music are so adjusted as the listener while following the singer is picked up by the instrumental flow and washed away to the sea of emotional music.
“Centuries” by “The orb” from the “Cydonia” album of 2001. The brilliant vocal is by Aki Omori.

I was surfing the web for the lyrics but have not found it. I can clearly hear the word “centuries” but all the others are the mystery. If somebody can, please post the lyrics!

I realize we NEVER got back to this mystery of the lyrics for this song! Shame on us!!! I surfed the Web and could not locate them even on the band’s Web site. So, I started to listen to the song carefully and realized, CoffeeCup is correct, saying the Diva is difficult to understand is an understatement

I have uploaded a clean copy of the song for anyone who wants to take a stab at this or thinks the version out on YouTube is not clear enough.

Here are the lyrics as I have been able to get them:
Line

1 So, if (long ago and??)…somewhere
2 Every moment we shake as we (can/kiss?)
3 …for a century my memory should be
4 Moments created un…
5 As … my eyes can…you
6 Then forever I shall live
7 In a memories old friends
8 For it’s only a century away
9 If my life turns a pass (path) of pain
10 Then my love may cry out loud
11 so to take a (chance?)…in blood
12 shows life has just begun
13 For it’s only a century away
14 So, if (long ago and??)…somewhere
15 Every moment we shake as we (can/kiss?)
16 …for a century my memory should be
17 For it’s only a century away
18 For it’s only a century away
19 We interrupt this program to bring you a bulletin from the Mutual news room
20 According to an announcement from Moscow Radio
21 John Dennison of 643 Water Street had his house made upside down.

From https://home.comcast.net/~star6n789/orb_cyd.html

The following Centuries is the first of five new tracks in a row that were specifically written for the final release of Cydonia, i.e. the version I am reviewing. Aki Omori goes back to the studio with The Orb and delivers a Björk-like performance on a gorgeous pop song. I’m not kidding, the song is hugely positive and the lyrics about the possibility of deleting horrific memories in the near future and the bonds of friendship are quite deep. A sample of a hectically ticking clock is repeated endlessly, and the warm synth pads and gleaming mellifluence of the backing bits point to the clear trademark sound of Thomas Fehlmann.

Centuries (Lyrics: Paterson/Omori)

So if nowhere was somewhere
And every moment we share 'cos we care
Then and only for a century
My memories shall be
Moments create and undo
As our minds can renew
Then forever I shall live
In the memories of friends

For it's only a century away---

If my mind turns a path of pain
Then my love may cry and die
So to take a chance in love
Shows life has just begun.

For it's only a century away--