NOTE: The lyrics on this page are from the episode itself, and so, may differ from the CD.
Fate is a wheel. It will reveal
All you've become, all that you feel.
Destiny knows what has to be.
You'll pay the price, nothing is free.
I'll be your guide.
Take the hand of your muse.
You just might lose your way
In the land of Illusia!
[sung]:
Illusia is music, a world built on rhyme
It's carved out of space in the absence of time
You've tasted how evil and good coexist
For bitter and sweet of it
[Dog]:
All in the lips that you've kissed
[Callisto]:
Lion and bull, eagle and snake
To live or die is the choice you've gotta make
Can you undo what you create?
Step through the wheel, follow your fate
[Chorus]:
The fates have a fix on you
We can play tricks on you
We deal in truths you're too troubled to face
Gamble the worth of you and the rebirth of you
Don't turn away, don't start to fade
What's still unwritten you can erase!
[Callisto]:
Your villainous infamy tortures your soul
Descent into evil must levy its toll
The darkness that rots you has brought you to this
[Snake]:
Surrender serenity, suffer sweet misery
Sin seeks its cursed abyss
[Anubis]:
Oh, Xena, with death there is always rebirth
[Griffin]:
Come see with a vision denied you on Earth
[Callisto]:
Illusia is waiting, we'll show you the way
But all consequences are your own creation
And there's a price you must pay
[Chorus]:
The fates have a fix on you
We can play tricks on you
We deal in truths you're too troubled to face
Gamble the worth of you and the rebirth of you
Now is the time, this is the place
What's still unwritten you can erase!
[Chorus & Callisto]:
Illusia is music, a world built on rhyme
It's carved out of space in the absence of...
[Xena, spoken]:
All right, Callisto. You like little ditties?
Fine. I got one for ya:
You're acting so strangely that I hardly know ya,
But still I wouldn't trust ya as far as I could throw ya!
[Callisto, also spoken]:
Ow! You're wrong not to trust one that knows you so well.
I never betrayed you. That was...Gabrielle.
[Xena]:
Gabrielle? Is she here?
The one who betrayed me, is she in this land?
[Callisto]:
I'm merely your guide, dear, along for a grin.
You'll get no free ride here. If you want to know more...then spin.
[Joxer, sung]:
Joxer the Mighty, master of geography
Here to guide you on your way
Stick with me, you'll never stray
If you're in a land that's new
I'm the man who'll get you through
Even when you're slightly nude!
I'm Joxer, I'm Joxer the Mighty!
Praise the winds of chance that blew
Xena's back where friends are true
We will fight to death for you, brave Xena
With your mighty chakram arcs
Throwing fierce magnetic sparks
No one ever hits her marks like Xena
Famed for prowess with a sword
Who's as feared is as adored
You've not lived 'til you've been gored by Xena
[Warrior 1]:
You're the warrior princess
Who's as strong as an oak
[Warrior 2]:
You got eyes that can tear out
The heart of a bloke
[Warrior 3]:
With one look you can wilt a flower
[Warrior 4]:
Curdle milk or make men cower
[Warriors]:
Welcome home, Xena, welcome home!
[Xena, spoken]:
Ares. I thought as much.
But why the big production number?
What's the point?
[Ares, sung]:
You are the most divine, delicious warrior
[Warriors]:
Xena!
[Ares]:
A man can't help saluting your return
[Warriors]:
Xena!
[Ares]:
And if you start my heart, it's just the way you slash and burn
Bewitching woman, straining at the armored plate
[Warriors]:
Xena!
[Ares]:
You singe me with the ardor you enflame
And in my carnal heart, there's not a sorry shred of shame
[Warriors]:
You and me love war, doesn't matter what it's for
Pandemonium reigns and we're bludgeoning brains
Give us war, war, war, keep it down to a roar
[Warrior 5]:
Words of wisdom Ares said:
[Ares]:
When in battle, keep your head
[Warriors]:
Warriors love war, war, war!
[Villagers]:
Gabrielle! Gabrielle! Gabrielle!
O'er the bridge of tears she's crossed
And she's paid a fearful cost
Her blood innocence is lost -- Gabrielle
Now the past has set her free
And she's traveled home to be
With her old friends you and me -- Gabrielle
[Villager 1]:
You've been plucked out of the
Heart of our lives for so long
[Villager 2]:
Now, we're grateful you've come back
To the place you belong
[Villager 3]:
For what is the panacea
[Villager 4]:
Surely waits in Potidea
[Villagers]:
Welcome home, Gabrielle, welcome home!
[Lila]:
Villains, fools, and kings have made their mark on you
Leave their easy evil in the dust
If your child had lived, we'd surely make her welcome, too!
[Villagers]:
You and me love peace with the ducks and goats and geese
Wile the hours away baking bread, pitching hay
We love peace, peace, peace, simple joys that never cease
[Villager 1]:
Nothing changes but the time
[Villagers]:
We don't even change our mind!
Villagers love peace, peace, peace!
[Ares]:
Pulverizing foes requires strategy
[Warriors]:
Yeah!
[Ares]:
There's no mortal born who meets your skill
[Warriors]:
Yeah!
[Ares]:
Xena, join my vision, don't deny your destiny!
[Warriors]:
You and me love war, doesn't matter what it's for
[Warrior 6]:
Chop the tree down, burn the root!
[Ares]:
Vengeance can be such a hoot
[Warriors]:
Warriors love war, war, war!
[Lila]:
Xena was no friend, she worked to twist your mind
Though you tried to change her deadly ways
Take the scythe, it's just a case of killing to be kind
[Villagers]:
You and me love peace with the ducks and goats and geese
Sit and watch the world go by
Vegetate until you die!
Villagers love peace, peace, peace!
[Warriors]:
We love war...
[Villagers]:
Peace is such a lovely state
War can kill you, so can hate
[Warriors]:
...fear, lies, smite,
And smote and pulverize!
[Villagers]:
Here, the simple life's a delight
[Warriors]:
Pus and gore
[Villagers]:
Just put your hand in mine
Sure, your future's on the line
[Warriors]:
You've a son you must avenge
Know you must extract revenge!
[Villagers]:
You must know that when...
[Warriors]:
Don't be put aside by beauty
Xena, you must do your duty!
[Villagers]:
...Hope died, she freed you
[Villagers]:
Peace!
[Warriors]:
War!
[Villagers]:
Peace!
[Warriors]:
War!
[Villagers]:
Peace!
[Warriors]:
War!
Now, I'll be your rock, your strength, and support
Your close confidante with whom you can consort
I know you completely, come melt into me
Unleash the power of your destiny
You've proved to yourself now that you've made the kill
That you're just like me, with as evil a will
Our forces are meant to be merged into one
The world will be panicked when our work is done
Let the music of war, with its lustful refrain,
Arouse us to heights with a passionate strain
Imagine how awesome together we'd be
So, feel what I'm feeling, come melt into me
[Callisto]:
Did that feel you with glee
To kill your little friend?
Did that ease your suffering
Or bring it to an end?
Let go
All of your anger will poison you yet
Unless you can just let go...
[Gabrielle]:
My heart is hurting beyond words
The pain is tearing up my soul
Please tell me, how can I retrieve
The life that all this sadness stole?
Because of you this happened,
Because you had to carry out
Your vengeful little plans
[Xena]:
It's you who should feel guilty
Because of you my child is dead
His blood is on your hands!
[Gabrielle]:
If only you had never brought me there
[Xena]:
If only you had done what you were told
[Gabrielle]:
It's you who's to be blamed
[Xena]:
And you should be ashamed
[Gabrielle]:
It's your fault!
[Xena]:
No, it's yours!
[Gabrielle]:
How could you?
[Xena]:
How could you?!
And its power will strangle your love and your joy
And its hunger consumes for it lives to destroy
[Ming T'ien & Chorus]:
Hate is the star, it becomes who you are
Not the hated, but the hater has a torment that's greater
[Ming T'ien]:
It will eat you alive, consume you, and spit you out
Hate's gonna win, that there's no doubt about
Hate doesn't care who you are
[Ming T'ien & Chorus]:
Hate is the star!
[Ming T'ien]:
Learning hate is an art, even people who are smart
Can be caught, can be crushed, can be creamed
Hate has swallowed you whole. Did you think you're in control?
Hate you thought, hate you spoke, hate you dreamed
All your hate gave me substance, your lives are undone
It's your eve of destruction, your hatred has won!
[Xena]:
I never dreamed that any barriers could rise
[Gabrielle]:
Or that I'd ever see the stranger in your eyes
[Xena]:
Our hearts were hurting both the same
[Gabrielle]:
The hurt was tearing up our souls
[Xena]:
The fury in us made us blind
[Gabrielle]:
We could not see beyond the pain
[Xena]:
If we could turn again to love
[Gabrielle]:
If we could heal these open wounds
[Xena]:
We'll leave this hatred far behind
[Gabrielle]:
So that not a trace of hate remains!
[Both]:
We'll overcome our damaged past
And we'll grow stronger side by side
To stand together through the storms
We're safe 'cause love will be our guide!
I was wrong. I wore a mask to cover my deceit
But underneath it all, I couldn't keep away my doubt
Now I'm left without a mask and one question left to ask:
I'm sorry, please help me, forgive me
Don't hate me, don't leave me, forgive me
Forgive me my debt as only you could
Forgive me the hate, replace evil with good
Forgive me and find out that you
Will be able to forgive yourself too
My dear Solan, I never told you that you were my son
I didn't know the days we had left were so few
If I only knew, I'd have been with you
I'm so sorry, I couldn't be the mother you deserved
And I regret that I missed your first step, your first word
That I never heard, now it seems absurd
Can you forgive me? Open up your heart and let me in
No matter if the fates against us turn
There's one thing through all of this I've learned
That I what I need from you is to
Forgive me, I'm sorry, believe me
Stop hating, stop hurting, forgive me
Forgive those who'd harm you
Do good for those who hate
Forgive if not forget
I know it's not too late
Forgive me and you'll discover too
That the love of your love is you...
