Octavarium

Octavarium is a song by progressive metal band Dream Theater, from the album of the same name. It is notable as being the band's third longest song at exactly 24 minutes, behind "In the Presence of Enemies" and "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence". Both songs, however, span through various tracks on their respective albums, Systematic Chaos and Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, which makes "Octavarium" the band's longest studio track. It was featured on the live album Score. The song starts with Jordan Rudess using his Haken Continuum and his lap steel guitar, drawing references from Pink Floyd's "Shine On You Crazy Diamond", Tangerine Dream, Marty Friedman's Scenes, and Queen's "Bijou". Movements I. Someone Like Him 0:00 - 8:47 (8:47) Lyrics by John Petrucci Beginning with a lengthy Continuum / lap steel guitar solo by Rudess, this section is told from a first-person perspective. It portrays the thoughts of a person as he decides on what to do in the course of his lifetime, as well as his wish to never become an ordinary person. He fails, however, in changing into becoming the person he wished to become, eventually becoming 'Someone like Him'. This is also in line with the 'Full Circle' theme of Octavarium: "this story ends where it began". It is also speculated that the lyrics refer to John Petrucci taking the place of those that inspired him.[by whom?] II. Medicate (Awakening) 8:48 - 13:49 (5:01) Lyrics by James LaBrie A person wakes up to discover a doctor sitting at his bedside. The doctor informs him that he has been in catatonic sleep for 30 years. The doctor, however, believes he was able to cure him. Suddenly, the patient is in dire need of help as he feels his conscience fading. The doctor prescribes a higher dosage of medicine, but it doesn't seem to help. Despite the doctor's failure in assisting him, the patient tells the doctor that he's not at fault, and that he shouldn't feel ashamed. Eventually, the patient slips back into unconsciousness. This is in line with the events of the movie Awakenings. Again, this also reflects the theme of 'Everything ends where it began.' III. Full Circle 13:50 - 16:36 (2:46) Lyrics by Mike Portnoy Full Circle is Mike Portnoy's ode to progressive rock, shown in the lyrics by several underlying references to his favourite songs, bands and more. Once again a reference is made to the unifying theme of the song ('Everything ends where it begins'). The enumeration using the last syllable/word as the beginning of the next reference enhances the message that everything is linked, a common theme throughout Dream Theater's albums. (i.e. Day for Night, mare Cinema, Show). Isn't this where we came in? - Pink Floyd's The Wall Sailing on the seven seas - possible reference to Queen’s Seven Seas of Rhye or Primus's Sailing the Seas of Cheese. Seize the day - A Change of Seasons Day Tripper - Beatles Jack the Ripper - Morrissey Tim "Ripper" Owens - ex-Judas Priest and Iced Earth singer Owen Wilson - actor Wilson Phillips - band Supper's Ready - Genesis Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds - Beatles Diamond Dave - David Lee Roth Dave’s Not Here – Cheech and Chong Here I Come to Save the Day – Mighty Mouse Day for Night - Spock's Beard Nightmare Cinema – Dream Theater's band name when their players swap instruments The Cinema Show - Genesis Show Me The Way - Styx Get Back - Beatles Flying off the Handle - Peter Blegvad, King Strut Handle with Care - Travelling Wilburys Careful With That Axe, Eugene - Pink Floyd Gene the Dance Machine - The Gong Show / character in the film Confessions of a Dangerous Mind Machine Messiah - Yes Light My Fire - The Doors Pinhead (Gabba Gabba Hey) - The Ramones Hey Hey, My My - Neil Young My Generation - The Who Home Again - Taken from the song Time, by Pink Floyd IV. Intervals 16:36 - 19:53 (3:17) Lyrics by Mike Portnoy Before each stanza in the lyrics, Mike Portnoy says a scale degree. In each stanza, a song from Octavarium is referenced, and an audio clip from that song is played on the background. Root Our deadly sins fill his mortal wrath Remove all obstacles from our path Fifth Tortured insanity, a smothering hell Try to escape but to no avail The Root of All Evil Panic Attack Second Asking questions, search for clues The answer's been right in front of you Sixth The calls of admirers who claim they adore Drain all your lifeblood while begging for more The Answer Lies Within Never Enough Third Try to break through, long to connect Fall on deaf ears with failed muted breath Seventh Innocent victims of merciless crimes Fall prey to some madmen's impulsive designs These Walls Sacrificed Sons Fourth Loyalty, trust, faith and desire Carries love through each darkest fire Octave Step after step, we try controlling our fate When we finally start living it's become too late I Walk Beside You Octavarium To finish the Octave, LaBrie repeats the line "Trapped inside this Octavarium", meaning that the speaker is trapped in the Octavarium's full circle, which begins and ends the same. To enunciate the intensity of this statement, LaBrie screams the line, straining his voice more than he had done for over a decade. By the time the song reaches the fourth repeat of the line, his voice has reached as high as F#5, tying for the highest note heard on a Dream Theater studio song, matching the famous F# in "Learning to Live". During live performances, LaBrie usually sings the first three lines the with the same notes, then jumps to the note on the last two syllables of the word "Octavarium", sometimes going as high as G5, holding the note and doing trills downwards on the last. V. Razor's Edge 19:52 - 23:58 (4:06) Lyrics by John Petrucci This movement simply emphasizes the cyclical nature of all things, as well as the album, as it begins where it ends, using the same melody as the end to the first track, it also ends with the same note that The Root of All Evil begins with. There is also an alternative ending where the main flute theme is reprised and faded at the end of the song. This movement also serves as the capstone for the song and the album which shares its name, being the fifth movement in the eighth song on the album. In this way, it continues the 5:8 theme. When performed live as part of "Schmedley Wilcox" on Chaos in Motion, Mike Portnoy adds in additional vocal emphasis to portions of this movement.

[I. Someone Like Him] [Lyrics: John Petrucci] [Instrumental Intro] I never wanted to become someone like him, so secure Content to live each day just like the last I was sure I knew that this was not for me And I wanted so much more Far beyond what I could see So I swore that I'd never be someone like him So many years have passed since I proclaimed My independence, my mission My aim and my vision, so secure Content to live each day like it's my last It's wonderful to know that I could be Something more than what I dreamed Far beyond what I could see Still I swear that I'm missing out this time As far as I could tell, there's nothing more I need But still I ask myself, could this be everything? Then all I swore, that I would never be was now So suddenly, the only thing, I wanted to become To be someone just like him [II. Medicate (Awakening)] [Lyrics: James LaBrie] A doctor sitting next to me He asks me how I feel Not sure I understand his questioning He says I've been away a while But thinks he has cured me From a state of catatonic sleep For 30 years, where have I been? Eyes open, but not getting through to me Medicate me, infiltrate me Side effects appear as my conscience slips away Medicate me, science failing Conscience fading fast, can't you stop what's happening? A higher dosage he prescribes But there's no guarantee I feel it starting to take over me I tell him not to be ashamed There's no one who's to blame A second shot, a brief awakening I feel the relapse, can't break free Eyes open, but not getting through to me Medicate me, infiltrate me Side effects appear, as my conscience slips away Medicate me, science failing Conscience fading fast, can't you stop what's happening? [III. Full Circle] [Lyrics: Mike Portnoy] [Vocals: James Labrie and Mike Portnoy] Sailing on the seven seize the day tripper diem's ready Jack the ripper Owens Wilson Phillips and my supper's ready Lucy in the sky with diamond Dave's not here I come to save the Day for nightmare cinema show me the way to get back home again (Running forward, falling back) Spinning round and round (Looking outward, reaching in) Scream without a sound (Leaning over, crawling up) Stumbling all around (Losing my place, only to) Find I've come full circle Flying off the handle be careful with That axe Eugene gene the dance machine Messiah light my fire gabba gabba Hey hey my my generation's home again (Running forward, falling back) Spinning round and round (Looking outward, reaching in) Scream without a sound (Leaning over, crawling up) Stumbling all around (Losing my place, only to) Find I've come full circle [Guitar Solo] [IV. Intervals] [Lyrics: Mike Portnoy] Root, our deadly sins feel his mortal wrath Remove all obstacles from our path Second, asking questions, search for clues The answer's been right in front of you Third, try to break through, long to connect Fall on deaf ears and failed muted breath Fourth, loyalty, trust, faith and desire Carries love through each darkest fire Fifth, tortured Insanity, a smothering hell Try to escape but no avail Sixth, the calls of admirers who claim they adore Drain all your lifeblood while begging for more Seventh, innocent victims of merciless crimes Fall prey to some madmen's impulsive designs Octave, step after step, we try controlling our fate When we finally start living it has become too late Trapped inside this Octavarium! Trapped inside this Octavarium! Trapped inside this Octavarium! Trapped inside this Octavarium! [V. Razor's Edge] [Lyrics: John Petrucci] We move in circles Balanced all the while On a gleaming razor's edge A perfect sphere colliding with our fate This story ends where it began [Instrumental Outro]