Dream Theater

The only song which I think they took it too far was The Great Debate, and perhaps the opening to Sacrificed sons (before the music). When you start throwing speeches in your songs it's getting a bit too political to enjoy it. Otherwise i'm not too fussed. However, saying this, I don't exactly care too much about the lyrics when it comes to Dream Theater, i'm usually listening to other things :).

=johncal said:

=AngelBackDTF said:@ZeppelinDT: "Everyone's born a democrat and dies a republican". Read that somewhere, seems to be kind of true.

Because old people become ornery, lonely and selfish, amirite?

=WaterToFire said:

=johncal said:

=AngelBackDTF said:@ZeppelinDT: "Everyone's born a democrat and dies a republican". Read that somewhere, seems to be kind of true.

Because old people become ornery, lonely and selfish, amirite?

I think I heard something like:

"If you are not a liberal at 20 you have no heart. If you are not a conservative at 30 you have no brain."

I would add if you are not a Libertarian by 40 you probably have learned nothing from the mistakes if being liberal or conservative, but just my opinion and probably not where this thread was intended to go.

i've only been a DT fan for 2yrs so i am not as close to thier music as many others are on here. i don't think DT are "America bashing" at all... i don't understand where you get that?

=WaterToFire said:

=johncal said:

=AngelBackDTF said:@ZeppelinDT: "Everyone's born a democrat and dies a republican". Read that somewhere, seems to be kind of true.

Because old people become ornery, lonely and selfish, amirite?

You know, it's not often you get a chance to get insulted and laugh your ass off at the same time.

=fb_matt_crouch said:Have you ever heard the old adage, Never talk about religion and politics with friends? There is a reason why that saying has been around for years.

Truth is, that there were three (main) writers for the band over the past few albums (Since SDOIT)

Petrucci, Portnoy and LaBrie.

Portnoy was more 'this is my life' kind of writing.
Petrucci was more 'This is a fairytale' writing
And LaBrie is more Politically influenced.

That's the way i see it anyway. Regardless of that however, no-one has any right to tell a band 'they shouldn't be doing this' etc etc.

As Mangini said in an interview people have to find their 'gift' and stick to it. He said "I mean, my whole life people tapping me on the shoulder saying ‘You play too many drums, you play too many notes, blah blah blah blah’ I mean these people are just miserable, I don’t know why they can’t just pick up a tennis racquet and have a cocktail and have some fun – I don’t know what their problem is."

Personally, I love that quote, and I think that it's 100% true. We have no right to tell people how to do what they do. Just accept it, and smile.

i just watched the video and i don't think it's "America bashing", if anything it's having a go at the government. America is over 14 trillion dollars in debt and that number is rising. all of the 9/11 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia but Bush didn't send the troops in there... i think the song & video are just having a go at the government, that america has to pay for their mistakes.

Hey there guys,

JP clarifies what the song is about in an interview with the German magazine Rockhard. I post here my own translation. Even though neither German nor English are my native languages, I think I have a good level at bothSo here it is:

RH: Not only "Outcry" is politically motivated, but also the opening track, "On the Backs of Angels", where you criticize the american dream.

JP: My point of view is rather conservative. I'm no liberal. When I write about spiralling towards disaster, it is about people who profit from the system and live off of it. The song begins with the words "Standing on the backs of angels". The big thinkers, the creatives and the people who work hard keep the country alive, whilst there are others who just let themselves be tagged and dragged along. The american dream means working hard and being your own man in order to fulfill your own dreams, people who have won their lives through hard work and a belief in something. The new american dream works differently. It's based on taking advantage. It's no longer working hard, but rather living out of the common welfare. These people burden the system and bring it down.

So as you see, it's not an anti-American song. It's quite metaphorically written and not so easy to figure out, in my opinion, which I'm also thankful for, considering how bad JP's lyrics were lately.