| Dream Theater – Overture 1928 Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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Erm, guys, it is an overture. Classicaly, an overture is played at the start of an opera or a show, or at the start of the second act, and goes through the scenes that are going to be shown, or that were shown in the first part. DT use this both here and on Six Degrees in that overture. This one doesn't actualy go that far (the Six Degrees one is basicaly a classical overture), but it goes some of the way, using themes from the other songs. |
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| Dream Theater – Overture 1928 Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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Erm, guys, it is an overture. Classicaly, an overture is played at the start of an opera or a show, or at the start of the second act, and goes through the scenes that are going to be shown, or that were shown in the first part. DT use this both here and on Six Degrees in that overture. This one doesn't actualy go that far (the Six Degrees one is basicaly a classical overture), but it goes some of the way, using themes from the other songs. |
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| Rise Against – Black Masks and Gasoline Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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Why does everyone dismiss the anarchy angle so quickly? Does anyone here actualy study true anarchy? It isn't protesting and bitching. It is idealism. A world where everyone can be truely free of mindless comitments and other peoples perceptions. It doesn't work in our world today, but idealistic viewpoints, like Communism or perfect democracy don't. They are not practical. But theoreticaly possible, and models from which we can model to create a better world, if not that perfect one over the horizon. People today live in a mindless routine of money and social status. These things are meaningless, whether you are spiritual or not. I am 100% materialist, yet detest consumerism and the viewpoint that money and society has any meaning beyond that which we give it. I don't believe in souls or spirits, but do believe in humans and nature, and the fact that we have the potential to be something special. More or less, the words are saying that the world we think is important is just something that people have created, some fiction that the world subscribes to. If we want to, if we try hard enough, if we fight hard enough, we can redefine these fictions. We can go beyond that that society defines and simply get things done. We can dodge the bull and hypocracy, and the mindless rat race, and simply live as we should. As we see fit. Society doesn't do anything for those who are cast out by it. By redrawing society along lines that don't judge on financial or cultural standards, we can create something where everyone can find a role within it. |
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| Rise Against – To Them These Streets Belong Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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Spokes, that seems to make a hell of a lot of sense here. The opening line "so look in my eyes, what will you leave behind once you've gone?" challenges the listener to think about what they are doing for society, particularly in comparison with the angels, and ghosts, those inderviduals who have shaped this world we live in. The great imagery here of the blood of angels being on us all fits perfectly. The people who have fallen for our ideals blood is on our hands, because we have benifit from their sacrifice. The only way we can make up for this is by taking up their banners, bringing the ghosts back to life, and taking their causes as our own. People today are content with how far we have come. They look backwards and see how things were, and how much better they are today. The idealists, anarchists, equal rights protesters, feminists and other progressives all look forwards, to some goal towards which we can work. How far we have come doens't matter. What matters is how far we have left to go, and that we keep moving. |
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| Rise Against – Blood Red, White, and Blue Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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An interesting part here is; "Peace won't be found, Till we're underground, As long as we live without a sound" In my opinion, this is the most important part of the song. Basicaly, it is saying we will never be at peace till we are dead unless we make our voices heard and make some noise, get some one to take notice of what is happening and get them to do something about it. That is what this song tries to be. That sound that will awaken people and get them to take notice. Most of the song is an attack on blind patriotism. The important line, "pride yourself on what you are". ON WHAT YOU ARE. Not what you see the nation as being, not what you are told it is, not what others see. What you are. Of course, the song falls short. It isn't really an attack on the USA, but more a call to clean it up and do something about it. It is a plea for help, a plea that is ignored by those who would rather just cry out against Bush, while not adressing deeper problems. |
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| Rise Against – Halfway There Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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I think that many people here have it backwards. Rather than being about the first half being the hardest, or being pushed around, it is about pushing yourself. The main theme of the song is indomitable spirit. The ability to carry on beyond your normal limits. Basicaly, when your body screams to quit, and you don't see any way that you can carry on, you find that extra little bit and push yourself that extra distance. Everyone has this ability, but it is damned hard to exercise. If you feel that it is time to quit, then you are probably only halfway to your actual breaking point. It is the people who can make use of that second half, and go that extra distance that can really do something in this world. To me, this meaning was very clear very quickly. I have lived by these words for a long time now, long before I had heard this song. I also like the links with Give It All there. If you wanted to, you could see this one as someone deciding not to give up and to push themselfs further, but not knowing their direction. They can see what is wrong, but not how to address it. In Give It All, their path and drive are both clear, and their lifes have direction and meaning. |
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| Rise Against – Give It All Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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If you take the video into account, the song makes a lot of sense as a rather sophisticated anarchists anthem. The video itself has a definate Fight Club feel to it. It is about a group of people who recognise the insane nature of our society, and find their little ways to strike out against it and show their contempt for it. The song itself speaks of this. "Rock bottoms where we live, and still we dig these trenches, to bury ourselves in them, backs breaking under tension." We are stuck in this society and world that is actualy designed to limit and restrain us, yet the only way to survive there is to work with it and dig yourself deeper. The people shown in the video, and spoken about in the song, are true anarchists. Not the kids who go around with the A on their HotTopic shirts, but the people who recognise the insanity and see that they can wake others up to it as well. Revolution itself doesn't do any good, in the traditional sense. However, by showing the world and opening its eyes to the way things are, you can slowly change things and opinions to create a new world where such things no longer need to exist. Only a fool throws his life away for a cause, but a man who doesn't live for a cause and with some sort of wish is as good as dead. You have to have something that you can strive for, and something you can dedicate yourself to. The great thing about that depicted in this song and video is that you are not only working for change in a very real way, but also allowing yourself to break away from the stupidity as you do so. Maybe you can't let everyone breath the fresh air, but you can grab a few quick lungfulls every now and then. Oh, and there seems to be a link with Halfway There (one of my other favorite songs) where they ask for 'a reason, I need a reason'. Here they talk about having that reason. The two songs are very much on the same wavelength in other ways as well. |
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| Foo Fighters – Hell Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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I just love how DOA runs straight into this song, the two meshing perfectly. Besides that, the lyrics just work, and the music just carries it through. Got to love it. |
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| Dream Theater – Solitary Shell Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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The song may have been written about Autism, but what is described is more exactly Aspergers syndrome/disorder, which is often classified as high functioning Autism. It is a seperate syndrome, which shares a lot with autism, but where the person with the syndrome has a lot higher brain functions than your standard Autistic, often being fine other than a dislike for social environments and seeming somewhat slow sometimes. There can be other symptoms, especialy when under stress, but for the most part they are a lot more 'normal' than your average autistic. The important point here is that there is a campaign to have this syndrome no longer recognised as a disorder, but as a standard variation from normal. While it does seem to restrict the sufferer in day to day social life, it often leaves them funtioning better on different levels. Many asbergers people seem to be the source of many 'savants' and there have been many talented artists. Their skills may lie in other areas, but they are just as able as 'normals'. |
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| Dream Theater – Finally Free Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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The strongest part of this song is again repetition of lines by different characters, in this case the; "This feeling inside me Finally found my love, I've finally broke free No longer torn in two..." When the Miracle sings them, they are very sinister, as he is planting the words on the dead Sleeper. Then Victorias part shows how she has finaly found her true feelings and some degree of peace with her decision, although the next line ("He'd kill his brother if he only knew") shows that there is still a fear and sense that things may not work out. Finaly, Nick uses the words to show how he has also found a peace and comfort in the story, and that he has come to terms with the truth. The second time he sings the words, with the backing vocals, I think represents the fact that he has intergrated Victorias life into his own. If you listen to the music itself, there are some strong key changes, major to minor, which come at important parts. For example, the first comes as Nick drives off at the start and is followed by the Miracles part in a rather sinister key (apart from the part where he is writing the note, which is still very twisted). Then it changes to upbeat major for Victorias part. Another shift comes with the death scene (after the line "shot out of the night", and then back to major in time for Nick to start singing. All very appropriate. But then there is one last change that I never understood; on the line, "We'll meet again my friend someday soon... " My idea of this one is that it is a premonition of his own death, at the hands of the Hypnotherapist. He doesn't know what is going on, but part of the idea I had about the story is that Victoria is actualy trying to warn him through showing him the truth. He has accepted the idea that death is not the end, but missed the idea that it may come sooner than he thought. I am still wondering how the news broadcast fits in. It is one point in the whole well crafted story that seems out of place. |
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| Dream Theater – One Last Time Lyrics | 20 years ago |
| This one is all about linking the other parts of the story together, setting up for the final conclusions of the last two songs. The part I find strongest is Victoria repeating the last words of The Sleeper, which I think ties into the idea of it being the last step of Nicks journey. The last time he enters the past and has the truth revealed. | |
| Dream Theater – Overture 1928 Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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Hmm. Not one comment here. I think that this song is very important. It is representative of the whole regression experience for Nick, and has deep currents in the music itself, with some parts of the score surfacing again later in the album. However, it is also one of the best songs on the album musicaly, and flows amazingly well with the other songs. |
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| Dream Theater – Home Lyrics | 20 years ago |
| To me, this song is one of the key points in the album, and also one of the strangest. It shows, not the links between Nicholas and Victoria, but the parallels between him and the two men who she loved. The three men all follow the same lyrical patern, representing their obsession (the word is even used by Nick) and deep need for the same woman. This says to me that, while Nick and Victoria are one and the same, he has also become obsessed with her life to the same level as the men who loved her. | |
| Funeral for a Friend – History Lyrics | 20 years ago |
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I was just thinking about the lines; "Archers in your arches Raise your fingers for one last salute" And I think this may actualy come from a historical base. The band are Welsh (duh), where the longbow was originaly created. The longbow, in the English army, was the source of the classic two finger gesture (the two finger salute), which was originaly directed towards the French as a way of showing that you still had them (they tended to cut of the fingers of bowmen who they captured) and were going to use them to kill a few people now. Other than the Romeo lines, I can see no other links like that though. |
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| 36 Crazyfists – Installing The Catheter Lyrics | 20 years ago |
| Er, guys, a Catheter isn't installed in the heart. At least, not normaly. It is a tube used to remove waste from coma victims and those who are bed ridden. As in a tube that goes into the bladder. Not pleasent image. But it makes more sense with some of the lines. | |
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