In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
An Angel's kiss now fallen
Descending scarlet cuts the sky
Faded names left on the wall
Honor the fighting leave life to
Die
Remembered is the sacrifice but
No appraisal of blood still flowing
Who were the leaders?
What controlled the Killing Hand
That caused this mouthing?
Crossing over
Lowered deep into the sea
Being a waits to cleanse his soul
Senses weakening time is still
Motionless by stiffening cold
The wheels race back and
Scorch his mind
Traveling all to find the land
Revelation warms a touch
And now he will begin to
Understand
Extended a view to yesterday
Manifestation for none the same
Walking amidst a frightening still
No sound, no smoke, no scorching
Flames
He is risen
Sipping his poison the raven sings
Yet another to add more bodies
Fallen
King from below
This one controls
The Killing Hand that caused this
Mourning
Is it all over?
[IV. Thorns]
Evil genius this secret plan
Mercy dealt with the losing hand
Will he ever fall?
Can he end it all?
Our savior must make his stand
Only a Propher of years to come
Wanting mortality I'm all alone
He heard my voice
It was my choice
I've stopped the Killing Hand
When I go back again
Will it be the same?
I've stopped the cries
But now they know my name
The sea is calling me
My spirit must return
As I get closer,
Was it really worth
What I have learned?
I'm in the valley
And the saddened chimes I hear
Race towards the wall to find
One more name appears
No one is left now
My one and only land
I laugh at what I've done
I am the Killing Hand
Descending scarlet cuts the sky
Faded names left on the wall
Honor the fighting leave life to
Die
Remembered is the sacrifice but
No appraisal of blood still flowing
Who were the leaders?
What controlled the Killing Hand
That caused this mouthing?
Crossing over
Lowered deep into the sea
Being a waits to cleanse his soul
Senses weakening time is still
Motionless by stiffening cold
The wheels race back and
Scorch his mind
Traveling all to find the land
Revelation warms a touch
And now he will begin to
Understand
Extended a view to yesterday
Manifestation for none the same
Walking amidst a frightening still
No sound, no smoke, no scorching
Flames
He is risen
Sipping his poison the raven sings
Yet another to add more bodies
Fallen
King from below
This one controls
The Killing Hand that caused this
Mourning
Is it all over?
[IV. Thorns]
Evil genius this secret plan
Mercy dealt with the losing hand
Will he ever fall?
Can he end it all?
Our savior must make his stand
Only a Propher of years to come
Wanting mortality I'm all alone
He heard my voice
It was my choice
I've stopped the Killing Hand
When I go back again
Will it be the same?
I've stopped the cries
But now they know my name
The sea is calling me
My spirit must return
As I get closer,
Was it really worth
What I have learned?
I'm in the valley
And the saddened chimes I hear
Race towards the wall to find
One more name appears
No one is left now
My one and only land
I laugh at what I've done
I am the Killing Hand
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Petrucci wrote it as a sort of Twilight Zone story about war, in which the main character witnesses all these atrocities and sees the names of the dead on a wall. He then realizes it had been him the whole time causing the atrocities... Then he sees his own name on the wall.
But as always, this is open to interpertation by the listener.
One of the best Dream Theater songs ever. The lyrics are just beautiful.
Damn, when Thorns comes in this song gets even better. Great song.
I recently revisited this song. Watched its version from the WDADRU DVD - an extended version with an instrumental section of the band together and then a solo from petrucci. EXCELLENT STUFF! :D
I really dislike the WDADRU version. James' vocals are terrible in it. The Live at the Marquee or WDADU ones are brilliant.
Now listening to the version from The Show That Stumped Them All. It's sounding good =)
The live at the Marquee version does sound nice. Havnet heard of the WDADRU version. Or these other versions, should look into it.
"I really dislike the WDADRU version. James' vocals are terrible in it. The Live at the Marquee or WDADU ones are brilliant."
You're wront. In WDADU it wasn't James the vocalist yet, it was Charlie Dominici. He was replaced by James Labrie after WDADU and James started in Images and Words as vocalist of DT.
Edit: Never mind, my bad, I didn't saw "WDADRU". I thought you were talking of WDADR (the album himself).
anyone know whos playing the intro with petrucci? I hear a second guitar finger picking.
"anyone know whos playing the intro with petrucci? I hear a second guitar finger picking."
It's Jordan Rudess playing his keyboard with a guitar sound
Are you kidding? Jordan Rudess wasn't even in LTE when WDADU was made... and I don't think that Moore did anything to make guitar sounds in the intro, anyways.
I'm obviously talking about the live version.<br /> On the album, all guitars are from Petrucci.