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.
A suited man smiled said:
"It's just a matter of time
You can have the world at your feet
By tomorrow
Just sign on this line."
Hold tight, limelight!
Approaching the paramount
With the sun in our eyes
Fearing family ties, legalize,
Compromise
In a dimly lit room with a stool as his
Stage
A dream-stricken prince of a pauper's
Descent
Haunts the eavesdropping silence
That presses his window
As he sweats a performance
To an audience that ticks on the wall
To the practical observer
It's just a matter of time
"You can deviate from the com-
Monplace
Only to fall back in line."
I understand mine's a risky plan
And your system can't miss
But is security after all a cause
Or symptom of happiness?
Brave, yet afraid, his eyes on horizon
In a steady-set gaze
A mariner soon from an open cocoon
Takes a moment to summon his courage
To stifle his grave apprehension and
Trembling, approaches the surf
A father's benediction as his hopeful
Son departs
To brave the sea of rage and conquer
At all costs
Lingers in his memory
And visions still surviving in a logic-
Proof shell
That should have been held sacred, safe
And hidden well
Are compromised in usury
With every rising sun that yields no
Sight of land
The hesitation cultivates within the
Tired man
And rumors spread of mutiny
And though the time will come when
Dream and day unite
Tonight the only consolation causing
Him to fight
In fearless faith in destiny
Even when plans fall to pieces
I can still find the courage
With promise I've found in my faith
Likely or not, it's a dream that we keep
And at odds with our senses we'll climb
But if faith is the answer, we're already
Reached it
And if spirit's a sign
Then it's only a matter of time
"It's just a matter of time
You can have the world at your feet
By tomorrow
Just sign on this line."
Hold tight, limelight!
Approaching the paramount
With the sun in our eyes
Fearing family ties, legalize,
Compromise
In a dimly lit room with a stool as his
Stage
A dream-stricken prince of a pauper's
Descent
Haunts the eavesdropping silence
That presses his window
As he sweats a performance
To an audience that ticks on the wall
To the practical observer
It's just a matter of time
"You can deviate from the com-
Monplace
Only to fall back in line."
I understand mine's a risky plan
And your system can't miss
But is security after all a cause
Or symptom of happiness?
Brave, yet afraid, his eyes on horizon
In a steady-set gaze
A mariner soon from an open cocoon
Takes a moment to summon his courage
To stifle his grave apprehension and
Trembling, approaches the surf
A father's benediction as his hopeful
Son departs
To brave the sea of rage and conquer
At all costs
Lingers in his memory
And visions still surviving in a logic-
Proof shell
That should have been held sacred, safe
And hidden well
Are compromised in usury
With every rising sun that yields no
Sight of land
The hesitation cultivates within the
Tired man
And rumors spread of mutiny
And though the time will come when
Dream and day unite
Tonight the only consolation causing
Him to fight
In fearless faith in destiny
Even when plans fall to pieces
I can still find the courage
With promise I've found in my faith
Likely or not, it's a dream that we keep
And at odds with our senses we'll climb
But if faith is the answer, we're already
Reached it
And if spirit's a sign
Then it's only a matter of time
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Also, this song really shows off Dream Theater's lyrical prowess. The lyrics are absolutely excellent and sound great and yet are still deeply powerful. Only a Matter of Time is, lyrically, probably one of Dream Theater's best.
And this segment of the song happens to be one of the most poetic segments of music I have ever heard:
"A father's benediction as his hopeful son departs to brave the sea of rage and conquer at all costs lingers in his memory and visions still surviving in a logic-proof shell that should have been held sacred, safe and hidden well are compromised in usury with every rising sun that yields no sight of land the hesitation cultivates within the tired man and rumors spread of mutiny and though the time will come when dream and day unite tonight the only consolation causing him to fight is fearless faith in destiny"
Wow, no comments on such an excellent song...
From the lyrics, I think it might be about a sea voyage of a young man, who has put his whole life into this, and his belief that he cannot fail is all that keeps him going. deep breath
Then again, it could be a metaphor for how Dream Theater had to succeed...
I like the metaphor theory better!
This song is excellent. From it was the best song in LAB, check it out.
Yes, the song was written in the begginings of DT. To me it means that they were a little afraid but they wanted to succed no matter what (brave yet afraid).
Mikachu wrote: Only a Matter of Time is, lyrically, probably one of Dream Theater's best.
I suggest you start reading the other lyrics, because this is definitely NOT the best song, lyrically. I think Voices is lyrically the best song.
to me, this song is about an artist starting his career. the sea is just a metaphor, it's not about a sea voyage. especially the 2nd paragraph shows this: "as he sweats a performance to an audience that ticks on the walls"
and i agree with f15x28. this song is not a good vocal song, it's rather forced.
Their growing fame and the rise to power that would come, depicted through the metaphor of a sea voyage.
Great song - I'd just like to point out a quick bit of wordplay here that makes the song all the more meaningful. When the phrase "Only a Matter of Time" is first used in the song, it refers to other people looking at the musician, feeling assured that it won't be long before he fails in his career and has to go back to the common life. But by the end they turn it around and know that it's only a matter of time before they succeed - which, as it happens, they turned out to be right about.
In a broader sense, the song is about taking risks in order to find greater happiness in the end, and the phrase here that they chose for the album, "When Dream and Day Unite" seems to refer to the point in life where your dreams are waking - you're living out your dreams day to day.
Also, I believe a vocal melody here is reused on Take the Time.
This song isn't actually that forced, it sounds a lot less "forced" when sung my LaBrie. the best performance of thi is on Live At Budokan where its an amazing song.
As for the lyrics, they are about how Dream Theater fought and coped to eventually become successful(which at the time they were not very successful).
Its about all that they were promised: A suited man smiled said: "It's just a matter of time You can have the world at your feet by tomorrow just sign on this line."
And about their journey. Hence the metaphor of the ship at sea. And how they said that theyve come so far that its "only a matter of time" before theyre famous.
Well thats my take on the song :)
A whirlwind date with fame and glamour maybe?
This song only sounds good with Charlie Dominici. As much as I love James LaBrie, this song was made for Charlie.
I'd just like to point out that this is a Kevin Moore song, through and through. In my opinion, he wrote most of Dream Theater's best songs (lyrically). Once he left the band, they definitely lost something on that end.
Great song, by the way.