The Silent Man

Dream Theater

A question well served
Is silence like a fever,
A voice never heard
Or a message with no receiver?

Pray they won't ask
Behind the stained glass
There's always one more mask

Has man been a victim
Of his woman, of his father?
If he elects not to bother
Will he suffocate their faith?

Desperate to fall
Behind the great wall
That separates us all

When there is reason tonight I'm awake
When there's no answer arrive the silent man
If there is balance tonight he's awake
If they have to suffer there lies the silent man

Sin without deceivers
A god with no believers
I could sail by on the winds of silence
And maybe they won't notice
But this time I think it'd be better if I swim

When there is reason tonight I'm awake
When there's no answer arrive the silent man
If there is balance tonight he's awake
If they have to suffer there lies the silent man
There lies the silent man


Lyrics submitted by Thunderbolt

The Silent Man Lyrics as written by John Petrucci

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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The Silent Man song meanings
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17 Comments

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  • +1
    General CommentNah. Nothing of that. This song is about John Myung ;-)
    f15x28on February 26, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI think this song is about Jesus, he's is the Silent Man. "when there's no answer, arrives the Silent Man" and "if they have o suffer, there lie tha Silent Man"
    Peace.
    Hathaldiron February 27, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI read an essay somewhere making comparisons with Arabian Nights.
    Thunderbolton March 15, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentHere is a link to the afroementioned essay: dtfaq.com/question/…
    Idanon January 11, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Commentuh, didnt John Petrucci write this?
    whiteunibrowon June 11, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General CommentPetrucci wrote The Silent Man. Moore wrote 6:00, Lie and Space-Dye Vest from "Awake" as I recall.
    Anyway, The Silent Man is one of my favorite DT songs....so simple and yet so beautiful song.
    Opris Ovidiuon September 05, 2008   Link
  • 0
    My InterpretationSilence to make things better, or one who makes things all better without much effort. It sounds like the portrayal of those who are scared is causing people to look upon the silent man in ways that they shouldn't. I hate to say it, but it sounds like Petrucci could be referring to Jesus. Of course, that would coincide badly with other lines ("A sin without deceivers / A god with no believers"). The desperation coming from those who need the silent man seems very great. Since this is the end of the suite, it could be about those who are afraid to speak up, for whatever the reason might be.
    2006200720082009on May 26, 2009   Link
  • 0
    Song MeaningI think it might be about wisdom. Wisdom is personified it appears in the lyrics. "When there is reason, tonight he's awake".

    "Sin without deceivers, a god with no believers" is perhaps an understanding of absolute truth and absolute morality. The idea that you can have a god with no believers. No one believing there is no god doesn't make it true. In like manner to sin without a deceiver kinda point to a real objective right and wrong, or evil, beyond what we humans determine is right and wrong.
    jadmorffieron December 02, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General CommentGuys, on stage James said that the song was about Petrucci, and then performed it with acoustic music, just the two of them
    littledannypocketon March 08, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General CommentJohn Petrucci who is a Christian (Catholic) composed this song, so i'm positive that it's about Jesus. "When there's no answer, arrive the silent man" The Silent Man is Jesus himself. Sin without decievers and a god with no believers (It's true that there's a lot of Atheists) "I could sail by on the winds of silence and maybe they won't notice" (Despite of the people who doesn't believe in god, Jesus christ is watching) something like that. Peace! \m/
    grimnighton March 31, 2013   Link

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