Lost Not Forgotten Lyrics
I am just a man
A power-craving tyrant
beyond the shadows in the sand
Men have come to fear me
Many bow and cry
Known across the desert
I am the one who will not die
I have been the one to defend our pride
I have worn the banner of my abandoned brothers
I will be the first one to give my life
Feared and respected, living among the gods
Leading the empire, spirit as black as coal
Lost not forgotten, king of the deathless soul
Pages torn and faded
The greatest story never told
Behold the kingdom I possess
Land of wealth and beauty
where the streets are paved with gold
Once fearless and brave
A realm passed away
The ghosts of yesterday
[CHORUS]
Feared and respected, living among the gods
Leading the empire, brutal and heartless
Vanishing further into the darkness
Lost not forgotten, king of the deathless soul
It almost feels like the perspective of Genghis Khan to me. Also, the intro Petrucci/Ruddess unison is one of the most impressive displays of their skills that I've ever heard.
Petrucci said its about an ancient Persian army/empire. Dunno exactly when though.
Sounds like it's from the perspective of the ghost of an ancient pharoah
Because of the first 2 verses I thought this one is about a dictator somewhere in the middle east. You know, a megalomaniac, who thinks of himself as some kind of god.
I found it to be a prelude to Outcry as in that song the band supports the revolutionists who fight for their freedom.
This reminds me of that Ozymandias poem I had to read and interpret in my senior year of High School.
I think this song is about Mike Portnoy (former drummer for Dream Theater) leaving the band. " I am not immortal I am just a man A power-craving tyrant Beyond the shadows in the sand"
In that way describing his personality.
"Leading the empire Brutal and heartless
thus meaning that he is one of the founding members of the band and that they lost a big part of the band when he left.
They do use the whole 'pharoah' metaphor to describe Portnoy as a king. read the following:
"Behold the kingdom I possess Land of wealth and beauty Where the streets are paved with gold"
He was treated like a 'king' when he was still in the band.
"Vanishing further Into the darkness.." Lost not forgotten King of the deathless soul" meaning he will always be in the band members and fans' hearts.
Petrucci said: "The mood of the song always reminded me of an old-time epic film like Ben-Hur. So I wrote lyrics that are somewhat historical about this ancient Persian elite fighting force that kind of died out. Again, a good example of my love for storytelling and linking music to words."
However, I love getting my own meanings out of songs (after all that is the beauty of an art ... it is open to interpretation).