Headline: "murder, young girl killed
Desperate shooting at echo's hill
Dreadful ending, killer died
Evidently suicide."

A witness heard a horrifying sound
He ran to find a woman dead and
Lying on the ground

Standing by her was a man
Nervous, shaking, gun in hand
Witness says he tried to help
But he'd turned the weapon on himself

His body fell across that poor young girl
After shouting out in vain
The witness ran to call for assistance
A sad close to a broken love affair

Our deeds have traveled far
What we have been is what we are

Our deeds have traveled far
What we have been is what we are

She wanted love forever
But he had another plan
He fell into an evil way
She had to let him down
She said, "I can't love a wayward man."

She may have found a reason to forgive
If he had only tried to change
Was their fatal meeting prearranged

Had a violent struggle taken place
There was every sign that lead there
Witness found a switchblade on the ground
Was the victim unaware
They continued to investigate
They found a note in the killer's pocket
It could have been a suicide letter
Maybe he had lost her love

I feel there's only one thing left to do
I'd sooner take my life away
Than live with losing you

Our deeds have traveled far
What we have been is what we are

Our deeds have traveled far
What we have been is what we are

All that we learn this time
(what we have been is what we are)
Is carried beyond this life

All that we learn this time
(what we have been is what we are)
Is carried beyond this life

Our deeds have traveled far
What we have been is what we are

Our deeds have traveled far
What we have been is what we are

All that we learn this time
(what we have been is what we are)
Is carried beyond this life

All that we learn this time
(what we have been is what we are)
Is carried beyond this life


Lyrics submitted by Idan, edited by Octavarium64

Beyond This Life Lyrics as written by John Petrucci John Myung

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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This is the Life song meanings
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11 Comments

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  • +2
    General CommentOne of the most beautiful songs from Dream Theater. I think the lyrics are pretty self explanatory. Don't waste time wishing you were someone else (Have you ever wished you were someone else - Traded places in your mind - it's only a waste of time). But also, you are the master of your own destiny (Feed the illusion you dream about).

    Basically, instead of dreaming about being someone else, get off your butt and do something about it.
    penmark71on November 16, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General CommentOne of the most "beautiful" songs...

    Truly Great

    I only wish for the part 5:50-6:26 was bigger.
    FoXfOxFoXon September 04, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General CommentWow, what a introspective and powerful song. This is much bigger than MP related. "Time races on. What will they say after you're gone". Love it
    SkyPyroon September 20, 2011   Link
  • +1
    My InterpretationI'm someone who beats up on myself a lot and compares myself to other people too much. I interpreted this song as a message to stop berating yourself and accept where you are in life...of course it's written by people who are self-actualized about 10 times over, so I think "easy for you to say" but I think it can be about appreciating the life you have, whatever that is.
    spacedyeon August 06, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General CommentIt's hard not to think that this is not Portnoy related.
    One of the most beautiful song by Dream Theater in a while.

    -cheers from the Philippines-
    damnation1928on September 05, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI think the title explains it, and it explores how life works
    corerulezon September 15, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My InterpretationHaving lived my life in a maze a few years back, this song speaks from experience and is simply beautiful.
    Living gracefully...smells like freedom to me-
    Desperado70on October 19, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General CommentIt's about living life to the fullest even though people will drag you down, don't give up. The recent passing of Whitney Houston, made me think of these lyrics.
    Disspositionon February 20, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis song is too much like the movie "Being John Malkovich", where a puppeteer finds a portal that transports him to the mind of John Malcovich for about 15 minutes where he is then spit out and transported somewhere else. You ask why? Because he wishes to be John Malcovich because someone he loves is involved with him, in the end SPOILERS:

    He gets trapped in the body of his lover and ex wife's (Lesbians) daughter (John Malcovich's and his lover's biological daughter) where he stays there for ever. Thus being lost in the maze and can't find the way home, driven by love and crushed by hate until the day the gift is gone and shadows remain.The puppeteer is now the puppet because he can't control the daughter. They even mention in the movie about some people life gracefully while some lose the way home (In a way).
    Psych0tr0non October 19, 2013   Link
  • 0
    My OpinionThis song is too much like the movie "Being John Malkovich", where a puppeteer finds a portal that transports him to the mind of John Malcovich for about 15 minutes where he is then spit out and transported somewhere else. You ask why? Because he wishes to be John Malcovich because someone he loves is involved with him, in the end SPOILERS:

    He gets trapped in the body of his lover and ex wife's (Lesbians) daughter (John Malcovich's and his lover's biological daughter) where he stays there for ever. Thus being lost in the maze and can't find the way home, driven by love and crushed by hate until the day the gift is gone and shadows remain.The puppeteer is now the puppet because he can't control the daughter. They even mention in the movie about some people life gracefully while some lose the way home (In a way).
    Psych0tr0non October 19, 2013   Link

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