There was no time for pain
No energy for anger
The sightlessness of hatred slips away
Walking through winter streets alone
He stops and takes a breath
With confidence and self-control

I look at the world and see no understanding
I'm waiting to find some sense of strength
I'm begging you from the bottom of my heart
To show me understanding

I need to live life
Like some people never will
So find me kindness
Find me beauty
Find me truth
When temptation brings me to my knees
And I lay here drained of strength
Show me kindness
Show me beauty
Show me truth

The way your heart sounds
Makes all the difference
It's what decides if you'll endure the pain that we all feel
The way your heart beats
Makes all the difference
In learning to live

Here before me is my soul
I'm learning to live
I won't give up till I've no more to give
No more to give

Listening to the city
Whispering its violence
I set out watching from above
The 90's bring new questions
New solutions to be found
I fell in love to be let down

Once again we dance in the crowd
At times a step away
From a common fear that's all spread out
It won't listen to what you say
Once you're touched you stand alone
To face the bitter fight
Once I reached for love
And now I reach for life

Another chance to lift my life
Free the sensation in my heart
To ride the wings of dreams
Into changing horizons
It brings inner peace within my mind
As I'm lifted from where I spilt my life
I hear an innocent voice
I hear kindness, beauty and truth


The way your heart sounds
Makes all the difference
It's what decides if you'll endure the pain that we all feel
The way your heart beats
Makes all the difference
In learning to live

Spread before you is your soul
So forever hold the dreams within our hearts
Through nature's inflexible grace
I'm learning to live


Lyrics submitted by rainstorm

Learning to Live Lyrics as written by John Petrucci John Myung

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Learning to Live song meanings
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    General Comment

    The AIDS interpretation makes perfect sense. But like many of Dream Theater's songs, it works on many levels. A theory: Perhaps the tie in with "Wait for Sleep?" has to do with a breakup between the woman and her lover (I would assume a boyfriend.) Perhaps one of them realizes they have AIDs and feel the need to break things off. Perhaps the woman in Wait for Sleep finds out that the man has AIDs, and overcome by fear, and breaks things off. Perhaps the woman is ALSO the subject of Learning to Live (unlike Wait for Sleep, LTL is gender-neutral.) Or maybe they have nothing to do with each other. Beats the heck out of me, but speculating on song meanings makes traffic so much more bearable.

    Travataron June 10, 2009   Link

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