Don't Look Past Me

[Dacling]

I was wondering what everyone else's opinion is on this song. Personally I think it's one of their 3 best demos and I think it's a shame that it's one of the few demos that has never been played live before. Is there anyone else who would like to see them pull it out dust it off and play it live?

[JayOctavarium]

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooOOooooove it

[Cedar redaC]

It's definitely a very cool song, one that should have been on a studio album. Still it is nice to have songs like this for fans to "uncover" while discovering the band.

[PetFish]

When someone says "my heart needs lifting",
don't ask "how come", ask "how high."

This actually might be my favourite DT song of all time due in large part to this lyric.  Cuz everyone gets sad for different reasons and if the person you care about is feeling down they just want cheering up, even if you think it's a "dumb" reason for them to be feeling that way cuz what makes you feel sad might not make other people sad.

I love it when DT major/bright/happy songs.  JP's solo is just soaring and magnificent and I love his tone.  It's just a killer song.

[wasteland]

Best DT song DT never played.

[nikatapi]

Ι don't like it. Very Rush-like and James' voice doesn't fit the song imo.

[Eldomm]

Nothing special for me.

[YtseJamittaja]

Ι don't like it. Very Rush-like and James' voice doesn't fit the song imo.

[Cyclopssss]

Love the song and always wondered why they didn´t play it during the ´Score´ gig at RCMH.

[chaotic_ripper]

I'm listening right now actually.  It's always been a favorite of mine.  Portnoy was always the one into bringing out rare stuff, so the chances of it being played now aren't great.  However they did play To Live Forever once or twice on the last U.S. leg, but most fans, as well as the band probably think of that song as regular DT song and not a b-side.  Don't Look Past Me didn't even make it to b-side status.

[Tomislav95]

I love it very much

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

It's fantastic. It's a shame they never played it live, top 20 DT song for me.

[Marion Crane]

Yeah unfortunately this is one of the few DT songs I personally can't stand.

[TheGreatPretender]

I think the song's strongest point is that it's never been published, nor was it planned for any album, so just hearing a complete version of it on Cleaning Out The Closet gives it an air of mystique, like an unearthed relic. But as a song, I don't think it's anything special.

[The Letter M]

I think the song's strongest point is that it's never been published, nor was it planned for any album, so just hearing a complete version of it on Cleaning Out The Closet gives it an air of mystique, like an unearthed relic. But as a song, I don't think it's anything special.

AFAIK, wasn't DLPM written with the intent of being included on IAW, but was later taken off because they had written other songs they felt would've suited the album better?

-Marc.

[wasteland]

I think the song's strongest point is that it's never been published, nor was it planned for any album, so just hearing a complete version of it on Cleaning Out The Closet gives it an air of mystique, like an unearthed relic. But as a song, I don't think it's anything special.

AFAIK, wasn't DLPM written with the intent of being included on IAW, but was later taken off because they had written other songs they felt would've suited the album better?

-Marc.

Yup. It was for the best, though. We got Zydar's favourite song in its place.

[Zydar]

I think the song's strongest point is that it's never been published, nor was it planned for any album, so just hearing a complete version of it on Cleaning Out The Closet gives it an air of mystique, like an unearthed relic. But as a song, I don't think it's anything special.

AFAIK, wasn't DLPM written with the intent of being included on IAW, but was later taken off because they had written other songs they felt would've suited the album better?

-Marc.

Yup. It was for the best, though. We got Zydar's favourite song in its place.

Learning To Live?

[wasteland]

Learning To Live?

Surrounded?

[Zydar]

Learning To Live?

Surrounded?

Ah. It's a Top 5 song for sure.

[wasteland]

Learning To Live?

Surrounded?

Ah. It's a Top 5 song for sure.

For some reason I had become convinced that Surrounded was your #1. Well, Learning To Live sure deserves the spot. 

As for DLPM, do you prefer JLB's vocals or John Hendrix's? I was very pleasently surprised to hear how good was the latter's performance, but James still wins for me.

[Dacling]

Learning To Live?

Surrounded?

Ah. It's a Top 5 song for sure.

For some reason I had become convinced that Surrounded was your #1. Well, Learning To Live sure deserves the spot. 

As for DLPM, do you prefer JLB's vocals or John Hendrix's? I was very pleasently surprised to hear how good was the latter's performance, but James still wins for me.

I definitely prefer Labrie's but Hendrix's was very good. James really puts a lot into it and it's a shame it couldn't have also been on Images and Words without removing something same goes for To Live Forever.

[hefdaddy42]

It's an awesome song.

[RaiseTheKnife]

Love the song and love this thread!! 

I first heard the John Hendricks version and thought wow, what a cool song... then James cleaned out the closet in '99 and hit a home run with his rendition.  Deserves to be heard live.  I imagine a member from the opening act joining the stage to help with the duet sections. (any suggestions as to who?)

Also, for you cinefiles, the song references some must see movies.

[LCArenas]

One of the most underrated JP solos EVER. Might even be in my top 10 or 5. Not as good as any of the songs in I&W, but it's still a great song nonetheless.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

Love the song and love this thread!! 

I first heard the John Hendricks version and thought wow, what a cool song... then James cleaned out the closet in '99 and hit a home run with his rendition.  Deserves to be heard live.  I imagine a member from the opening act joining the stage to help with the duet sections. (any suggestions as to who?)

Also, for you cinefiles, the song references some must see movies.

I always dreamt of this being played during Progressive Nation 08, when Pain of Salvation was on the bill with Daniel Gildenlow making backing vocals.

[TheGreatPretender]

AFAIK, wasn't DLPM written with the intent of being included on IAW, but was later taken off because they had written other songs they felt would've suited the album better?

-Marc.

Yeah, but so were To Live Forever and A Change of Seasons. But those two actually got official releases on ACOS EP and the Greatest Hit as well as multiple releases on singles and other fan club CDs. Plus they've been played live even back then. But not many people would've gotten the chance to get DLPM and they didn't even record the vocals for it until Cleaning Out The Closet, so it was still a fairly unique song, I'd say. Far more than the former two, so I think that gives it a very unique sense of mystique, because they never did play it live (correct?) so there was a fairly good chance that we may never have heard it. And even now, it's only gotten one release on one fanclub CD that many people probably don't even have the access to now. Although it's probably on Youtube.

[Dacling]

AFAIK, wasn't DLPM written with the intent of being included on IAW, but was later taken off because they had written other songs they felt would've suited the album better?

-Marc.

Yeah, but so were To Live Forever and A Change of Seasons. But those two actually got official releases on ACOS EP and the Greatest Hit as well as multiple releases on singles and other fan club CDs. Plus they've been played live even back then. But not many people would've gotten the chance to get DLPM and they didn't even record the vocals for it until Cleaning Out The Closet, so it was still a fairly unique song, I'd say. Far more than the former two, so I think that gives it a very unique sense of mystique, because they never did play it live (correct?) so there was a fairly good chance that we may never have heard it. And even now, it's only gotten one release on one fanclub CD that many people probably don't even have the access to now. Although it's probably on Youtube.

It is most definitely on youtube as this is where I heard it. I just think a song as good as it is should at least get played once live maybe pull it out of nowhere on the next dvd they do and even if they only played it once live at least we will have gotten to hear it just that once.

[TheGreatPretender]

It is most definitely on youtube as this is where I heard it. I just think a song as good as it is should at least get played once live maybe pull it out of nowhere on the next dvd they do and even if they only played it once live at least we will have gotten to hear it just that once.

Yeah, but now of all times, I think it would be more difficult than ever, since they've been using pre-recorded backing vocals, so unless they have the original masters, JLB would have to re-record the backing vocals, and I doubt they want to go through all that.

But hey, you'll get no argument from me. It's way better than some of the songs that made the rotation this past tour.

[BlobVanDam]

Kind of a directionless and average song. Not bad, but nothing special imo. Cool guitar solo though, and it kind of reminds me of UAGM in terms of note choice and technique.

[?]

Pretty good song, but while stylistically it might fit on I&W, I'm glad they didn't include it. The songs that made it are better and I have no idea where DLPM's place could be on the tracklisting.

[MoraWintersoul]

Yeah, but now of all times, I think it would be more difficult than ever, since they've been using pre-recorded backing vocals, so unless they have the original masters, JLB would have to re-record the backing vocals, and I doubt they want to go through all that.

Which is why Iced Earth only brought back Dante now, right?

[ZirconBlue]

I definitely prefer Labrie's but Hendrix's was very good. James really puts a lot into it and it's a shame it couldn't have also been on Images and Words without removing something same goes for To Live Forever.

I&W has plenty of room to add another song or two.

[wasteland]

I definitely prefer Labrie's but Hendrix's was very good. James really puts a lot into it and it's a shame it couldn't have also been on Images and Words without removing something same goes for To Live Forever.

I&W has plenty of room to add another song or two.

But the label wouldn't allow a rather young and unknown band to release a double LP straight away, and so ACOS and the two old songs were dropped.

[Zydar]

I definitely prefer Labrie's but Hendrix's was very good. James really puts a lot into it and it's a shame it couldn't have also been on Images and Words without removing something same goes for To Live Forever.

I&W has plenty of room to add another song or two.

But the label wouldn't allow a rather young and unknown band to release a double LP straight away, and so ACOS and the two old songs were dropped.

The album is 57 minutes long so they could've fit another song or two without it being a double LP.

[wasteland]

Wasn't the upper limit for a CD 60 minutes or so back then?