Surrounded...

[Global Laziness]

I thought Surrounded was about AIDS...

me too.

Just did a quick search:

A very spiritually themed song, Surrounded was often dedicated to Arthur Ashe (the first major African-American tennis player) who died tragically of AIDS, and therefore may bear some relation to Learning To Live.

Source: https://dt.spatang.com/song/surrounded

[Orbert]

I never got that impression.  Did they say in an interview or something that it's about AIDS?

[Zydar]

I thought only LTL was about AIDS.

[Global Laziness]

I thought only LTL was about AIDS.

I'm pretty sure they both are.

[hefdaddy42]

I thought only LTL was about AIDS.

I'm pretty sure they both are.

I'm pretty sure they aren't.

[Dublagent66]

LATM version is best them!   

[AwakeFromOctavarium]

LATM version is best them!   

JLB sounds JUST like the studio version, only better .

[SilentFox]

LATM version is best them!   

JLB sounds JUST like the studio version, only better .

Both of these.  What makes the live version better is the use of piano over synth, actually.

On the topic of what the song is actually about: I know it's obviously not about this, but I always like to think it's about a lost, depressed man that meets a girl that brings him out of the darkness.

I keep AIDS in mind when I listen to it, but I don't see any connections at all.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

I thought only LTL was about AIDS.

lol concept.

in b4 "so Nicholas had AIDS all along!"

LATM version is best them!   

JLB sounds JUST like the studio version, only better .

Yeah. The only thing I would change of the LATM version is the guitar solo. For some reason, it sounds empty, wheras the studio version guitar solo sounds increible. I think it's double bass that's missing...I can't really tell what is it.

[Bone_Daddy]

In my top 5 of Favorite DT songs. I don't feel it was overshadowed by the other tracks on the album despite some comments on this thread. It stands on its own - and I could possibly go as far as saying it is a definitive DT song but I say 'possibly' because it's missing the signature DT "balls and chunk" headbangin' jam.

[Perpetual Change]

LATM version is best them!   

JLB sounds JUST like the studio version, only better .

Because it was recorded in the studio.

[antigoon]

Wither is a really great power ballad but Surrounded is on another level completely. The part after the guitar solo is just aural bliss.

[BlobVanDam]

LATM version is best them!   

JLB sounds JUST like the studio version, only better .

Because it was recorded in the studio.

I've never fully understood why they did that. Was it the one off night for JLB on the tour? Every real live bootleg I have from the IaW tour tells me that he could easily sing just as well legitimately, so the fact they overdubbed it doesn't bother me at all.

[YtseBitsySpider]

one of my top five dt songs as well....and the chaos in motion version is currently my fav....it shows the mindboggling prowess of JP, and while LaBrie doesn't sound great on it - it's good enough.

[Dream Team]

One of the first DT songs I really got into, and still probably my favorite DT songs of all. Very emotional, energetic, uplifting, rocking, and soulful, all in one, it explores so much emotions in such a short song. I love the lyrics, descriptive yet ambiguous and poetic (I posted my interpretation in some old thread I can't find, but basically to me it's about a depressed man who breaks out of his shell when he finds love). The whole 3:35-4:30 section is especially amazing, everything works together for a big climax.
It's also just so damn uplifting, which is my favorite aspect. I&W's sort of brighter sound helped with that. I don't think Surrounded could've been on any other album.

Top 10 for me.

[El JoNNo]

Yeah I don't see the connection with AIDS...


Awesome song one of my favourites.

To add to the short song list; Vacant, I love this song.

[Bone_Daddy]

one of my top five dt songs as well....and the chaos in motion version is currently my fav....it shows the mindboggling prowess of JP, and while LaBrie doesn't sound great on it - it's good enough.

I too like the Chaos in Motion version as well. Put that one on my phone for whenever I need a "pick-me-up" tune.

[dedSurroun]

I have the song as my username, so yeah, I love it.

[toro]

Surrounded is so strange.  It's like Christmas morning, and then your favorite TV show comes on.

THIS

BTW- hello thar guyz 

[tjanuranus]

It's a shame now that DT can't write a short, great song like Surrounded, without having a huge Petrucci/Rudess solo fest.

New Album does this with great success imo.

[JayOctavarium]

Holy BUMPcicles Batman!

[AngelBack]

While most of my top 1O DT songs are more proggy and I lean toward the epics, Surrounded is usually in my top 3 often number 1.  Song is beautifully arranged, JLB's best recroded vocal IMO, lyrics speak to me and I really don't get the AIDS interpretation at all, JP's solo, (ok I know Flock of Seagulls, whatever, I don't care).  After all these years I choose Surrounded more often than any other song when I want an intense "hit" of DT to distract me from the crappy things that F up your day. 

I know there are other Surrounded fanboys, and while not the definitive song to showcase and describe who DT is, this song just transcends in so many ways.   The verse after JP's solo with the incredible vocals, arpeggios and a pinch harmonic to boot just bring the bumps after all this time.  Flawless IMO.

[cramx3]

It's a shame now that DT can't write a short, great song like Surrounded, without having a huge Petrucci/Rudess solo fest.

New Album does this with great success imo.

Yea that comment was old and I was about to say... The Looking Glass.  Has the JP solo but its not a "solo fest" and a really awesome song nonetheless.  I think they filled that void.

[mike099]

Love the song, so powerful.  I listen to a few of DT songs each night and Surrounded is always the song I listen to last before going to sleep.

[Zook]

Surrounded is the first DT song I ever heard, and is still my favorite by them, but in the 7 years of being a fan I still don't know all the words...

[Estiui]

Tasteful song, top 5 easily. Great and strange structure, awesome song.

[KevShmev]

Surrounded is the first DT song I ever heard, and is still my favorite by them, but in the 7 years of being a fan I still don't know all the words...

Light to dark
Dark to light
Light to dark
Dark to light

How hard can that be to remember?

[Zook]

I think I almost have them memorized, I just don't have the time or privacy to sing along to my favorite songs anymore like I used to.

[Scar]

What can I say about Surrounded? I would give this song: "Most 'makes me dance crazily' award."

This song is super catchy, and even though it's the third shortest song, it has a lot of memorable moments. Love the verses and I absolutely love to death: "When I heard the stain glass shatter all around me. I sent the spirits tumbling down the hill. But I will hold this one on high above me still. She whispers words to clear my mind, I once could see, but now at last I'm blind."

While the verses and the solo make me really happy, that ending part makes me just explode out of my seat. Love the introduction and the outro by Kevin Moore. The ending is super beautiful and gets me every time.

[jasc15]

Holy BUMPcicles Batman!

[Agalsed]

My favorite version of surrounded is on their limelight bootleg. JLB's vocal improvisations are mind-blowingly good and I love the little flourishes that MP throws in there. Especially the fill right before "heaven must be more than this."

But, yeah, bottom line: it's a great song.