On the Backs of Angels lyrics (now with poll to guess lyricist)

[Aniland]

This is what I'm hearing. Feel free to correct and add.



Standing on the backs of angels
Destined to create
Mounting the attack
While heroes carry your weight

We spiral toward disaster
Survival fading faster

Riding out the wave
Content to feeding the machine
Leading us to death
The new American dream

You're blinded by your hunger
Beware, your days are numbered

Tears fall from the shameless
Shelter me, guide me to the edge of the water
Selfless are the righteous
Burden me, lead me like a lamb to the slaughter

Blurring lines drawn in between
What is right and what is wrong
Victims on the radar
Straining us along

We're onto your agenda
The dead end road to nowhere

Tears fall from the shameless
Shelter me, guide me to the edge of the water
Selfless are the righteous
Burden me, lead me like a lamb to the slaughter

[solo]

Tears fall from the shameless
Shelter me, guide me to the edge of the water
Selfless are the righteous
Burden me, lead me like a lamb to the slaughter

Selfless are the righteous
Burden me, lead me like a lamb to the slaughter

[jlandrus23]

James Lebrie killed this song. His voice amazes me.

[Metabog]

Sounds like JLB to me.

[Aniland]

I'm thinking it was either LaBrie or Myung. Probably LaBrie, since his songs are always more current and modern lyrically.

[ReaPsTA]

The writing style is Petrucci, but the political bent feels very LaBrie.

[Aniland]

I was a tad skeptical when they started the song with the title (a la "A Nightmare to Remember" and "The Count of Tuscany"), but it proved to be a very lyrically interesting song. I'm digging it. A lot.

[Aniland]

Updated to emindead's interpretation.

[emindead]

My take on what I heard:

On the Backs of Angels - Track 01

Standing on the Backs of Angels
Destined to create
Mounting the attack
While heroes carry the weight
We spiral towards disaster
Survival fading faster

Riding off the wave
Content to feed off the machine
Leading us to the death
The new American Dream

You're blinded by your hunger
Beware, your days are numbered

[Chorus]
Tears fall from the shameless
Shelter me, guide me to the edge of the water
Selfless are the righteous
Burden me, lead me like the lamb to the slaughter

Blurring lines drawn in between
What is right and what is wrong
Victims on the radar
Straining us alone

We're on to your agenda
The dead end road nowhere

[Guitar solo]


[Chorus]
Tears fall from the shameless
Shelter me, guide me to the edge of the water
Selfless are the righteous
Burden me, lead me like the lamb to the slaughter

Tears fall from the shameless
Shelter me, guide me to the edge of the water
Selfless are the righteous
Burden me, lead me like the lamb to the slaughter

Selfless are the righteous
Burden me, lead me like the lamb to the slaughter

[SystematicThought]

Aniland, you got credit on MP's site for the lyrics  

I wasn't expecting these lyrics from this song, I was expecting happy  

Now I do feel like it was a LaBrie song

[dvargas]

I think it's :

"content to feed off the machine"

[Aniland]

Aniland, you got credit on MP's site for the lyrics  

I wasn't expecting these lyrics from this song, I was expecting happy  

Now I do feel like it was a LaBrie song

Whoa... link? xD 

[jonny108]

Oh that was me Aniland...they were talking about lyrics so I posted them over there haha
https://www.mikeportnoy.com/forum/tm.aspx?high=&m=2666577&mpage=37#2684666

[robwebster]

The writing style is Petrucci, but the political bent feels very LaBrie.

There are a couple of LaBrie stock phrases in there. He's always going on about taking people to the water on his solo albums, in particular. Pretty confident it's LaBrie.

[SystematicThought]

An MP poster had an interesting take on the lyrics. Is it about the economic collapse?

[emindead]

Corrected: "Selfless are the righteous"

[blackngold29]

Well, damn. I just typed everything out by ear for Ytse Times. Could've just copied and pasted, lol.

[Aniland]

Haha. Shoulda left it in your recent update.

[Aniland]

I don't quite feel confident yet about "The dead are off to nowhere". Anyone got any ideas as to what it could alternatively be?

[Aniland]

Also, is that "Burden me" instead of "Burning me"? And is it "Victims on parade are" or "Victims of the radar"?

[emindead]

Dude, you're trying to confuse me? I'll give it another check tonight.

[Aniland]

Blabbermouth published my initial post. LOL.

[JPX]

Sure it's not "Bloody lines drawn inbetween"...?

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

Blabbermouth published my initial post. LOL.

It's your fault Portnoy hates Blabbermouth.

[Aniland]

I'm... I'm honored. 

[xShammas]

I hear "Burden me, bleed me like a lamb to the slaughter." But I only listened once so far.

[Aniland]

I hear 'Burden me' as well now.

[RaiseTheKnife]

MY EDITS IN CAPS:

Standing on the Backs of Angels
Destined to create
Mounting the attack
While heroes carry YOUR weight
We spiral towards disaster
Survival fading faster

Riding off the wave
Content to feed off the machine
Leading us to death (DELETE "THE")
The new American Dream

You're blinded by your hunger
Beware, your days are numbered

[Chorus]
Tears fall from the shameless
Shelter me, guide me to the edge of the water
Selfless are the righteous
BURDEN me, lead me like the lamb to the slaughter

Blurring lines DRAWN in between
What is right and what is wrong
Victims on the radar
Straining us alone

We're on to your agenda
The DEAD END ROAD TO NOWHERE


I agree with Robwebster that all signifiers point to JLB.  Strong and bold lyrics in any event.

[Aniland]

Fantastic, I think it's complete. Only one I'm iffy on... is that "straining us along" or "stringing us along"? I hear stringing so much but others don't.

[SystematicThought]

I still think this song is about the economic collapse

[Aniland]

It's definitely about something political, but I wonder where you get the idea that it's specifically about economics.

[Chrissalix]

An MP poster had an interesting take on the lyrics. Is it about the economic collapse?

That's what I thought when I first read them.

[SystematicThought]

It's definitely about something political, but I wonder where you get the idea that it's specifically about economics.

Just how it was doing moderately well and than it 'spiraled toward disaster' and I think the economy has been referred to as a 'dead end to nowhere'

I'm just basing it off what a person on MP's forum said. I kind of sense it

[RuRoRul]

I like the lyrics, interestingly not as light or happy as I think most people would have guessed from the title. I was sure this was Labrie when lsitening the first time, for reasons people have already said.

[RaiseTheKnife]

yeah, I think the lyric is "stringing" but James clearly mis-pronounces it as straining.  eh, Canadians.

[bloop]

The fact that the first line is the title really irks me.