Has Jordan ever commented on his lack of lyrics in DT?

[Vajra]

I'm just curious to why he hasn't participated in the lyric process in his past 10 years of being with the band. If it's because he has no interest in writing any, has he at least elaborated on it further to why he has no interest?

[DeepBlueMajesty]

I think that the farthest he has gone is saying that anything might happen in the future. He doesn't sound too enthusiastic to go and write lyrics though.

[Knguro]

Who's Jorden?

[DreamTension]

Good question.  He has written lyrics on a couple of his solo albums.  I think it's highly possible we may see a Dream Theater song penned by Rudess in the future.

[SystematicThought]

I believe he has said that he has in enough responsibility in the keys department that he feels comfortable not writing lyrics and that the band has such a method of writing lyrics that he doesn't want his lyrics over analyzed

Somewhere in Lifting Shadows

[BlobVanDam]

I believe he has said that he has in enough responsibility in the keys department that he feels comfortable not writing lyrics and that the band has such a method of writing lyrics that he doesn't want his lyrics over analyzed

Somewhere in Lifting Shadows

This.
I recall he just said he wanted to focus on the keyboard parts and not take on more responsibility.

[dongringo]

He said in his recent 'Ask Jordan a Question' video thing that anything is possible, perhaps in the future he will write lyrics, he likes words. That's about it. I can't seem to find it, sorry, it's out there though.

[Ħ]

Question: Will you ever try to write lyrics for a DT song?
JR: Lyrics for a DT song?  Maybe one day...I mean anything is possible.  So uh, we'll keep that open.  I'm in no rush to do it, but hey, I like words.

[Tis BOOLsheet]

i think he should give it a shot. while john petrucci is one of my top 3 guitarists and an amazing overall musician, he is no lyricist. count of tuscany were some of the worst lyrics i've ever read and heard.

[MasterShakezula]

If The Count Of Tuscany is your idea of bad lyrics, you've clearly never listened to hair metal or arena rock. 

[BlobVanDam]

If The Count Of Tuscany is your idea of bad lyrics, you've clearly never listened to hair metal or arena rock. 

There's nothing wrong with them. They're not trying to be poetry, but they achieve exactly what they set out to do.

[Tis BOOLsheet]

If The Count Of Tuscany is your idea of bad lyrics, you've clearly never listened to hair metal or arena rock. 

nah, arena rock and hair metal have bad lyrics too but count of tuscany is by far the worst. "all the finest wines" "a beareded gentleman, historian, sucking on his pipe" "all the finest wines..." NONE of those lines belongs in a metal song or any song for that matter with an electric guitar

[BlobVanDam]

If The Count Of Tuscany is your idea of bad lyrics, you've clearly never listened to hair metal or arena rock. 

nah, arena rock and hair metal have bad lyrics too but count of tuscany is by far the worst. "all the finest wines" "a beareded gentleman, historian, sucking on his pipe" "all the finest wines..." NONE of those lines belongs in a metal song or any song for that matter with an electric guitar

So, never listened to power metal, huh?

[MasterShakezula]

For example, Helloween (Very good band, nonetheless):

"Ding by ding can you dig my dong
It may come short but it might come long
Limb by limb you're climbing up my tree
Making things more fun for me"

From Secret Alibi

[KevShmev]

The Count of Tuscany is certainly not one of JP's finer lyrical moments, but it is still not nearly as bad as a lot of what is out there.

[dongringo]

If The Count Of Tuscany is your idea of bad lyrics, you've clearly never listened to hair metal or arena rock. 

nah, arena rock and hair metal have bad lyrics too but count of tuscany is by far the worst. "all the finest wines" "a beareded gentleman, historian, sucking on his pipe" "all the finest wines..." NONE of those lines belongs in a metal song or any song for that matter with an electric guitar

Why?

[Tis BOOLsheet]

there are power metal lyrics that rival CoT. anyway, im sure jordan would provide a boost to DT's lyrical library  

[Pinga]

On the subject of TCoT: I think the lyrics are bad because, not only are they laughable by themselves, but they also don't go with the music and (most importantly) LaBrie's dead serious delivery.

[MasterShakezula]

Perhaps the lyrics were, I dunno, meant to be tongue-in-cheek.

[dongringo]

I agree with the above poster. The lyrics are a parody of the event and are reflected as such, within the confines of the structure. It works. That's what matters. Just my opinion. Since my first listen I've never had a problem with it.

[BlobVanDam]

On the subject of TCoT: I think the lyrics are bad because, not only are they laughable by themselves, but they also don't go with the music and (most importantly) LaBrie's dead serious delivery.

The only part where I think LaBrie's delivery feels that serious is the outro section ("could this be the end....."), and the lyrics in that section aren't anywhere near as bad. In fact I commend LaBrie for adding so much emotional weight to those lyrics in that section.
For the rest of the song though, he seems to be having fun with the sillier lyrics, especially the lyrics you mentioned earlier.

[Elite]

It's all ridiculous and, I think, meant to be so. I saw them on tour and they had winebarrels on their screen in the background, it's all just a fun thing. But, I do agree on you though, the lyrics could have been better. That being said, they could have been a LOT worse.

[BlobVanDam]

I saw them on tour and they had winebarrels on their screen in the background, it's all just a fun thing.

Would that by any chance be the vid that's all reddish and stylized, going down the cellar stairs into the wine cellar, with a castle and church and such? (I can't recall any other part of the song where they use wine barrels)

[Guitalguy]

Anyone considered that Jordan may not be as good a writer as JP? I mean, JLB submitted 3 lyrics fro ADTOE, one got in. JP is without doubt an exceptional poet, even if he wrote Tuscany.

[BlobVanDam]

Anyone considered that Jordan may not be as good a writer as JP? I mean, JLB submitted 3 lyrics fro ADTOE, one got in. JP is without doubt an exceptional poet, even if he wrote Tuscany.

JR has written lyrics for songs on his solo albums, in case you wanted to check for yourself to see.
But I don't see JR as someone who is as interested in the art of writing as JP, who is obviously very interested in exploring different topics through his lyrics. JLB, JM and JP seem plenty willing to contribute lyrics (I know JM hasn't contributed in a while, although it seems he's more keen now again), so JR might not see a need to write lyrics if it's not his real interest.

[Guitalguy]

Anyone considered that Jordan may not be as good a writer as JP? I mean, JLB submitted 3 lyrics fro ADTOE, one got in. JP is without doubt an exceptional poet, even if he wrote Tuscany.

JR has written lyrics for songs on his solo albums, in case you wanted to check for yourself to see.
But I don't see JR as someone who is as interested in the art of writing as JP, who is obviously very interested in exploring different topics through his lyrics. JLB, JM and JP seem plenty willing to contribute lyrics (I know JM hasn't contributed in a while, although it seems he's more keen now again), so JR might not see a need to write lyrics if it's not his real interest.

I obviously haven't paid enough attention to his solo albums then And that they have three more than capable lyricists already is a fair point.

[EuropaEndlos]

Anyone considered that Jordan may not be as good a writer as JP? I mean, JLB submitted 3 lyrics fro ADTOE, one got in. JP is without doubt an exceptional poet, even if he wrote Tuscany.

JR has written lyrics for songs on his solo albums, in case you wanted to check for yourself to see.
But I don't see JR as someone who is as interested in the art of writing as JP, who is obviously very interested in exploring different topics through his lyrics. JLB, JM and JP seem plenty willing to contribute lyrics (I know JM hasn't contributed in a while, although it seems he's more keen now again), so JR might not see a need to write lyrics if it's not his real interest.

The song JM gets lyric credits for Petrucci does too...  Myung seems to write them, but more in poem form, and I remember they said they had to get his lyrics to fit the music and Myung himself didn't do that. 

That being said Myung rules. 

[Super Dude]

1. JR should totally write more lyrics, but doesn't have to if he doesn't want to.

2. TCoT is a hilarious and awesome song, and whoever doesn't like it can go stick their face in a bucket of donkey poo.

3. Those here criticizing TCoT's lyrics clearly have never heard such club hip-hop hits as Thoing Thoing.

[hefdaddy42]

3. Those here criticizing TCoT's lyrics clearly have never heard such club hip-hop hits as Thoing Thoing.

Not sure what relevance that has.

[Super Dude]

It doesn't. Just saying some genres are prone to far worse lyrics than DT's chosen brand. And correction: it's Thoia Thoing. My bad.

[Pinga]

On the subject of TCoT: I think the lyrics are bad because, not only are they laughable by themselves, but they also don't go with the music and (most importantly) LaBrie's dead serious delivery.

The only part where I think LaBrie's delivery feels that serious is the outro section ("could this be the end....."), and the lyrics in that section aren't anywhere near as bad. In fact I commend LaBrie for adding so much emotional weight to those lyrics in that section.
For the rest of the song though, he seems to be having fun with the sillier lyrics, especially the lyrics you mentioned earlier.

I concede that that may very well be the case. If it is, though, why not just write a song that is either completely serious or completely silly in tone. The clash between the two is what I particularly don't like. Also, in the interviews leading up to the release of Black Clouds JP states that the song fits in the general theme of the album because it's about a very dire situation that turned out to be not what it appeared to be. He didn't seem to treat it as a joke song, even though the whole situation about thinking a Tuscan winemaker will kill you is beyond ridiculous.

[BlobVanDam]

I concede that that may very well be the case. If it is, though, why not just write a song that is either completely serious or completely silly in tone. The clash between the two is what I particularly don't like. Also, in the interviews leading up to the release of Black Clouds JP states that the song fits in the general theme of the album because it's about a very dire situation that turned out to be not what it appeared to be. He didn't seem to treat it as a joke song, even though the whole situation about thinking a Tuscan winemaker will kill you is beyond ridiculous.

By silly I didn't mean a joke. I mean that it's a bit less serious in tone, slightly quirky, fun, and exaggerated like an interesting tale of this nature should be told. It's silly because it's over the top and almost unbelievable.

The more I think about it, the more the different tone of the ending compared to the beginning not only fits, but was necessary to the telling of the story.
Being such a long song with so many musical changes, there's the instrumental section, the ambient guitar solo and the change to the acoustic section to give more than enough room to transition in style.

Most of the song is told in past tense, with an exaggerated, fable-like quality of someone retelling the story. The heavy, more energetic musical style mirrors that. At this point, the story is second hand, being told to entertain.

But for the ending, the music becomes more low key and serious, as the lyrics now switch to present tense during the event, where instead of being a retelling of events, it's purely the dialogue of the real event, where the count tells him to go forth and tell the world this interesting story, and that there was no real danger at any point.

The music and lyrics change tone, because the context is changed. It's no longer retelling a story, it's during the story.

Ok, that was far too much analysis for The Count of friggin' Tuscany, but hopefully some of that made some sense. It's 5am, so you'll have to excuse me.

[ariich]

Anyone considered that Jordan may not be as good a writer as JP? I mean, JLB submitted 3 lyrics fro ADTOE, one got in. JP is without doubt an exceptional poet, even if he wrote Tuscany.

JR has written lyrics for songs on his solo albums, in case you wanted to check for yourself to see.

This, and I really really like his lyrics to the two vocal songs on Rhythm of Time. They're fairly simple, but very elegant and quite moving. I'd love to see some JR lyrics in DT if he ever feels up to it.

[Pinga]

I was preparing a long-winded response to your post, but then I read this

Ok, that was far too much analysis for The Count of friggin' Tuscany

and let's just say that I agree completely. 

[CodyWanKenobi]

oh god... not more Count of Tuscany lyric bashing...

THEY ARE NOT FIGURATIVE LYRICS, THEY ARE MEANT TO BE TAKEN LITERALLY!!