Raise the Knife appreciation

[Perpetual Change]

Weirdly, I was watching Score last night and of course, today when I woke up I saw Mike Portnoy was suing Dream Theater. One thing that really stuck out at me during my Score viewing as "Raise the Knife." I'd never realized how good of a song it was before. But today, it took on a whole new meaning. Mike Portnoy wrote the lyrics about Kevin Moore, but don't them seem just as relevant that ever now?

Have I thanked you for your time?
Or will your life go unrewarded
Again?
Never asking for a dime
You just gave all of yourself
Until I turned my back on you
My friend

The powers that be made you a martyr
Conspiracy led you to slaughter
I tried to control it but as soon as I showed it
I was shot down again

Once again outnumbered
Appreciation slumbered
You can ask yourself why
But that look in your eye
Doesn't pass the test
You've been laid to rest my friend
Again

Tortured artist bears his soul
Seems the pressure took its toll
Lived a life so punishing
Now he keeps the publishing

Spilling your guts out to a pad and pen
Communication to your silent friend

Raising the knife
To a picture of a life
(I once knew)
There comes a time
Compromising my life
(Just won't do)
I cannot lie
I can't try anymore
(To reach you)
I just can't fight
Raise the knife
Raise the knife
Cut through

I remember once you were the quiet type
Content to sit and watch the motions of your life
With false sensitivity
You cut yourself open so people would adore you

They all bought into your contrived sincerity
And how you wore your heart and soul right on your sleeve
Laughing sarcastically
You turned your back on the people who adored you

Self-absorbed exhaustion
Self-esteem distortion
Self-infused extortion
Self-serving abortion

I'll take the blame for these things that I say
'Cause I had the heart and the will and the courage to stay
Every day
I won't walk away

Reading through all the digests you show me
I notice the way that you think you control me
Doubting my future, you don't even know me
But I never walked out on you

Raising the knife
To a picture of a life
(I once knew)
There comes a time
Compromising my life
(Just won't do)
I cannot lie
I can't try anymore
(To reach you)
I just can't fight
Raise the knife
Raise the knife
Cut through

Raising the knife
To a picture of a life
(I once knew)
There comes a time
Compromising my life
(Just won't do)
I cannot lie
I can't try anymore
(To reach you)
I just can't fight
Raise the knife
And live my life
Without you

Raising the knife
To a picture of a life
There comes a time
Compromising my life
I cannot lie
I can't try anymore
I just can't fight
Raise the knife

[Elite]

Yeah, it is a brilliant song. If it were included on FII and some of the crap removed, FII would be even higher in my album list.
I guess Raise The Knife would be a top 25 song for me, at least. It's such a shame it never got a proper studio release.

[ZirconBlue]

Tortured artist bears his soul
Seems the pressure took its toll
Lived a life so punishing
Now he keeps the publishing

Gee, I wonder if MP is now willing to relinquish his publishing rights in the way he thought KM should have?

[hefdaddy42]

It's not all about Kevin Moore.  The first verse is about a former manager.  Then the second verse is about Moore.

[Dublagent66]

The Score version rules.   

[Bongasti]

I was so amazed when I heard this song for the first time, it's so great. Still one of my favorite DT songs ever. But even though live versions have a very unique feel, they just don't sound too good, so I really would like a studio version of this.

[darkshot]

I was so amazed when I heard this song for the first time, it's so great. Still one of my favorite DT songs ever. But even though live versions have a very unique feel, they just don't sound too good, so I really would like a studio version of this.

There's a studio version of it on one of the Ytse Jam releases... probably FII Sessions or Demos and Singles.

I prefer the Score version because it has so much energy; the demo version recorded back in the day just doesn't have the same energy.  Maybe if they recorded a new version today it would sound better... but that ain't gonna happen.  I love Raise the Knife, but the band isn't going to touch it with all the MP drama going on, it's far too obvious what their motive would be.

[Adami]

One of my favorite DT songs.

[The Letter M]

I really would like a studio version of this.

The Dream Theater International Fan Club released Cleaning Out The Closet in 1999, which includes "Raise The Knife" and several other B-Sides recorded in the studio during the IAW, Awake, and FII sessions, and the versions of the FII songs are a bit cleaner on COTC than they are on the FII Demos from YtseJamRecords.

-Marc.

[ZirconBlue]

It's not all about Kevin Moore.  The first verse is about a former manager.  Then the second verse is about Moore.

I know that it's not all about KM, but are you sure about which part specifically addresses which person?  It seems weird that a manager would be described as a "tortured artist" or would have publishing rights.  And KM fired back a line about a "leaving member contract" in an OSI song, IIRC.

[Snow_Dog]

Amazed they cut this from FII, if this would have replaced Burning my Soul, then the album probably would move up a spot for me, it's that good. The level of epic of the Score version is through the roof with this as well as Another Won, both becoming favourites of mine.

[Mebert78]

It's not all about Kevin Moore.  The first verse is about a former manager.  Then the second verse is about Moore.

I know that it's not all about KM, but are you sure about which part specifically addresses which person?  It seems weird that a manager would be described as a "tortured artist" or would have publishing rights.  And KM fired back a line about a "leaving member contract" in an OSI song, IIRC.

Hmm, I never thought about that OSI lyric in "Better" being a line directed at MP.  Heck, MP even played on that album.  A lot of OSI's Free album is about personal and romantic relationships, KM said.  I thought the "leaving member contract" applied to an apartment lease and leaving before the lease was up because there are other domestic items in the song like a dog, yard, house, etc.  But I guess he would've used the word lease and not contract.  So you might be right that it's about a band.

Anyway, KM left the line vague enough to be interpretted different ways.  Unfortunately, MP's lyrics are way too straightforward and "Raise the Knife" is one example of that.  It makes me cringe to read the lyrics and how he blasts against some people publicly in lyrics.  I always felt he needed to craft his lyrics to be more vague, like JP did in ADToE.  We have no idea which lyrics are about Portnoy in ADToE, but we know there has to be some MP-related lines in there.  That's a good job of writing lyrics, if you ask me.

[Mosh]

I love Raise the Knife. A shame it didn't make it onto FII.

[The Letter M]

I love Raise the Knife. A shame it didn't make it onto FII.

If it did, I would have made FII this:

1. Raise The Knife                    - 11:35
2. Take Away My Pain (Demo) -  6:49
3. Peruvian Skies                     -  6:43
4. Hollow Years                        -  5:53
5. Burning My Soul                   -  5:29
6. Hell's Kitchen                       -  4:16
7. Lines In The Sand               - 12:05
8. Speak To Me                       -  6:10
9. Anna Lee                            -  5:51
10. Trial Of Tears                     - 13:07
                            Total  - 77:59

[Cranky]

I'm not to sure if I understand how this song references Kevin Moore.
I mean, I get the general idea, but what do the lyrics entail?

Could someone please explain to me?

[BlobVanDam]

Anyway, KM left the line vague enough to be interpretted different ways.  Unfortunately, MP's lyrics are way too straightforward and "Raise the Knife" is one example of that.  It makes me cringe to read the lyrics and how he blasts against some people publicly in lyrics.  I always felt he needed to craft his lyrics to be more vague, like JP did in ADToE.  We have no idea which lyrics are about Portnoy in ADToE, but we know there has to be some MP-related lines in there.  That's a good job of writing lyrics, if you ask me.

None of the lyrics on ADTOE are about Portnoy. They're just vague enough that people can pretend they're about whatever they choose to believe, instead of knowing the reality.

[Perpetual Change]

Anyway, KM left the line vague enough to be interpretted different ways.  Unfortunately, MP's lyrics are way too straightforward and "Raise the Knife" is one example of that.  It makes me cringe to read the lyrics and how he blasts against some people publicly in lyrics.  I always felt he needed to craft his lyrics to be more vague, like JP did in ADToE.  We have no idea which lyrics are about Portnoy in ADToE, but we know there has to be some MP-related lines in there.  That's a good job of writing lyrics, if you ask me.

None of the lyrics on ADTOE are about Portnoy. They're just vague enough that people can pretend they're about whatever they choose to believe, instead of knowing the reality.

Blob, I know you were told what the lyrics were about or whatever, and given explanations, but I highly doubt that any explanation the band would have given would be so thorough that ultimately rule out possible other meanings. For example, maybe someone told you that Beneath the Surface was about losing a long-time friend or something. That doesn't automatically mean it definitely wasn't about something else (like Kevin or Mike) too.

[Cranky]

Can someone please explain to me how Raise the Knife is about Kevin?
I know he was distant to the band, and ultimately left the band due to being uninterested and wanting to pursue his own ideas.

But, reading the lyrics, they seem a little sour, did anything bad happen between Mike and Kevin?
Or was Mike just upset with Kevin because he wasn't interested in the band anymore?

[BlobVanDam]

None of the lyrics on ADTOE are about Portnoy. They're just vague enough that people can pretend they're about whatever they choose to believe, instead of knowing the reality.

Blob, I know you were told what the lyrics were about or whatever, and given explanations, but I highly doubt that any explanation the band would have given would be so thorough that ultimately rule out possible other meanings. For example, maybe someone told you that Beneath the Surface was about losing a long-time friend or something. That doesn't automatically mean it definitely wasn't about something else (like Kevin or Mike) too.

Actually, my explanation for BTS is much much more specific than just "long time friend". It is quite detailed about the "story", to the point of removing any ambiguity. Same with all of the rest. BMUBMD is the only one that's about as general as the lyrics indicate. And I'm not convinced anybody will ever decipher BAI.

[Perpetual Change]

Well, if you really feel you have been told about things in enough detail to rule any parallel meanings out, then I trust you.


But when you sharing all that with us 

[BlobVanDam]

If I felt I could share it, I would, instead of being a douche and just saying "I'M RIGHT BECAUSE I SAID SO".

[The Silent Cody]

Raise The Knife definitly should be on FII instead of Just Let Me Breathe or Burning My Soul or YNM. It is one the best songs from that DT era.

[coffees for closers]

Love the song, for me it is the one I play the most often from the Score DVD/CD. Also got to see it love and i recall in my excitement tapping the guy next to me and exclaim Portnoy is kicking ass in this song. During the slower sections he is playing some very cool stuff. I miss that misguided metal head.

[Infinite Cactus]

This song is fantastic. Actually, almost all of their b-sides are.

[Elite]

I love Raise the Knife. A shame it didn't make it onto FII.

If it did, I would have made FII this:

1. Raise The Knife                    - 11:35
2. Take Away My Pain (Demo) -  6:49
3. Peruvian Skies                     -  6:43
4. Hollow Years                        -  5:53
5. Burning My Soul                   -  5:29
6. Hell's Kitchen                       -  4:16
7. Lines In The Sand               - 12:05
8. Speak To Me                       -  6:10
9. Anna Lee                            -  5:51
10. Trial Of Tears                     - 13:07
                            Total  - 77:59

This one is quite excellent, good sir.
EDIT: I just saw you have Burning My Soul in there, I'd swap that for Cover My Eyes or The Way It Used To Be.

[Jaffa]

*appreciates*

Not a favorite of mine, but a damn good song.

[Cranky]

Oh, wow.
I just popped in Score and went to Raise the Knife...

It sounds like Rush.. But, more Dream Theater.


Thanks for sparking my interest in listening to this song..

Now, the question still remains... How did this not take place of some of the songs that actually made it on Falling Into Infinity...

[Snow_Dog]

It wasn't heavy enough for Portnoy, so he had them replace it with the great Burning My Soul 

[kijuer]

Love it! I'll never understand why such an epic, fantastic, brilliant, inspired and with such great lyrics "didn't pass the test, it's been laid to rest"  Timing issues? The label wanted more ballad-ish stuff and less epics?

My tracklist for the "ideal" FII would be as follows:

Lines in the sand          (original version)
Just let me breathe
Peruvian skies
Speak to me 
You OR me                   (the original one)
Burning my soul           (original long version)           
Raise the knife
Take away my pain       (original JP version)
Trial of tears

I could have done without "Hollow years" and "Anna Lee" although i admit I like both songs...don't know, I'd still miss "New millennium", "Where are you now" and "The way it used to be" so i guess the double album would've really been the only "acceptable" choice :-)

[ZirconBlue]

Now, the question still remains... How did this not take place of some of the songs that actually made it on Falling Into Infinity...

Label/Producer interference.

[IdoSC]

Awesome instrumentation and vocal melodies, decent+ lyrics, great song overall. Kicks major asses in Score.

[ZKX-2099]

Solid song. But it could use a total face melting JP solo.

[djentlemen]

Solid song. But it could use a total face melting JP solo.

imo it would ruin the atmosphere

OT: amazing song

[Art]

I love this song. A classic in my book.

[Madman Shepherd]

For those that asked, this is essentially what the songs i about. 

First part:

DT was managed by two people who had a falling out.  MP was outvoted and the guy he wanted had to leave.

Second part:

It's about Kevin and how he used to respect him and how he would open himself up for the fans that adored him and out of nowhere he decided he wanted out and left his band and his fans high and dry. 




Anyway, I agree with those people that said his lyrics are too literal.  Sometimes I like them, for instance, Constant Motion I think is an amazing walk through the life of someone with OCD (and it rocks pretty hard).  But this song and others are hard to listen to because they are so personal.