The one Dream Theater song you just don't "get"---POLL ADDED

[aprilethereal]

Metropolis Pt. 1 - What is it about anyway?

Under a Glass Moon & Learning to Live - vague and childish lyrics.

So much failure in one post

[tiagodon]

Metropolis Pt. 1 - What is it about anyway?

Under a Glass Moon & Learning to Live - vague and childish lyrics.

So much failure in one post

We are discussing LTL lyrics in another topic. The guys are giving a lecture... I think I've changed my mind...

[aprilethereal]

Metropolis Pt. 1 - What is it about anyway?

Under a Glass Moon & Learning to Live - vague and childish lyrics.

So much failure in one post

We are discussing LTL lyrics in another topic. The guys are giving a lecture... I think I've changed my mind...

But that "other topic" is about the new album. Not about LTL and its lyrics.

[tiagodon]

Yes... one thing ends up leading to another... That's the beauty about DT. So many perspectives can be brought to life in any discussion...

[Thematt202]

I don't really get LTL either and I've really tried over the years.  It just seems to go on forever with that plodding instrumental part.  It's the weakest track on I&W in my opinion.

[aprilethereal]

Yes... one thing ends up leading to another... That's the beauty about DT. So many perspectives can be brought to life in any discussion...

wat

[CodyWanKenobi]

Yes... one thing ends up leading to another... That's the beauty about DT. So many perspectives can be brought to life in any discussion...

wat

What in the actual fuck does that mean? 

[tiagodon]

I could be a politician!!

[Cable]

Metropolis Pt. 1 - What is it about anyway?

Under a Glass Moon & Learning to Live - vague and childish lyrics.

So much failure in one post

The bolded is a valid point, considering this probably is at least a majority top 5 song. It is a question I have asked on two forums of founding members forums, with never a satisfactory answer.

...and I have received the stock, common responses of "based on Homer's Illiad or Odyessy" and "the part I was a joke". That has never answered the actual question. 

[425]

It's not about the Iliad or the Odyssey to my knowledge; I do recall reading that it was inspired by Virgil's The Aeneid and the founding of Rome by twin brothers Romulus and Remus. The story says, in essence (and going off my memory) that the two fought over who would get to name the city and Romulus killed Remus in the process which is why Rome is named after Romulus. This certainly parallels the conflict between the Miracle and the Sleeper; and Metropolis = city, therefore implying that Rome is an aspect of it.

That's the general taste, but I think a lot of it is JP just going "Yay imagery!" I don't think it ever really had a solid meaning that could be tied down until they wrote Part 2, which pretty much consisted of creating a story to fit most of the lyrics of Part 1.

So, assuming I'm right about this:

Metropolis Part 1 was originally vague cinematic imagery loosely based on the legend of Romulus and Remus/the founding of Rome.

But, NOW, Metropolis Part 1 is basically a summary of Metropolis Part 2. It's still vague, but you can definitely tie down more of the lyrics to a retelling of Part 2.

The first verse refers to basically what Victoria is about to face with the conflict of Edward and Julian and the fact that she will soon die. Then "There's no more freedom/The both of you will be confined to this mind" reflects the idea of Nicholas sharing Victoria's memories. The next verses speak more to the internal conflicts of Edward and Julian; I would say the "I was told..." verse applies to Edward and then the next two apply to Julian; then "Deceit is the second..." to both and "The city's cold blood..." to Julian again. Then the last part after the instrumental just ties the theme together; that love is eternal and will exist beyond the struggle between brothers Edward and Julian.

So, yeah, the SFAM plot was clearly designed to fit Metropolis 1, and it doesn't totally make sense, but the original wasn't necessarily written as a cohesive story (since, as they've said, the "Part 1" was a joke, so there was no intention to ever expand on the lyrical themes).

[Dr. DTVT]

Write in vote for Sacrificed Sons.  Bottom 3 DT songs for me.  Boring and an album too late (6DoIT was early 2002, but there was no way it could have been added to that album at that point.  It should have been on ToT).

[Orthogonal]

The instrumental/solo section for TMoLS. It's the only passage of DT music that bothers me enough to not like the song since it seems so out of place. DT is known for jarring and crazy instrumental sections, but this one just doesn't fit.

[tiagodon]

It's not about the Iliad or the Odyssey to my knowledge; I do recall reading that it was inspired by Virgil's The Aeneid and the founding of Rome by twin brothers Romulus and Remus. The story says, in essence (and going off my memory) that the two fought over who would get to name the city and Romulus killed Remus in the process which is why Rome is named after Romulus. This certainly parallels the conflict between the Miracle and the Sleeper; and Metropolis = city, therefore implying that Rome is an aspect of it.

That's the general taste, but I think a lot of it is JP just going "Yay imagery!" I don't think it ever really had a solid meaning that could be tied down until they wrote Part 2, which pretty much consisted of creating a story to fit most of the lyrics of Part 1.

So, assuming I'm right about this:

Metropolis Part 1 was originally vague cinematic imagery loosely based on the legend of Romulus and Remus/the founding of Rome.

But, NOW, Metropolis Part 1 is basically a summary of Metropolis Part 2. It's still vague, but you can definitely tie down more of the lyrics to a retelling of Part 2.

The first verse refers to basically what Victoria is about to face with the conflict of Edward and Julian and the fact that she will soon die. Then "There's no more freedom/The both of you will be confined to this mind" reflects the idea of Nicholas sharing Victoria's memories. The next verses speak more to the internal conflicts of Edward and Julian; I would say the "I was told..." verse applies to Edward and then the next two apply to Julian; then "Deceit is the second..." to both and "The city's cold blood..." to Julian again. Then the last part after the instrumental just ties the theme together; that love is eternal and will exist beyond the struggle between brothers Edward and Julian.

So, yeah, the SFAM plot was clearly designed to fit Metropolis 1, and it doesn't totally make sense, but the original wasn't necessarily written as a cohesive story (since, as they've said, the "Part 1" was a joke, so there was no intention to ever expand on the lyrical themes).

Maybe their greatest mistake was to call Scenes From a Memory "Metropolis pt. 2".

Anyway, nice post, man!

[aprilethereal]

Fans were demanding a second part for years, so I guess it was a wise decision to build an album upon all these Metropolis references and name it like that.

[Nearmyth]

I don't really get LTL either and I've really tried over the years.  It just seems to go on forever with that plodding instrumental part.  It's the weakest track on I&W in my opinion.

LTL took me at least 4 or 5 listens to finally appreciate it and let it get hooked (much like most songs on I&W). Then I loved it. The instrumental section is absolutely beautiful imo (looking at that acoustic guitar solo + the harmonies & keyboards, always loved that part). My fav on the album probably besides Metrop or Under A Glass Moon.
I can understand why some people dislike it though, it really does seem to go on forever at times, and it may seem plodding. But you can't deny that it's a perfect album closer...

[FourthHorseman]

I don't really get LTL either and I've really tried over the years.  It just seems to go on forever with that plodding instrumental part.  It's the weakest track on I&W in my opinion.

LTL took me at least 4 or 5 listens to finally appreciate it and let it get hooked (much like most songs on I&W). Then I loved it. The instrumental section is absolutely beautiful imo (looking at that acoustic guitar solo + the harmonies & keyboards, always loved that part). My fav on the album probably besides Metrop or Under A Glass Moon.
I can understand why some people dislike it though, it really does seem to go on forever at times, and it may seem plodding. But you can't deny that it's a perfect album closer...

LTL actually took me 10-15 listens before I "got it".  Now it's my favorite DT song, the instrumental parts tell a story with their dynamics and melody, and from the WFS reprise on, the song is pure bliss, like walking on clouds.