The looking glass (lyrics interpretation )

[Drinktheater]

I am sorry if this has been posted before or if this is not the right forum for topics like these.  I wonder what do they want to convey with the lyrics but it seems interesting are they critizing people who want so much fame? or Is it a song about fulfilling your dreams and going for what you believe in?


Sorry if my English sounds so bad (Engrish not my language )


Thank you,

[Prog Snob]

It's a psychological disorder called The Looking Glass Syndrome.  It does have a reference to fame because basically with the disorder you only see yourself as other people see you.

[rumborak]

To my understanding, it criticizes people who will do anything to become famous, be that by doing stupid shit on Youtube or what-have-you.
Musically, and thematically, it is inspired by Rush's Limelight.

[mike099]

I initially thought that it was directed at Mike Portnoy.

[OsMosis2259]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPQ6egJDqQo&feature=youtu.be&t=3m51s

[chaossystem]

The song's message puts me in mind of my former best friend.

He at one time attempted to become a professional actor.

But that was about 30 years ago, and he never made it,
other than having been in some plays,
and having worked as an extra in a few movies and/or tv shows.

It was over LONG before I met him, and yet he STILL sometimes refers to himself in the present tense as BEING an actor.

He still keeps telling the same stories over and over again about his "glory days" as an actor,
and it doesn't matter HOW many times he's TOLD the story,
or if it's your HUNDREDTH time HEARING it,
he'll still tell it like it's the first time!

And SENILTY is NO excuse,
because he's been like this the entire time I've KNOWN him,
and he was only in his late thirties or early forties when I first MET him.

So where the song talks about someone who will not admit that their "15 minutes has expired,"
or implies that they always have to be "on" or performing, like they are "always in the spotlight,"
I know EXACTLY the kind of person that is being referred to!

I could go on and on with the comparison of the song's theme and how it parallels this guy's life,
but I think you get the idea...

However, I would ALSO like to say that I have never known ANYONE who is so much in DENIAL about such things.

If I was to present this song to him, and tell him that it's because it reminds me so MUCH of him,
I just KNOW that he would find some pissant way to say "That isn't me!"

[rumborak]

chaos, do you actually speak how you write? When I read your posts, I'm imagining some kind of James T. Kirk pronunciation.

[sneakyblueberry]

^ there's no going back for me now. 

[chaossystem]

chaos, do you actually speak how you write? When I read your posts, I'm imagining some kind of James T. Kirk pronunciation.

If that's all you got from that story,

then I just plain don't care.

[gmillerdrake]

Whether intentional or not.....I think of MP every single time I hear that song. I'm not quite convinced that it's not about/directed at him. I don't think DT would ever admit it and certainly could pawn off any suggestion that it is....but the timing of that song and the lyrics scream MP to me.

[AngelBack]

The song's message puts me in mind of my former best friend.

He at one time attempted to become a professional actor.

But that was about 30 years ago, and he never made it,
other than having been in some plays,
and having worked as an extra in a few movies and/or tv shows.

It was over LONG before I met him, and yet he STILL sometimes refers to himself in the present tense as BEING an actor.

He still keeps telling the same stories over and over again about his "glory days" as an actor,
and it doesn't matter HOW many times he's TOLD the story,
or if it's your HUNDREDTH time HEARING it,
he'll still tell it like it's the first time!

And SENILTY is NO excuse,
because he's been like this the entire time I've KNOWN him,
and he was only in his late thirties or early forties when I first MET him.

So where the song talks about someone who will not admit that their "15 minutes has expired,"
or implies that they always have to be "on" or performing, like they are "always in the spotlight,"
I know EXACTLY the kind of person that is being referred to!

I could go on and on with the comparison of the song's theme and how it parallels this guy's life,
but I think you get the idea...

However, I would ALSO like to say that I have never known ANYONE who is so much in DENIAL about such things.

If I was to present this song to him, and tell him that it's because it reminds me so MUCH of him,
I just KNOW that he would find some pissant way to say "That isn't me!"

Chaos, I LOVE you.

[chaossystem]

Ok.

That's nice.

I guess.

However...

I don't know what your purpose in reproducing my entire posting was.

I was just trying to explain that there really are people that are a lot like what the song describes,
and sure I'm not the only one who has ever experienced this sort of thing.

And believe me, there was a lot of stress and aggravation to go through with this person.

But if you haven't actually had to go through it yourself, then I guess you shouldn't be expected to understand or to sympathize.

[hefdaddy42]

I don't doubt a single word you wrote about your friend.  That sucks.

But please answer rumborak's question.

[chaossystem]

What if I don't?

[Kotowboy]

What if I don't?

But what if you do ?!

[chaossystem]

ok.

Fine.

I'm not Captain Kirk.

There.

Is everyone satisfied?

[King Postwhore]

It's, " OK!........FINE!..............dammit, I'm.......Not...........Captain..........Kirk!.........there, is everybody................SATISFIED?!"

[chaossystem]

Whether intentional or not.....I think of MP every single time I hear that song. I'm not quite convinced that it's not about/directed at him. I don't think DT would ever admit it and certainly could pawn off any suggestion that it is....but the timing of that song and the lyrics scream MP to me.

It's always possible that you could be right.

But if so, it's nowhere near to being anything new.

Two examples that immediately spring to my mind are that when The Beatles broke up, John Lennon took a shot at Paul McCartney with a song called "How Do You Sleep?'
and I'm pretty sure that when Roger Waters left Pink Floyd, David Gilmour's song "You know I'm Right" from his album "About Face" was directed at Waters.

I'm sure there are tons of other examples of the same sort of thing.

I wonder if Portnoy has written, or will write any songs about the situation.

[chaossystem]

It's, " OK!........FINE!..............dammit, I'm.......Not...........Captain..........Kirk!.........there, is everybody................SATISFIED?!"

I think that even if my acting was no better than Shatner's, I would still be better than the guy I was talking about!

[King Postwhore]

That's the fun of mocking Shatner.  everything is Shakespearean with him.  Even when he asks someone to pass the salt.

[hefdaddy42]

ok.

Fine.

I'm not Captain Kirk.

There.

Is everyone satisfied?

Since you asked: No.  Captain Kirk is a fictional character.  But rumby didn't ask if you were Captain Kirk (although he did mention Kirk after his question).  Here was his actual question.

chaos, do you actually speak how you write?

[gmillerdrake]

I wonder if Portnoy has written, or will write any songs about the situation.

Maybe not songs but there are multiple comments out there from him post DT that suggests he's bitter....despite his best effort to pretend he's not. Maybe not so much recent comments (the last year or so) but well into 2 yrs post DT he was still 'hostile' in his comments IMO....I don't recall verbatim but when the whole debacle of ADTOE being nothing but re-hash's of I&W....he had quite a few comments that were just ignorant and mean spirited.

TLG IMO is DT's answer to those comments.....like I said, they can easily explain away the song as directed at or about someone else....but let's be honest here.....

[rumborak]

I really don't see how you can map the TLG lyrics to the MP situation. Somebody care to point out lines that direct towards that interpretation?

[King Postwhore]

I really don't see how you can map the TLG lyrics to the MP situation. Somebody care to point out lines that direct towards that interpretation?

Yeah, MP's 15 minutes of fame has has lasted 13674667.9 Minutes.  You're off people/

[Skeever]

I think it's one of the better songs on the album lyrically, and to interpret it I think you have to consider the title, "The Looking Glass". I tend to think of it as JP writing about an alternate version of himself who never made it, or gave up after some initial setback, i.e. JP is Alice looking into the world where everything is opposite.

[AngelBack]

I believe one of the band members commented that the song was about social media and fame at the expense of dignity.  I don't believe it was written about MP but I would be shocked if during the writing and recording none of them referenced the dearly departed.  The A7X gig was MP's shot at the next level of fame, but some would say it was an unwise chance to take.

[chaossystem]

ok.

Fine.

I'm not Captain Kirk.

There.

Is everyone satisfied?

Since you asked: No.  Captain Kirk is a fictional character.  But rumby didn't ask if you were Captain Kirk (although he did mention Kirk after his question).  Here was his actual question.

chaos, do you actually speak how you write?

No.

[chaossystem]

I really don't see how you can map the TLG lyrics to the MP situation. Somebody care to point out lines that direct towards that interpretation?

Yeah, MP's 15 minutes of fame has has lasted 13674667.9 Minutes.  You're off people/

I was going to point that out as well.

A good argument against the song being about him is the fact that he seems to be doing quite well career-wise since leaving DT.:

-He has continued with Transatlantic.

-He and Neal Morse have also worked together in Flying Colors and the Neal Morse Band.

-There was his time with "Avenged."

-Adreneline Mob.

-The Winery Dogs, and,

-Last I heard he was starting some new "purely heavy metal" project.

So think it's safe to say that Mike Portnoy's "fifteen minutes" has been-and will continue to be-extended...

[Octavarious]

You're digging up a gold mine...
Mmmmhhh
To me sounds like a reference to MP using his big fame earned with DT (the 15 minutes that have expired) to do lots of stuff and keep earning money (by the way, I cannot see why not), but all that stuff wouldn't compare with DT...

[gmillerdrake]

I really don't see how you can map the TLG lyrics to the MP situation. Somebody care to point out lines that direct towards that interpretation?

First off....I said that's just what I think of....it reminds me of MP...

"All that you protected doesn't matter anymore
Rather be stripped of all your pride
Than watch your dreams be cast aside"

DT was 'his baby'....but once he got a taste of the life he was living while touring with Avenged....he pursued something different....



You are caught up in your gravity
Glorifying stardom
Singing your own praise

I don't think this needs much explanation......MP always came off to me just as these lyrics decribe



You live without shame
You're digging up a gold mine
Standing on the sidelines
Watching through the looking glass

Despite knowing he was completely in the wrong concerning the split he shamelessly maintained somehow that he tried and that it wasn't his fault. Standing on the sidelines to me is just him watching DT continue on without him....something he never thought they'd do when he tried to hold them hostage


You are not content with being nameless and unknown
Trying to rise above the fray
Eager to give it all away

Again.....pretty descriptive of MP's personality as I see it......

That's how I interpret it......certainly just one of many interpretations available.

[Drinktheater]

I think it's one of the better songs on the album lyrically, and to interpret it I think you have to consider the title, "The Looking Glass". I tend to think of it as JP writing about an alternate version of himself who never made it, or gave up after some initial setback, i.e. JP is Alice looking into the world where everything is opposite.

I have similar interpretation as well, 

Like its what happens when you did not go for your dreams? 

[hefdaddy42]

ok.

Fine.

I'm not Captain Kirk.

There.

Is everyone satisfied?

Since you asked: No.  Captain Kirk is a fictional character.  But rumby didn't ask if you were Captain Kirk (although he did mention Kirk after his question).  Here was his actual question.

chaos, do you actually speak how you write?

No.

Well, that's a relief.

[chaossystem]

I'm glad I could put your mind at ease.

[ReaPsTA]

And now choassystem's 15 minutes have expired.

[chaossystem]

That was dumb.