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Dream Theater => Dream Theater => Topic started by: BlackInk on November 17, 2011, 01:17:19 PM

Title: Beneath the Surface Final Chorus
Post by: BlackInk on November 17, 2011, 01:17:19 PM
After many listens I have noticed something I would have liked in the lyrics of the final chorus. The first chorus focuses on "I", the second on "you". I think it would have been cool if the last chorus had "we" instead of returning to the "I". I still think the song is awesome and the fact that it is not this way does not affect that at all.

Does anyone else agree or have anyone else thought of this also?
Title: Re: Beneath the Surface Final Chorus
Post by: FlyingBIZKIT on November 17, 2011, 01:20:08 PM
Interesting, I really don't care which way, to be honest.
Title: Re: Beneath the Surface Final Chorus
Post by: CodyWanKenobi on November 17, 2011, 01:20:21 PM
I remember JP saying that a few years or months after releasing an album he'll sometimes regret some words he used and wish he could change them. If he would have wanted to use 'we' had he thought if it, I'm sure he's thought of it by now and is probably bummed. haha.
Title: Re: Beneath the Surface Final Chorus
Post by: Mladen on November 17, 2011, 03:17:06 PM
That would be cool, but it's emotional enough the way it is, I don't need it to make me feel like a wuss even more than it does.  :P  :biggrin:
Title: Re: Beneath the Surface Final Chorus
Post by: Jamariquay on November 17, 2011, 08:34:32 PM
My only comment on BTS, besides that I really enjoy it on the whole, is that I'm curious to see how it would have turned out had the whole band kicked in when James went to a higher octave at the end. Think The Silent Man or Through Her Eyes on Live Scenes.
Title: Re: Beneath the Surface Final Chorus
Post by: hefdaddy42 on November 18, 2011, 08:56:08 AM
I don't like "we" in this case.  "I" works much better.
Title: Re: Beneath the Surface Final Chorus
Post by: bosk1 on November 18, 2011, 10:45:06 AM
Quote from: hefdaddy42 on November 18, 2011, 08:56:08 AM
I don't like "we" in this case.  "I" works much better.

This.  Cool idea, but it doesn't work in the context of the song, since "we" pretty much implies a unity of action or thought, which is the exact opposite of what the song is about.
Title: Re: Beneath the Surface Final Chorus
Post by: ddtonfire on November 18, 2011, 10:51:22 AM
You're such a lawyer, Boksy.

:heart
Title: Re: Beneath the Surface Final Chorus
Post by: CodyWanKenobi on November 18, 2011, 10:52:50 AM
Quote from: bosk1 on November 18, 2011, 10:45:06 AM
Quote from: hefdaddy42 on November 18, 2011, 08:56:08 AM
I don't like "we" in this case.  "I" works much better.

This.  Cool idea, but it doesn't work in the context of the song, since "we" pretty much implies a unity of action or thought, which is the exact opposite of what the song is about.
Very true.

I've come to the conclusion that bosk is in fact John Petrucci under a vader helmet.
Title: Re: Beneath the Surface Final Chorus
Post by: SnakeEyes on November 18, 2011, 11:31:10 AM
Quote from: bosk1 on November 18, 2011, 10:45:06 AM
Quote from: hefdaddy42 on November 18, 2011, 08:56:08 AM
I don't like "we" in this case.  "I" works much better.

This.  Cool idea, but it doesn't work in the context of the song, since "we" pretty much implies a unity of action or thought, which is the exact opposite of what the song is about.

That's exactly what I thought, too.  The song is really about the "I" person, not the "you" person in the second chorus.  Even though "you" is used in the second chorus, the focus is still on the first person.  So, if you make it "we," then you're making them both equal, but that's not what the song is about.  It's only about how the first person feels and how the second person made that person feel that way and didn't know how to fix it. 
Title: Re: Beneath the Surface Final Chorus
Post by: Bertielee on November 18, 2011, 12:17:56 PM
I think we can all agree it's a beautiful song the way it is.

B.Lee
Title: Re: Beneath the Surface Final Chorus
Post by: BlackInk on November 18, 2011, 02:06:41 PM
Quote from: Bertielee on November 18, 2011, 12:17:56 PM
I think we can all agree it's a beautiful song the way it is.
Indeed.
Title: Re: Beneath the Surface Final Chorus
Post by: IdoSC on November 18, 2011, 04:40:26 PM
The final chorus of Beneath the Surface is sacred and we shall not doubt it's perfect structure and lyrics.

Nah but seriously, singing "we" wouldn't make much sense in my opinion as the song describes a friendship between two people (a guy and a girl apparently?) that's dying out, from the guy's perspective (reflected by JLB), so it would be weird if that kind of disconnection and distance between those people would be described using the word "we". Hope it made sense in some way XD
Title: Re: Beneath the Surface Final Chorus
Post by: BlackInk on November 19, 2011, 01:57:15 AM
Maybe so, I would have liked "we" though. It takes two to break apart.
Title: Re: Beneath the Surface Final Chorus
Post by: hefdaddy42 on November 19, 2011, 02:36:10 AM
Quote from: BlackInk on November 19, 2011, 01:57:15 AM
Maybe so, I would have liked "we" though. It takes two to break apart.
"We" indicates togetherness.  Splitting into "you" and "I" indicates what each did on their own, which is the point of the song.  It already deals with the fact that it takes two.
Title: Re: Beneath the Surface Final Chorus
Post by: BlackInk on November 19, 2011, 03:14:15 AM
True, but I would have liked it still. And I still love the song either way.
Title: Re: Beneath the Surface Final Chorus
Post by: Marion Crane on November 19, 2011, 11:31:56 AM
Quote from: Jamariquay on November 17, 2011, 08:34:32 PM
My only comment on BTS, besides that I really enjoy it on the whole, is that I'm curious to see how it would have turned out had the whole band kicked in when James went to a higher octave at the end. Think The Silent Man or Through Her Eyes on Live Scenes.

This.  That's the only thing about the song I don't like. 
Title: Re: Beneath the Surface Final Chorus
Post by: TL on November 20, 2011, 11:08:58 AM
At first it feels like the third time around should be 'we', but the more you think about it, the more sense returning to 'I' makes.

As for the whole band coming in, I think it would have been too predictable. I like the way they did it.
Title: Re: Beneath the Surface Final Chorus
Post by: Dublagent66 on November 21, 2011, 02:25:23 PM
I don't think it matters either way.  The song is such a downer anyway.  I'm so overwhelmed with disappointment I can't even think straight.
Title: Re: Beneath the Surface Final Chorus
Post by: TAC on November 21, 2011, 02:30:08 PM
If the OP is bent on using "we", perhaps it could've been used in the first verse, and then go to "you" and then finally to "I".

BTW, that last verse is easily my favorite passage on this album. Freaking brilliant!
Title: Re: Beneath the Surface Final Chorus
Post by: BlackInk on November 21, 2011, 11:01:42 PM
Quote from: TAC on November 21, 2011, 02:30:08 PM
If the OP is bent on using "we", perhaps it could've been used in the first verse, and then go to "you" and then finally to "I".
Yeah, maybe that would make more sense, then the 'togetherness' will be there at first and then disolve towards the middle and end. But I guess the 'togetherness' isn't supposed to be there in any part of the song...