Beneath the Surface - Message to Portnoy?

[Liberation]

EVERYTHING is about Mike Portnoy.

OTBOA is the band contemplating how fans debate about Portnoy Leaving.
BMU, BMD is about Portnoy criticizing the band because it sounds like Images and Words (Yeah, they predicted it)
LnF is DT portraying themselves as soldiers fighting against all the odds including Portnoy.
TiTL is about Portnoy.
BiTS is about DT consulting a Shaman to help them overcome Portnoy's leaving.
Outcry is about DT making a musical revolution against MP's OCD.
Far From Heaven is JLB telling MP that he cares about him leaving.
Breaking all Illusions is about John Myung.
Beneath the Surface is what the OP said...

Or maybe not. Maybe nothing's about Portnoy

This post is awesome.

Seriously... I don't really think so. It seems unlikely.

[tri.ad]

No. The band have stated multiple times that neither the album title nor any of the lyrics are about Portnoy.

But on more than one occasion, they've also said that the thing about music us that it can be taken many ways.

Oh, I don't deny that they dealt with the departure from Portnoy on a musical level at all - in fact, I think that there are definitely moments on the album where it shines through. It's just that I don't see any need for them to lie about the lyrics not being about him.

[snowdog]

I dont think its for mike, BUT "Far From Heaven" is, I think. Listen to the lyrics and remember it was james who wrote it. I think its about Mike wanting him out of the band. You can imagine it is hard when the leader of the band want you to be replaced.

Far From Heaven is not about Mike.  James has said that it is about the hopes and dreams people put on their children wanting them to be something they are not.  They definitely fit that.

Now as for "Beneath the Surface" personally I thought that was a possible interpretation of it.  It is written very broadly and can apply to many different situations.  This is definitely my favorite kind of lyric because it has a stronger chance that more people can relate it to their personal lives. 

But if John said that isn't what it is about I'll take his word for it.  But I don't think people that think this has to do with MP are really "digging for nuggets".   That is a plausible interpretation of the lyrics.  Now the people on page 5 or 6 of the review thread that tried to tie each single line in "Breaking All Illusions" to different Dream Theater songs: THAT is digging for nuggets.

[Bolsters]

I heard that The Glass Prison is about Mike Portnoy.

[millahh]

There's a middle ground here...that none of the lyrics may not be explicitely about MP and his departure, but that the situation certainly affected their frame of mind, and the emotional place from which the lyrics were written.

[hefdaddy42]

I heard that The Glass Prison is about Mike Portnoy.

Get out.

[chknptpie]

I'm sure that there are plenty of lines on the album that can be interpreted to be about Mike. Were they deliberately written with that purpose... I don't know and probably never will.

[Optimus]

I dont think its for mike, BUT "Far From Heaven" is, I think. Listen to the lyrics and remember it was james who wrote it. I think its about Mike wanting him out of the band. You can imagine it is hard when the leader of the band want you to be replaced.

Far From Heaven is not about Mike.  James has said that it is about the hopes and dreams people put on their children wanting them to be something they are not.  They definitely fit that.

Thanks for clearing that up mate

[sfam2112]

Listening to the lyrics in BTS, it definitely crossed my mind. And, I noticed in the video interview with JP and JLB talking about the songs that JP didn't go into detail about this song, lyrically. But, I guess it isn't about MP. 

[Dcrupi]

There's a middle ground here...that none of the lyrics may not be explicitely about MP and his departure, but that the situation certainly affected their frame of mind, and the emotional place from which the lyrics were written.

I'm glad someone else thinks so.  I said this same thing earlier, but people only seem to be in the mood to be dismissive and sarcastic with their comments.

[Millais]

I think Outcry is the song about Portnoy...

Nothing is about Portnoy.

Outcry is about the uprisings. listen to the lyrics 

[Millais]

oh and i'm 95% certain this isn't about MP either. though that's not to say that there isn't something about him on CD at all...

[Ben_Jamin]

It could, but not to me. I have my own interpretation of what they and other songs mean.

[Millais]

It could, but not to me. I have my own interpretation of what they and other songs mean.

https://youtu.be/tuw-25y6GC4?t=5m46s