Your top ten Dream Theater songs.

[Fritzinger]

Returning to the topic... I had to put some thought into this. The first 4 were no-brainers. 5-7 are actually in no particular order. But I had to put those gaps in there. 8 and 10 are among my favourites, but those could change one day.

1. Octavarium
2. Learning To Live
3. A Nightmare To Remember
4. The Dance Of Eternity

5. In The Presence Of Enemies
6. The Count Of Tuscany
7. Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence

8. Finally Free
9. On The Backs Of Angels
10. Trial Of Tears

Yeah, I'm a longtrack guy, I admit it.

[PixelDream]

1. Scarred
2. Misunderstood
3. Voices
4. Octavarium
5. Learning to Live
6. The Glass Prison
7. In the Name of God
8. The Spirit Carries On
9. Stream of Consciousness
10. The Root of All Evil

I'm a huge fan of Awake, and I used to watch Live at Budokan and Score religiously. I think it shows in my rankings.

[Fritzinger]

1. Scarred
2. Misunderstood
3. Voices
4. Octavarium
5. Learning to Live
6. The Glass Prison
7. In the Name of God
8. The Spirit Carries On
9. Stream of Consciousness
10. The Root of All Evil

I'm a huge fan of Awake, and I used to watch Live at Budokan and Score religiously. I think it shows in my rankings.

Those two came out during the time I was getting into the band and I think there is no word that can better describe how my relationship was with them than "religious" 

[WildRanger]

1. A Change of Seasons
2. Home
3. Octavarium
4. Metropolis Pt. 1: The Miracle and the Sleeper
5. Pull Me Under
6. Panic Attack
7. The Glass Prison
8. Finally Free
9. The Dance of Eternity
10. Space-Dye Vest

[geeeemo]

Now nearly 5 years into listening my list may have settled more

1. Octavarium
2-6: in no particular order
    ItPoE 1&2 (live)
    Home
    Change of Seasons
    Breaking All Illusions
    Illumination Theory
7. Count of Tuscany
8. Mirror/Lie - (live) 
9. Bridges in the Sky
10. Three Days

   

[Kotowboy]

10. I
9. Couldn't
8. Possibly
7. Rank
6. My
5. Top
4. Ten
3. Dream
2. Theater
1. Octavarium

[geeeemo]

10. I
9. Couldn't
8. Possibly
7. Rank
6. My
5. Top
4. Ten
3. Dream
2. Theater
1. Octavarium

Love it!!!

[TheCountOfNYC]

10. I
9. Couldn't
8. Possibly
7. Rank
6. My
5. Top
4. Ten
3. Dream
2. Theater
1. Octavarium

Perfect!

[splent]

1. Octavarium
2. Metropolis Pt 1
3. Learning to Live
4. Six Degrees
5. A Change of Seasons
6. Only A Matter of Time
7. The Spirit Carries On
8. Vacant/Stream of Consciousness 
9. Bridges in the Sky
10. Surrender to Reason
PS Another Won

Honorable Mention. YAAAAAAAAH in Your Majesty

[JiM-Xtreme]

My top 5 are more or less set in stone, beyond that it gets increasingly subject to day-to-day variation.

1. Learning to Live
2. The Count of Tuscany
3. Overture 1928/Strange Deja Vu
4. Trial of Tears
5. A Change of Seasons

6. Beyond This Life
7. Fatal Tragedy
8. Another Day
9. The Glass Prison
10. The Killing Hand (LatM arrangement with JLB vocals)

Honorable mentions: Octavarium, Raise the Knife, Home, The Dance of Eternity, Stream of Consciousness

[Mojado Ilegal]

[REDACTED]

[Stadler]

I couldn't make a top 10 list, but I do have my top 5:

1). Scarred
2). A Mind Beside Itself:
     I. Erotomania
     II. Voices
     III. The Silent Man
3). The Ones Who Help To Set The Sun
4). Light Fuse And Get Away
5). Disappear

That's an interesting list; two from WDADU.

[mariner]

1) The Spirit Carries On - I still tear up every single time I hear this.  What a beautiful piece of music.  Some of the live versions are simply incredible.

2) Octavarium - simply put, perfection.  I like what someone else wrote - I love all the meta moments in it; the numerology of it all, the story ends where it began...  and the live version with JL playing keys while Jordan plays continuum - awesome

3) Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence - I never really considered it one song, until Score...  I was there for the recording - and we recognized right away that it was an actual orchestra...  amazing.  (My favorites are About to Crash and Solitary Shell to the end)

4) Wait for Sleep/Learning to Live - I know it is a cheat to list them together, but with the reprise of sleep, if feels more prog to include them together

5) Metropolis, Pt. 1 - I still get goose bumps every time I hear the intro keyboard motif..

6) Pull Me Under - funny trivia - took me until opening for Iron Maiden in 2010 at the Garden to hear this live.  And my first show was 2002...  (yes I was late to the party)

7) On the Backs of Angels - my favorite song of the Mangini era.  Such a great track that perfectly encapsulates this band

8) Fatal Tragedy - actually the first DT song I ever heard on the radio, in 1999.  I was hooked.  And I have "talked about (it) for years..."

9) Peruvian Skies - loved the live 2005 version with Wherever I May Room in the outro.  So cool.

10) As I Am - the song just kicks my ass, every single time I hear it.  And I love the "justify/just defy" lyrical twist.  OK, and "Eat my ass and balls", too.

[kirksnosehair]

TOP TEN DREAM THEATER SONGS:
01. Lines In The Sand
02. The Spirit Carries On
03. Metropolis - Part I: "The Miracle and the Sleeper"
04. Surrounded
05. The Great Debate
06. Honor Thy Father
07. Breaking All Illusions
08. A Change of Seasons
09. Scarred
10. The Count of Tuscany


RUNNERS UP:
The Killing Hand
Home
The Root of All Evil
The Glass Prison
Light Fuse and Getaway

[darkshade]

 1. Octavarium
 2. The Glass Prison
 3. A Change of Seasons (LSFNY version)
 4. Learning To Live
 5. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
 6. Fatal Tragedy
 7. 6:00
 8. Metropolis Pt 1
 9. The Count of Tuscany
10. A Nightmare to Remember
11. Caught In A Web

[TM172003]

1. The Count of Tuscany
2. Octavarium
3. ⁠A Change of Seasons
4. ⁠ItPoE
5. A Nightmare to Remember
6. The Glass Prison
7. Breaking All Illusions
8. The Ministry of Lost Souls
9. Act II: Scene Six: Home
10. In the Name of God

[Trav86]

In chronological order...

Light Fuse and Get Away
Metropolis, Pt. 1
Under a Glass Moon
Learning To Live
Voices
Lifting Shadows off a Dream
A Change of Seasons
Trial of Tears
Home
Blind Faith

[Dream Team]

TOP TEN DREAM THEATER SONGS:
01. Lines In The Sand
02. The Spirit Carries On
03. Metropolis - Part I: "The Miracle and the Sleeper"
04. Surrounded
05. The Great Debate
06. Honor Thy Father
07. Breaking All Illusions
08. A Change of Seasons
09. Scarred
10. The Count of Tuscany


RUNNERS UP:
The Killing Hand
Home
The Root of All Evil
The Glass Prison
Light Fuse and Getaway

That’s a great list but wow does HTF stick out like a sore thumb.

[geeeemo]

1. The Count of Tuscany
2. Octavarium
3. ⁠A Change of Seasons
4. ⁠ItPoE
5. A Nightmare to Remember
6. The Glass Prison
7. Breaking All Illusions
8. The Ministry of Lost Souls
9. Act II: Scene Six: Home
10. In the Name of God

This is a great list

[adastra]

Oh yeah! Here´s my take. Not sure about the order, though. Changes by the mood, i guess.

1. I Walk Beside you (All time Best!)
2. Vacant / Stream of Consciousness (All time second best! I like to think of these as a one song.)
3. Just Let Me Breathe (Rocks your socks off)
4. Scarred (Epic and amazing solos)
5. Lifting Shadows Off A Dream (Very good song and amazing vocals by labrie)
6. A Change of Seasons (There isn´t anything I don´t like about this song)
7. The Glass Prison (Heavy as hell and wonderfully mixed)
8. Take Away My Pain (Good lyrics and a stellar songs)
9. Beyond This Life (I love the solo-section in this song!)
10. Raise The Knife

I´ll also give you the 10 worst songs haha.
I´m not going to include anything from The Astonishing, Dramatic turn of Events and the self-titled because I really don´t care that much of  any of those albums. Also i´ll exclude WDADU. I like the songs, but the album sounds so bad that I rarely listen to it.
These are not in order.

1. Caught In A Web (The main synth lead is painful. Never liked it nor the song)
2. Pull Me Under (Doesn´t click. Always skip.)
3. The Ministry of Lost Souls (I've always found this amazingly boring and the instrumental section in the middle is like from a different song.)
4. Repentance (About as boring as it gets.)
5. Home (I really can´t say what it is about this song that I don´t like. From the first time i heard it in 2000 until the  last time in Distant Memories, I´ve never liked it)
6. Prophets of War (Does nothing for me.)
7. Under A Glass Moon
8. Pale Blue Dot ( Weak chorus and overall weak song.)
9. Fall into the Light (The vocal melodies in verse and chorus are about as weak as they get. The Chorus is one of the worst and the middle section makes me want to skip the track if i haven´t done it already.)
10. I can´t think of anything else

[IDontNotDoThings]

Those are some very interesting choices. At least 3 tracks in your best list are probably very high on my worst list, but y'know, tastes.

[pg1067]

TOP TEN DREAM THEATER SONGS:
01. Lines In The Sand
02. The Spirit Carries On
03. Metropolis - Part I: "The Miracle and the Sleeper"
04. Surrounded
05. The Great Debate
06. Honor Thy Father
07. Breaking All Illusions
08. A Change of Seasons
09. Scarred
10. The Count of Tuscany


RUNNERS UP:
The Killing Hand
Home
The Root of All Evil
The Glass Prison
Light Fuse and Getaway

That’s a great list but wow does HTF and TGD stick out like a sore thumb.

ftfy

1. I Walk Beside you (All time Best!)

Good candidate for the controversial opinions thread.

[geeeemo]

Hmmm I love TGD

[gzarruk]

TOP TEN DREAM THEATER SONGS:
01. Lines In The Sand
02. The Spirit Carries On
03. Metropolis - Part I: "The Miracle and the Sleeper"
04. Surrounded
05. The Great Debate
06. Honor Thy Father
07. Breaking All Illusions
08. A Change of Seasons
09. Scarred
10. The Count of Tuscany


RUNNERS UP:
The Killing Hand
Home
The Root of All Evil
The Glass Prison
Light Fuse and Getaway

That’s a great list but wow does HTF and TGD stick out like a sore thumb.

ftfy

Hmmm I love TGD

HTF might not be that good, but TGD is amazing, I love it so much every time it pops up in my DT shuffle.

[Mojado Ilegal]

[REDACTED]

[NoFred]

Hard not to just tracklist I&W for my top 8...

1. Learning to Live
2. The Glass Prison
3. A Change of Seasons
4. About to Crash
5. Under A Glass Moon
6. Breaking All Illusions
7. Metropolis Pt 1
8. Strange Deja Vu
9.  The Root of All Evil
10. Voices
10. In the Presence of Enemies Pt 1 (edit I had 11 somehow, consider these tied)

ETA: this really made me consider where AWE fits in since it’s tier 1 IMO but not enough to break top 10... and flip side some reflection on what a great song BAI is.

Had a lot of extra listening time this past year () which I used on a lot of old and a lot of new esoteric stuff... perspectives that made me realize there’s a DT song above all others I didn’t have in my top 10 before:

1. In the Name of God - I’ve always loved this one but there’s been countless times recently I’ve heard something and thought OK but ITNOG did it better. Has to be objectively my favorite. Scientifically the best song of all time, probably
2. Learning to Live - subjectively my favorite, pre-internet too I thought I was the only one haha
3. About to Crash - so so gooood
4. Breaking all Illusions - ok so if it’s a copy of #2 great the more the merrier lmao
5. Beyond this Life - the kitchen sink song has everything and more
6. A Change of Seasons - the band of I&W and Awake could do no wrong, and with this they didn’t
7. Strang Deja Vu - favorite from SFAM as a story song, it’s the one that makes me want to experience the whole album, also final verse is tops in DT catalog
8. In the Presence of Enemies - I remember how I felt with each first song of each album, and this one checked me that the metal was back. Plus hearing it on last tour? Awesome +1
9. The Root of All Evil - hard time in my life, great album, fantastic song
10. Voices - the whole suite really, but make me pick and it’s voices.

Special mentions to like 20 other songs 

[IDontNotDoThings]

1. In the Name of God - I’ve always loved this one but there’s been countless times recently I’ve heard something and thought OK but ITNOG did it better. Has to be objectively my favorite. Scientifically the best song of all time, probably
2. Learning to Live - subjectively my favorite, pre-internet too I thought I was the only one haha
3. About to Crash - so so gooood
4. Breaking all Illusions - ok so if it’s a copy of #2 great the more the merrier lmao
5. Beyond this Life - the kitchen sink song has everything and more
6. A Change of Seasons - the band of I&W and Awake could do no wrong, and with this they didn’t
7. Strang Deja Vu - favorite from SFAM as a story song, it’s the one that makes me want to experience the whole album, also final verse is tops in DT catalog
8. In the Presence of Enemies - I remember how I felt with each first song of each album, and this one checked me that the metal was back. Plus hearing it on last tour? Awesome +1
9. The Root of All Evil - hard time in my life, great album, fantastic song
10. Voices - the whole suite really, but make me pick and it’s voices.

Nice list, but what does this comment mean?

[Elite]

Oh, let's do this, sure! It's been years since I tried to rank their songs and some of these on the list I haven't listened to in quite a while either



1. Metropolis Pt. 1 - The Miracle and the Sleeper
2. Innocence Faded
3. Surrounded
4. Scene Six: Home
5. The Great Debate
6. Take the Time
7. The Enemy Inside
8. Octavarium
9. Space-Dye Vest
10. A Change of Seasons
 


Honestly though, everything beyond #1 was a bit random, but this is probably sort-of what my top 10 would look like now.

[fatfabi]

Learning to Live
Voices
Eve
A Change of Seasons
Hell's Kitchen
Beyond this Life
Hollow Years (live at Budokan)
Octavarium
illumination Theory
Space Dye Vest (live from Boston Opera House)

in no particular order, was quite tough, but these are my most listened to

[erwinrafael]

1. Breaking All Illusions
2. At Wit's End
3. Trial of Tears
4. Scarred
5. Illumination Theory
6. Our New World
7. Surrounded
8. S2N
9. Metropolis Pt. 1
10. Peruvian Skies

SDOIT, Mirror/Lie, and Through My Words/Fatal Tragedy was in my top 10 for a long time but the new songs were really amazing. Would have included Barstool Warrior if this list is expanded.

[MHStrawn]

Hmmmm....ten huh? 

1. A Change of Seasons
2. Learning to Live
3. Voices
4. Opening sequence to SFAM (Regression/SDejaVu/FatalTragedy)
5. Home
6. Lines in the Sand
7. Raise the Knife
8. The Root of All Evil
9. The Killing Hand
10. Trial of Tears

[darkshade]

1. Octavarium
2. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
3. Wait For Sleep/Learning To Live
4. A Change Of Seasons
5. The Glass Prison
6. Metropolis Pt. 1
7. Scarred
8. The Count of Tuscany
9. Fatal Tragedy
10. Under A Glass Moon

Honorable Mention: A Nightmare To Remember.
The first half alone would put it in my top 10, but the transition into the awesome guitar and keyboard solos is rough, and then the song takes a nosedive, but I enjoy the first half so much I had to put it here.

[H2]

Let's do this again:

1. Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
2. Fatal Tragedy
3. Octavarium
4. Learning to Live
5. Home
6. Beyond This Life
7. Metropolis Pt 1
8. A Change of Seasons
9. The Spirit Carries On
10. Voices

[kirksnosehair]

TOP TEN DREAM THEATER SONGS:
01. Lines In The Sand
02. The Spirit Carries On
03. Metropolis - Part I: "The Miracle and the Sleeper"
04. Surrounded
05. The Great Debate
06. Honor Thy Father
07. Breaking All Illusions
08. A Change of Seasons
09. Scarred
10. The Count of Tuscany


RUNNERS UP:
The Killing Hand
Home
The Root of All Evil
The Glass Prison
Light Fuse and Getaway

That’s a great list but wow does HTF stick out like a sore thumb.

"Don't cross the crooked step"

[romdrums]

My Top 10:

A Change of Seasons
Metropolis Part I
Scarred
Voices
Under a Glass Moon
In the Name of God
Breaking All Illusions
Learning to Live
The Mirror
Home

I'm still good with this.  Maybe change the order around after UAGM, but I'm pretty sure that would remain consistent.