Octavarium (song)
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“Octavarium”
“Octavarium” cover
Song by Dream Theater
Album Octavarium
Format CD
Recorded 2005
Genre Progressive metal
Progressive rock
Length 24:00
Label Atlantic Records
Writer James LaBrie, John Petrucci, Mike Portnoy
Composer Dream Theater
Octavarium track listing
"Sacrificed Sons"
(7)		 “Octavarium”
(8)


Octavarium is a song by progressive metal band Dream Theater, from the album of the same name. It is notable as being the band's third longest song at exactly 24 minutes, behind "In the Presence of Enemies" and "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence". Both songs, however, span through various tracks on their respective albums, Systematic Chaos and Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, which makes "Octavarium" the band's longest studio track. It was featured on the live album Score.

The song starts with Jordan Rudess using his Haken Continuum and his lap steel guitar, drawing references from Pink Floyd's "Shine On You Crazy Diamond", Tangerine Dream, Marty Friedman's Scenes, and Queen's "Bijou".

Contents

Movements

I. Someone Like Him

Beginning with a lengthy Continuum / lap steel guitar solo by Rudess, this section is told from a first-person perspective. It portrays the thoughts of a person as he decides on what to do in the course of his lifetime, as well as his wish to never become an ordinary person.

He fails, however, in changing into becoming the person he wished to become, eventually becoming 'Someone like Him'. This is also in line with the 'Full Circle' theme of Octavarium: "this story ends where it began".

It is also speculated that the lyrics refer to John Petrucci taking the place of those that inspired him.

II. Medicate (Awakening)

A person wakes up to discover a doctor sitting at his bedside. The doctor informs him that he has been in catatonic sleep for 30 years. The doctor, however, believes he was able to cure him. Suddenly, the patient is in dire need of help as he feels his conscience fading. The doctor prescribes a higher dosage of medicine, but it doesn't seem to help. Despite the doctor's failure in assisting him, the patient tells the doctor that he's not at fault, and that he shouldn't feel ashamed. Eventually, the patient slips back into unconsciousness. This is in line with the events of the movie Awakeningscitation needed.

Again, this also reflects the theme of 'Everything ends where it began.'

Some believe that this part of the song reference The Who's "Tommy". The line "eyes open but not getting through to me" is speculated to refer to Tommy being deaf dumb and blind.

III. Full Circle

Full Circle is Mike Portnoy's ode to progressive rock, shown in the lyrics by several underlying references to his favourite songs, bands and more. Once again a reference is made to the unifying theme of the song ('Everything ends where it begins'). The enumeration using the last syllable/word as the beginning of the next reference enhances the message that everything is linked, a common theme throughout Dream Theater's albums. (i.e. Day for Night, mare Cinema, Show).

IV. Intervals

Before each stanza in the lyrics, Mike Portnoy says a scale degree. In each stanza, a song from Octavarium is referenced, and an audio clip from that song is played on the background1.

Root Our deadly sins fill his mortal wrath
Remove all obstacles from our path		 Fifth Tortured insanity, a smothering hell
Try to escape but to no avail
The Root of All Evil Panic Attack
Second Asking questions, search for clues
The answer's been right in front of you		 Sixth The calls of admirers who claim they adore
Drain all your lifeblood while begging for more
The Answer Lies Within Never Enough
Third Try to break through, long to connect
Fall on deaf ears with failed muted breath		 Seventh Innocent victims of merciless crimes
Fall prey to some madmen's impulsive designs
These Walls Sacrificed Sons
Fourth Loyalty, trust, faith and desire
Carries love through each darkest fire		 Octave Step by step, we try controlling our fate
When we finally start living it's become too late
I Walk Beside You Octavarium

To finish the Octave, LaBrie repeats the line "Trapped inside this Octavarium": he is trapped in the Octavarium's full circle, which begins and ends the same.

V. Razor's Edge

This movement simply emphasizes the cyclical nature of all things, as well as the album, as it begins where it ends, using the same melody as the end to the first track, it also ends with the same note that The Root of All Evil begins with. This movement also serves as the capstone for the song and the album which shares its name, being the fifth movement in the eighth song on the album. In this way, it continues the 5:8 theme.

References

  1. ^ Octavarium analysis

External links

v • d • e
Dream Theater
James LaBrie · John Petrucci · John Myung · Jordan Rudess · Mike Portnoy
Chris Collins · Charlie Dominici · Kevin Moore · Derek Sherinian
Studio albums
Live releases
Compilations
EPs
Videos
Singles
Suites
Associated acts
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