Favorite Lyrics Part 1 - Dream Theater

I know this post is long, but it is a LONG song. Here is one of my favorite songs of all time:

1. A Change Of Seasons[Music by Dream Theater][Lyrics by Mike Portnoy]

[I. The Crimson Sunrise][Instrumental]

[II. Innocence] I remember a time My frail, virgin mind Watched the crimson sunrise Imagined what it might find Life was filled with wonder I felt the warm wind blow I must explore the boundaries Transcend the depth of winter's snow Innocence caressing me I never felt so young before There was so much life in me Still I longed to search for more But those days are gone now Changed like a leaf on a tree Blown away forever Into the cool autumn breeze The snow has now fallen And my sun's not so bright I struggle to hold on With the last of my might In my den of inequity Viciousness and subtlety Struggle to ease the pain Struggle to find the same Ignorance surrounding me I've never been so filled with fear All my life's been drained from me The end is drawing near...

[III. Carpe Diem] "Carpe diem Seize the day" I'll always remember The chill of November The news of the fall The sounds in the hall The clock on the wall Ticking away "Seize the Day" I heard him say Life will not always be this way Look around Hear the sounds Cherish your life While you're still around ("Gather ye rosebuds while ye may) (Old Time is still a-flying;) (And this same flower that smiles today) (Tomorrow will be dying") We can learn From the past But those days Are gone We can hope For the future But there might not be one The words stuck in my mind Alive from what I've learned I have to seize the day To home I returned Preparing for her flight I held with all my might Fearing my deepest fright She walked into the night She turned for one last look She looked me in the eye I said, "I Love You... Good-bye" ("It's the most awful thing you'll ever hear") ("If you're lying to me...") ("Oh, you dearly love her") ("...just have to leave...) (All our lives") ("Seize the day!") ("Something happened") ("Gather ye rosebuds while ye may") ("She was killed")

[IV. The Darkest Of Winters][Instrumental]

[V. Another World] So far or so it seems All is lost With nothing fulfilled Off the pages and the T.V. screen Another world Where nothing's true Tripping through The life fantastic Lose a step And never get up Left alone With a cold blank stare I feel like giving up I was blinded by a paradise Utopia high in the sky A dream that only drowned me Deep in sorrow, wondering why Oh come let us adore him Abuse and then ignore him No matter what Don't let him be Let's feed upon his misery Then string him up for all the world to see I'm sick of all Your hypocrites Holding me at bay And I don't need Your sympathy To get me through the day Seasons change and so can I Hold on Boy No time to cry Untie these strings I'm climbing down I won't let them push me away Oh come let us adore him Abuse and then ignore him No matter what Don't let him be Let's feed upon His misery Now it's time for them To deal with me

[VI. The Inevitable Summer] [Instrumental]

[VII. The Crimson Sunset] I'm much wiser now A lifetime of memories Run though my head They taught me how For better or worse Alive or dead I realize There's no turning back Life goes on The offbeaten track I sit down with my son Set to see the Crimson Sunset (Gather ye rosebuds while ye may) Many years have come and gone I've lived my life, but now must move on (Gather ye rosebuds while ye may) He's my only one Now that my time has come Now that my life is done We look into the sun "Seize the day And don't you cry Now it's time To say good-bye Even though I'll be gone I will live on Live on"

The song is about Mike Portnoy's mother, and was his way of dealing with her death.