Octavarium (24:01)

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”.

Movements

I. Someone Like Him
0:00 - 8:47 (8:47)
Lyrics by John Petrucci
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)
8:48 - 13:49 (5:01)
Lyrics by James LaBrie