A Change of Seasons (song)

:"For the 1980 film of the same name, see A Change of Seasons".

Infobox Song
Name = A Change of Seasons


Artist = Dream Theater
Album = A Change of Seasons
track_no = 1
Recorded = May 1995
Genre = Progressive metal
Length = 23:09
Composer = Dream Theater
Writer = Mike Portnoy
Label = EastWest
Producer = David Prater and Dream Theater
prev =
prev_no =
next = "Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding"
next_no = 2"A Change of Seasons" is the first track from the EP "A Change of Seasons" by United States progressive metal band Dream Theater. It is a metal suite with lyrics written by drummer Mike Portnoy and is the band's fourth longest song, behind "Octavarium" (24:00), "In the Presence of Enemies" (25:38), and "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence" (42:04)

ong

According to Portnoy's answer to a question in his website FAQ:

:"Basically, I took a lot of personal incidents, like losing my mother and a couple of things that happened in my life, and I wrote them into the lyrics. Like, on a smaller scale, I wouldn't try to compare it with this, but when I listen to Pink Floyd's "The Wall", there are a lot of emotions there - just a lot of frustrations and anger. He goes full circle, the character. He has a child and just as he's about to pass on and die, now his son is going to have to live the life he did and go through those same experiences." [ [http://www.mikeportnoy.com/about/mpfaq/showquestion.asp?menu=about&faq=1&fldAuto=384 Mike Portnoy.com - MP.FAQ ] ]

This song is often considered Dream Theater's magnum opus, showing their ability not only to compose and play their instruments, but also their maturity lyrically.

Movements

=The Crimson Sunrise "(00:00 - 03:50)"=

Instrumental.

The opening of the suite with a funeral-like solo guitar playing a musical theme, which is slowly built upon by the other instruments, eventually climaxing in a stormy mixture led by the guitar and keyboard. It is related to fall, in which we can find those "crimson" colors; especially in sunrises and sunsets, recurring themes in the piece of music.

=Innocence "(03:50 - 06:54)"=

We are introduced to a character and his past life, his childhood and how it has changed since, how the days of discovery and happiness 'were gone now'. The change from a joyful character into a depressed, lonely man is echoed in his belief that 'the end is drawing near'.

=Carpe Diem "(06:54 - 10:08)"=

A solemn, melancholic movement, its lyrics deal with the idea of 'Seize the Day'. The character recalls how meaningful words he heard before had affected his way of living. He (supposing the character is a man) was taught to "seize the day", by someone, and that he should "cherish life while [he's] still around". However, he expresses doubt for such hope and appreciation, as we never know what the future may hold.

Quotes from the Robert Herrick poem To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time can be found in here.

At the end, the character enters a process of awakening, but is met by the demise of a loved one.

=The Darkest of Winters "(10:08 - 13:01)"=

Instrumental.

=Another World "(13:01 - 16:59)"=

The character is placed in spring, he feels very far from the past, so many things have happened; he feels the need to give up in life, alone, and says that he had an idea of how he would like life to be, but this dream only caused him suffering, when he found out that it is impossible to have it.

Near the end of this movement, an angrier and stronger character is found, in lyrics talking about hypocrisy, life changes, and rejection, and eventually deciding that he 'won't let them push (him) away'.

=The Inevitable Summer "(16:59 - 20:12)"=

Instrumental.

=The Crimson Sunset "(20:12 - 23:06)"=

The character is placed watching the sunset with his son. The Character looks upon all the bad and good experiences in his life and how they equipped him for struggles later in life. The Character then says good-bye to his son, telling him to 'seize the day' and to move on, not to cry, and that he 'will live on', despite death. In the very end, the same funeral-like guitar solo from the beginning can be heard, meaning that his son's life is just beginning.

Credits

*James LaBrie, vocals
*John Myung, bass
*John Petrucci, Guitars
*Mike Portnoy, drums, percussion
*Derek Sherinian, keyboards

Trivia

* Despite the use of a "Dead Poets Society" intro tape before it was performed in Live Scenes from New York, the song's lyricist Mike Portnoy says the song has no relation to the movie "Dead Poets Society". In fact, it is related to another Robin Williams movie, "The World According to Garp".Fact|date=March 2008

* According to liner notes of the CD, they recorded the song with the same producer/engineer and in the same studio as they did for the album "Images and Words", in order to capture the vibe of those sessions.

* According to liner notes this song was written in 1989 (see 1989 in music) along with .

* In the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, a commercial with some fragments of the song was produced. The Crimson Sunrise, Innocence, The Darkest of Winters, and The Crimson Sunset were the parts used. The full commercial can be watched on [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgKWDwRw_DE YouTube]

References