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A suited man smiled said:
"It's just a matter of time
You can have the world at your feet
By tomorrow
Just sign on this line."
Hold tight, limelight!
Approaching the paramount
With the sun in our eyes
Fearing family ties, legalize,
Compromise
In a dimly lit room with a stool as his
Stage
A dream-stricken prince of a pauper's
Descent
Haunts the eavesdropping silence
That presses his window
As he sweats a performance
To an audience that ticks on the wall
To the practical observer
It's just a matter of time
"You can deviate from the com-
Monplace
Only to fall back in line."
I understand mine's a risky plan
And your system can't miss
But is security after all a cause
Or symptom of happiness?
Brave, yet afraid, his eyes on horizon
In a steady-set gaze
A mariner soon from an open cocoon
Takes a moment to summon his courage
To stifle his grave apprehension and
Trembling, approaches the surf
A father's benediction as his hopeful
Son departs
To brave the sea of rage and conquer
At all costs
Lingers in his memory
And visions still surviving in a logic-
Proof shell
That should have been held sacred, safe
And hidden well
Are compromised in usury
With every rising sun that yields no
Sight of land
The hesitation cultivates within the
Tired man
And rumors spread of mutiny
And though the time will come when
Dream and day unite
Tonight the only consolation causing
Him to fight
In fearless faith in destiny
Even when plans fall to pieces
I can still find the courage
With promise I've found in my faith
Likely or not, it's a dream that we keep
And at odds with our senses we'll climb
But if faith is the answer, we're already
Reached it
And if spirit's a sign
Then it's only a matter of time
"It's just a matter of time
You can have the world at your feet
By tomorrow
Just sign on this line."
Hold tight, limelight!
Approaching the paramount
With the sun in our eyes
Fearing family ties, legalize,
Compromise
In a dimly lit room with a stool as his
Stage
A dream-stricken prince of a pauper's
Descent
Haunts the eavesdropping silence
That presses his window
As he sweats a performance
To an audience that ticks on the wall
To the practical observer
It's just a matter of time
"You can deviate from the com-
Monplace
Only to fall back in line."
I understand mine's a risky plan
And your system can't miss
But is security after all a cause
Or symptom of happiness?
Brave, yet afraid, his eyes on horizon
In a steady-set gaze
A mariner soon from an open cocoon
Takes a moment to summon his courage
To stifle his grave apprehension and
Trembling, approaches the surf
A father's benediction as his hopeful
Son departs
To brave the sea of rage and conquer
At all costs
Lingers in his memory
And visions still surviving in a logic-
Proof shell
That should have been held sacred, safe
And hidden well
Are compromised in usury
With every rising sun that yields no
Sight of land
The hesitation cultivates within the
Tired man
And rumors spread of mutiny
And though the time will come when
Dream and day unite
Tonight the only consolation causing
Him to fight
In fearless faith in destiny
Even when plans fall to pieces
I can still find the courage
With promise I've found in my faith
Likely or not, it's a dream that we keep
And at odds with our senses we'll climb
But if faith is the answer, we're already
Reached it
And if spirit's a sign
Then it's only a matter of time
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As for the lyrics, they are about how Dream Theater fought and coped to eventually become successful(which at the time they were not very successful).
Its about all that they were promised:
A suited man smiled said:
"It's just a matter of time
You can have the world at your feet by tomorrow
just sign on this line."
And about their journey. Hence the metaphor of the ship at sea.
And how they said that theyve come so far that its "only a matter of time" before theyre famous.
Well thats my take on the song :)
Great song, by the way.
In a broader sense, the song is about taking risks in order to find greater happiness in the end, and the phrase here that they chose for the album, "When Dream and Day Unite" seems to refer to the point in life where your dreams are waking - you're living out your dreams day to day.
Also, I believe a vocal melody here is reused on Take the Time.
Only a Matter of Time is, lyrically, probably one of Dream Theater's best.
I suggest you start reading the other lyrics, because this is definitely NOT the best song, lyrically. I think Voices is lyrically the best song.
to me, this song is about an artist starting his career. the sea is just a metaphor, it's not about a sea voyage.
especially the 2nd paragraph shows this:
"as he sweats a performance
to an audience that ticks on the walls"
and i agree with f15x28. this song is not a good vocal song, it's rather forced.
And this segment of the song happens to be one of the most poetic segments of music I have ever heard:
"A father's benediction as his hopeful son departs
to brave the sea of rage and conquer at all costs
lingers in his memory
and visions still surviving in a logic-proof shell
that should have been held sacred, safe and hidden well
are compromised in usury
with every rising sun that yields no sight of land
the hesitation cultivates within the tired man
and rumors spread of mutiny
and though the time will come when dream and day unite
tonight the only consolation causing him to fight
is fearless faith in destiny"