Dream Theater – Misunderstood

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  Song Meaning:If you believe this song was written about Jesus then you have misunderstood. This song speaks of the difficulties of living with mental illness, interpersonal and emotional struggles. As someone living with Borderline Personality Disorder this song speaks to me on a level that can't just be coincidence. Feeling abandoned even when my friends and family try to support me, at times completely disconnecting and struggling to regain my sense of identity. Feeling empty and alone, feeling that no one understands you and you don't understand anyone. Isolating yourself because of the intense swings of emotion that follow interpersonal relationships. Going from euphoric to suicidal, from loving someone to hating someone, from feeling completely in control to a complete mess as if someone flicked a switch. Waiting, never really knowing when the next episode will hit, confused because the triggers sometimes don't even make sense. Anger at the world and people around you, with no real reason as to why your angry with them. A constant struggle with self control, pretending that nothing phases you, that you are impervious, while you are tearing yourself apart internally. I would suggest that John Petrucci has been close to someone living with BPD and was inspired to write a song about their affliction.

  Flag pluuon December 03, 2011   Link

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    Congratulations, I think that's exactly the essence of the lyrics. In case you don't know, the whole album "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence" talks about these kind of turbulences, like mental illness, alcoholism, depression,etc.

    Flag Yagodoreaon July 29, 2012  

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    imho your spot on...
    
    having bdp/adhd myself, this song just feels like it. its extremely dangerous for me.
    listening to it, i loose control almost instantly and drift away into the abyss...
    

    Flag dambamon March 04, 2013  
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  General Comment:Yeah, it's theme where John Petrucci being praised by fans and critics alike! I don't know about thief and Beggar but I do see connection like "Someone Like You" and "Wither". He just expressing himself through personal thoughts into papers!

  Flag TheRioton August 24, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/…
  
  Thank me later.

  Flag Chrissalixon July 29, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:I always think this is about the lonely side of being famous. A lot of people know you, but you don't know them.

  Flag Plutopiteron May 06, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:But still I can not believe anyone has made a comment about the minute 9:07 where you can hear the final breath when Jesus dies on the crucifixion.

  Flag CosmeFulanitoon July 07, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:"Playing a lion being led to a cage.
  I turn from surreal to seclusion
  From love to disdain
  From belief to delusion
  From a thief to a beggar
  From a god to God save me"
  
  he compares the way people treat him ( when he was taken to the place of crucifixion ) with a lion when it is locked in its cage.
  and then the contrast between what he used to be and what he is now.. they loved him, now they hate him.. they believed in him, now they betrayed him.. he sees he´s between the thief and the beggar in the crucifixion place... He was treated as a God , now he es asking God to save him..

  Flag CosmeFulanitoon July 07, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:"If I seem superhuman
  I have been
  Misunderstood"
  
  Thanks to his miracles, the people treat him as a superhuman or better said as a God, but he is very humble so he doesnt think like that.

  Flag CosmeFulanitoon July 07, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:I like the idea that this song is about Jesus ( in the first person view ).
  
  "How can I feel abandoned even when the world surrounds me" he is surrounded by people that follow him, but many people still treat him as a thief or a liar, even Judas betrays him.
  
  "How can I bite the hand that feeds the strangers all around me" how can he convince the people that he is the way to the truth and not the persons that govern the people.
  
  "How can I know so many
  Never really knowing anyone" He only knows the people that sorrounds him, but even so he gives his life to save the world because all the things he knows.
  
  
  
  
  

  Flag CosmeFulanitoon July 07, 2010   Link

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  Song Meaning:I got the impression that this song is about fame. And how you have all these fans that think you're a god, you're "superhuman", but you're not. And how they all "know" you, but how you can never really "know" them. It speaks of the lonliness of fame. Or at least that was my interpretation of it.

  Flag kelusterkon December 05, 2009   Link

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  General Comment:hoo sorry, my PC got crasy

  Flag shepherd117on June 09, 2009   Link

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