Lyric discussion by dt1x1tree 

The song's original title was "The Shaman Trance"

If I was to go out on a limb and come to a quick conclusion, I would say that this song is about somebody getting guided through an Ayahuasca trip. (Heavy heavy doses of the strongest psychedelic known to man Dimethyltryptamine)

Ayahuasca is taken orally in the form a tea, and it used as a religious sacrament.

The chorus made me come to this theory so I'll break it down first.

"Make healing waters bury all my pain" - the healing waters may be reference to the ayahuasca tea, as people take it to get rid of the negative energy in their bodies, which also physically eliminates parasites in your body - it also has been used as a healing remedy "the fabric of reality is tearing apart" - the man is really high on a level 5 psychedelic "the piece of me that died, will return to live again" - people have had severe psychic changes as a result of the use of a psychedelic like this, many changes for the better

"blackness awakens, visions come alive, seeing through darkness with borrowed eyes" - the man is starting to be guided through the experience by the shaman "death survivor, take me higher, reunite my soul" - telling the shaman and the drug to start to heal the sickness he may have "whisperer of truth, i trust in you, to make me whole" - ^^^ pretty much the same as above, i think the whisperer (and later messenger) of truth refers to both the drug and the shaman

"Feeling myself slip away, silently dreaming awake, hidden memories flooding back. I will not grow in the light until I pass through the darkest caverns of my heart."

Maybe he's fighting with himself during the experience, needing to break through some of his flaws in order to become a better person.

Honestly, even if you don't put the "medicine" into the picture, it still makes sense. o.o

One of the dramatic changes specified by the band as making up the album concept is religious/spiritual change, and this song seems to be the only candidate.

"Death survivor, take me higher, reunite my soul. Whisperer of truth, I trust in you to make me whole."

This seems to clearly reference Jesus. Notice the "Agnus Dei" Gregorian choir in the intro. Petrucci knows what he's doing.

Ocvatarium is correct with the Angus Dei. I was able to have a small chat about how he practices his Catholicism on the road when i saw them live in Vancouver and he always expresses it through his stage presence and music. Ever notice JP never does the devil horns? he just points at the sky.

But the song is not fully reliant on Religion alone. and it never is with DT because its such a touchy subject, and people will have more respect for lyrics that remain neutral with such things.

makes a lot of sense..thanks.

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