Solitary Shell

Musically, it begins sounding very much like Peter Gabriel -- in fact, it has an uncanny resemblance to the song Solsbury Hill. In the background are melodies reminiscent of Yes. About four minutes in, it becomes one of Dream Theater's hallmark jams that canvas an amazing variety of musical styles in the space of a mere two minutes -- think equal parts Billy Joel, Rush, Pink Floyd and Iron Maiden.

Lyrically, it's about the barriers ber put up between ourselves and other people, as part of the general theme of Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence -- mental illness. So, it might be about people with autism or Asperger's Syndrome. It connects with a long tradition in progressive rock of discussing isolation, most notably, Pink Floyd's The Wall, a very similar idea to the solitary shell (not to mention Pink Floyd discussing insanity on Dark Side of the Moon).

He seemed no different from the rest
Just a healthy normal boy
His mama always did her best
And he was daddy's pride and joy

He learned to walk and talk on time
But never cared much to be held
And steadily he would decline
Into his solitary shell

As a boy he was considered somewhat odd
Kept to himself most of the time
He would daydream in and out of his own world
But in every other way he was fine

He's a Monday morning lunatic
Disturbed from time to time
Lost within himself
In his solitary shell

A temporary catatonic
Madman on occasion
When will he break out
Of his solitary shell

He struggled to get through his day
He was helplessly behind
He poured himself onto the page
Writing for hours at a time

As a man he was a danger to himself
Fearful and sad most of the time
He was drifting in and out of sanity
But in every other way he was fine

He's a Monday morning lunatic
Disturbed from time to time
Lost within himself
In his solitary shell

A momentary maniac
With casual delusions
When will he be let out
Of his solitary shell