| On the Backs of Angels | |
| A Dramatic Turn of Events | |
| Length | 08:42 |
| Working title | (Unknown) |
| Release date | 29th June 2011 |
| Lyrics | John Petrucci |
| Music | Petrucci, John Myung & Jordan Rudess |
| First live performance | 4/7/2011 Rome, Italy (A Dramatic Tour of Events - 1st European Leg) |
| Total live plays | 219 |
| Recorded | Cove City Sound Studios |
| Other appearances | Live at Luna Park, Breaking the Fourth Wall |
| Previous song | Black Clouds & Silver Linings (album) |
| Next song | Build Me Up, Break Me Down |
On the Backs of Angels is the first track and first single released from Dream Theater's eleventh album, A Dramatic Turn of Events. It was the first song to be released featuring Mike Mangini on drums, and the sixth Dream Theater song not to feature Mike Portnoy on drums (after Wait for Sleep, Regression, Through My Words, Through Her Eyes and Vacant). On the Backs of Angels was nominated for a Grammy award at the 2012 ceremony, in the category Best Hard Rock / Metal Performance. It lost to the song White Limo, by Foo Fighters.
Thematically, the song deals with political upheaval and the financial crisis.
Some fans believe that the song shares structural similarities with Images and Words lead single and opening track Pull Me Under. John Petrucci recorded this song using a 6-string guitar in standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E).
Lyrics[]
Standing on the backs of angels Destined to create Mounting the attack While heroes carry your weight We spiral towards disaster Survival fading faster Riding out the wave Content to feed off the machine Bleeding us to death The new American dream You're blinded by your hunger Beware your days are numbered Tears fall from the shameless Shelter me, guide me to the edge of the water Selfless are the righteous Burden me, lead me like a lamb to the slaughter Blurring lines drawn in between What is right and what is wrong Victims on the radar string us along We're on to your agenda The dead end road to nowhere Tears fall from the shameless Shelter me, guide me to the edge of the water Selfless are the righteous Burden me, lead me like a lamb to the slaughter Tears fall from the shameless Shelter me, guide me to the edge of the water Selfless are the righteous Burden me, lead me like a lamb to the slaughter Selfless are the righteous Burden me, lead me like a lamb to the slaughter