Scene Four: Beyond This Life | |
Metropolis, Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory | |
Length | 11:22 |
Working title | |
Release date | October 26, 1999 |
Lyrics | John Petrucci |
Music | Dream Theater |
First live performance | Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, AZ, USA, on Jan. 31, 2000 |
Total live plays | 254 |
Recorded | |
Other appearances | Metropolis 2000, Live Scenes from New York, The Making of Scenes from a Memory |
Previous song | Scene Three: II. Fatal Tragedy |
Next song | Scene Five: Through Her Eyes |
Scene Four: Beyond This Life is the sixth track off of Dream Theater's fifth studio album, Metropolis Pt 2: Scenes From a Memory. It is the longest song in Act 1 of the album.
John Petrucci recorded this song using a 6-string guitar in standard tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E).
Lyrics[]
Headline: "Murder, young girl killed Desperate shooting at Echo`s hill Dreadful ending, killer died Evidently suicide" A witness heard a horrifying sound He ran to find a woman dead and Lying on the ground Standing by her was a man Nervous, shaking, gun in hand Witness says he tried to help But he`d turned the weapon on himself His body fell across that poor young girl After shouting out in vain The witness ran to call for assistance A sad close to a broken love affair Our deeds have traveled far What we have been is what we are She wanted love forever But he had another plan He fell into an evil way She had to let him down She said "I can`t love a wayward man" She may have found a reason to forgive If he had only tried to change Was their fatal meeting prearranged? Had a violent struggle taken place? There was every sign that lead there Witness found a switchblade on the ground Was the victim unaware? They continued to investigate They found a note in the killer`s pocket It could have been a suicide letter Maybe he had lost her love "I feel there`s only one thing left to do I'd sooner take my life away than live with losing you" Our deeds have traveled far What we have been is what we are Our deeds have traveled far What we have been is what we are All that we learn this time (What we have been is what we are) Is carried beyond this life All that we learn this time (What we have been is what we are) Is carried beyond this life Our deeds have traveled far What we have been is what we are Our deeds have traveled far What we have been is what we are All that we learn this time (What we have been is what we are) Is carried beyond this life All that we learn this time (What we have been is what we are) Is carried beyond this life
Analysis[]
In this Scene, Nicholas reads about Victoria's murder in an old newspaper. The newspaper states that Victoria was killed by a former lover (Julian), who proceeded to kill himself immediately after. The witness (Edward) finds a switchblade and a suicide letter in the murderer's pocket. Edward tells this story to the authorities.