Dream Theater Wiki
Scene Seven: I. The Dance of Eternity
Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory
Length 6:14
Working title (unknown)
Release date October 26, 1999 (same as album)
Lyrics (Instrumental)
Music Dream Theater
First live performance Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix, AZ, USA, on January 31, 2000
Total live plays 337
Recorded BearTracks Studios
Other appearances Metropolis 2000, Live Scenes from New York, The Making of Scenes from a Memory, Breaking the Fourth Wall, Distant Memories
Previous song Scene Six: Home
Next song Scene Seven: II. One Last Time


Scene Seven: I. The Dance of Eternity (or just simply The Dance of Eternity), is the ninth track on the album Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory, and the second track in Act 2 of the album. It is the second instrumental on the album, the first being Overture 1928.

Due to its complexity and many time signature changes (108 in total), The Dance of Eternity is often regarded as one of the most complex songs in progressive metal.

John Petrucci recorded this song using a 7-string guitar in standard tuning (B-E-A-D-G-B-E).

Appearances[]

Year Recording Type Release Release Type
1999 Studio Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory Studio Album
2001 Live Live Scenes from New York Live Album
2001 Live Metropolis 2000: Scenes from New York Video Album
2003 Tracks The Making of Scenes from a Memory Official Bootleg
2014 Live Breaking the Fourth Wall Live Album, Video Album
2020 Live Distant Memories - Live in London Live Album, Video Album
2022 Live Live in Berlin (2019) Official Bootleg
2023 Tracks The Making of Scenes from a Memory - The Sessions (1999) Official Bootleg