| Stream of Consciousness | |
| Train of Thought | |
| Length | 11:16 |
| Working title | SOC (Suck Our Cocks) |
| Release date | November 11th, 2003 |
| Lyrics | (Instrumental) |
| Music | Dream Theater |
| First live performance | Carling Apollo Manchester, Manchester, England, on Jan. 16, 2004 |
| Total live plays | 92 |
| Recorded | Cove City Sound Studios, Pie Studios NY |
| Other appearances | Live at Budokan |
| Previous song | Vacant |
| Next song | In the Name of God |
Stream of Consciousness is the 6th track from Dream Theater's 7th studio album, Train of Thought. It was their last solely instrumental track until the release of their self-titled 12th album.
John Petrucci recorded this song using a 6-string guitar tuned 1 half step down (E♭-A♭-D♭-G♭-B♭-E♭).
Personnel[]
- Mike Portnoy - Drums, percussion
- Jordan Rudess - Keyboards
- John Petrucci - Guitar
- John Myung - Bass
Notes[]
Mike Portnoy launched a songwriting competition over his website, where he posted the song's arrangement chart before it was released, and invited the fans to record their own versions of Stream of Consciousness based on what was written on the chart. The results were later released on a fan club CD, and one entry was even played over the PA system before shows on the Train of Thought Tour.
Tone[]
Like most of the songs on Train of Thought, Stream of Consciousness has a dark and heavy tone to it, with the intro having an unexpectedly loud start. The song is also very progressive, with many meter changes and several solo sections included in the song. The outro is very melodic and epic, climaxing with a dual guitar solo and a reverse of the clean guitar intro.
Live Performances[]
The song was a popular inclusion in Dream Theater's live shows on the Train of Thought Tour, and appears on the live album Live at Budokan. It wouldn't be played live again for almost 20 years after the tour finished, only appearing on the setlist for the band's 40th Anniversary Tour.