The Count of Tuscany

The Count of Tuscany
Black Clouds & Silver Linings
Length	19:17
Working title	Unknown
Release date	May 2009
Lyrics	John Petrucci
Music	Dream Theater
First live performance
Total live plays
Recorded	Avatar Studios
Other appearances
Previous song	The Best of Times
Next song	Raw Dog (B-Side, Compilation) On the Backs of Angels

The Count of Tuscany is the sixth and final track on Dream Theater's 10th studio album, Black Clouds & Silver Linings. It was performed as an encore on the Black Clouds & Silver Linings tour.

The lyrics are anecdotal, recalling an event on the Train of Thought tour whereby Petrucci and his guitar technician were taken to visit an Italian Count's mansion.

User dci1812 of the MP.com forums posted on August 16th 2009 that he believed he had worked out the identity of the Count.

"MYSTERY SOLVED!!!

The count is: Count Niccolò Capponi. He is a bearded, historian count who lives in the Tuscany area, and whose family is in the wine business.

He was a source of information for the Thomas Harris film "Hannibal", and is mentioned in the book. He also makes an appearance in the movie as one of the panel members for Dr. Fell's (Lecter's) selection as curator of the CAPPONI Library."

- "Story behind the Count of Tuscany", MP.com

More information about Niccolò Capponi can be found at http://www.music.iastate.edu/courses/471/capponi.htm

The lyrics, as an editor to this wiki quite rightly pointed out, describe the Count as "a young eccentric man," which doesn't quite match the greying Capponi. The bearded historian, however, is quite clearly identified in the lyrics as the Count's brother - who is bearded, curates a museum, has a distinguished accent, inspired scenes in the Hannibal novel and thereby was asked to play a cameo role in the film.

The eponymous Count is Niccolò's brother Sebastiano - therefore also a Capponi.

It is on of the few Dream Theater songs which have all the musical elements (progressive, metal, melodic and pop) that they are known for .

Timing at approximately 19 minutes , it has many different parts associated with it .

Many fans describe the opening solo and its higher octaved version in the end as one the most melodic guitar solos ever written by Dream Theater.

Lyrics

Several years ago
In a foreign town
Far away from home
I met the Count of Tuscany

A young eccentric man
Bred from royal blood
Took me for a ride
Across the open country side

Get into my car
Let's go for a drive
Along the way
I'll be your guide
Just step inside

Maybe you recall
A cannibal curator
A character inspired by my brother's life

Winding through the hills
The city far behind
On and on we drove
Down narrow streets and dusty roads

At last we came upon
A picturesque estate
On sprawling emerald fields
An ancient world of times gone by

Let me introduce
My brother
A bearded gentleman
Historian
Sucking on his pipe
Distinguished accent
Making me uptight
No accident

I 
Want to stay alive
Everything about this place
Just doesn't feel right
I
I don't want to die
Suddenly I'm frightened for my life

I 
Want to say goodbye
This could be the last time
You see me alive
I
I may not survive
Knew it from the moment we arrived

Would you like to see
Our secret holy place?
I come here late at night
To pray to him by candlelight
Then peering through the glass
I saw with disbelief
Still dressed in royal clothes
The saint behind the altar

History recalls
During times of war
Legend has been traced
Back inside these castle walls

Where soldiers came to hide
In barrels filled with wine
Never to escape
These tombs of oak
Are where they died

Down the cellar stairs
I disappear
Like the angel's share
The end is near

Come and have a taste
A rare vintage
All the finest wines
Improve with age

I 
Want to stay alive
Everything about this place
Just doesn't feel right
I
I don't want to die
Suddenly I'm frightened for my life

I 
Want to say goodbye
This could be the last time
You see me alive
I
I may not survive
Knew it from the moment we arrived

Could this be the end?
Is this the way I die?
Sitting here alone
No one by my side

I don't understand
I don't feel that I deserve this
What did I do wrong?
I just don't understand

(I just don't understand.)

Give me one more chance
Let me please explain
It's all been circumstance
I'll tell you once again

You took me for a ride
Promising a vast adventure
Next thing that I know,
I'm frightened for my life

Now, wait a minute man!
That's not how it is
You must be confused
That isn't who I am

Please don't be afraid
I would never try to hurt you
This is how we live
Strange although it seems
Please try to forgive

The chapel and the saint
The soldiers and the wine
The fables and the tales
All handed down through time

Of course you're free to go
Go and tell the world my story
Tell about my brother
Tell them about me

The Count of Tuscany