This Is The Life
Dream Theater Lyrics


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In the heart of your most solemn barren night
When your soul's turned inside out
Have you questioned all the madness you invite
What your life is all about

Some of us choose to live gracefully
Some can get caught in the maze
And lose their way home
This is the life we belong to
Our gift divine

Have you ever wished that you were someone else
Traded places in your mind
It's only a waste of your time

Some of us choose to live gracefully
Some can get caught in the maze
And lose their way home
This is the life we belong to
Our gift divine

Feed the illusion you dream about
Cast out the monsters inside

Life begins with an empty slate
Fragile left in the hands of fate
Driven by love and crushed by hate
Until the day
The gift is gone
And shadows remain

Some of us choose to live gracefully
Some can get caught in the maze
And lose their way home
Memories will fade
Time races on
What will they say
After you're gone
This is the life we belong to




Our gift divine
Our gift divine

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "This Is The Life" capture the essence of introspection and contemplation about one's purpose in life, as well as the existential questions that arise in moments of solitude. In the first verse, the lyrics address the solitude one feels during their toughest times, where they are deep within their thoughts, questioning the madness in the life they lead. The subsequent verses highlight the common human tendency of wishing to be someone else, indicating that this thought is a waste of time that does not lead to fulfilment. The chorus serves as a reflection of the diversity of paths that people take to exist in their lives, highlighting that this life is a gift and divine.


The song also touches upon the fragility of life, the influence of fate, and the impact of love and hate on our lives. The lyrics explain that life is an empty slate that is brittle and fragile, one that is driven and defined by love on one end and destroyed by hate on the other. It ends with an admonition to dwell on the moments of one's life and how they aspire to be remembered.


Overall, the song is an earnest reflection on life, purpose, and the human experience. It captures the broad range of emotions that people face in their everyday lives and is an anthem of hope and inspiration for anyone who is in search of their purpose.


Line by Line Meaning

In the heart of your most solemn barren night
During the times when you feel the loneliest and most deprived of hope


When your soul's turned inside out
When you feel stripped of comfort and familiarity, leaving only the raw essence of your being


Have you questioned all the madness you invite
Have you challenged the negative consequences of your actions?


What your life is all about
What is the true meaning and purpose of your existence?


Some of us choose to live gracefully
Some individuals opt to live in a state of harmony and elegance


Some can get caught in the maze
Others can become trapped and confused by the intricacies of life


And lose their way home
And lose sight of their true path in life


This is the life we belong to
Life is the only one we have, and we must make the best of it


Our gift divine
Life is a valuable and priceless gift, possibly bestowed upon us by a higher power


Have you ever wished that you were someone else
Have you ever desired to exchange your identity with someone else's?


Traded places in your mind
Mentally swapping lifestyles with another individual


It's only a waste of your time
This fantasy is only detrimental to your emotional and mental well-being


Feed the illusion you dream about
Continue to explore and cultivate your dreams, even if they only exist in your mind


Cast out the monsters inside
Expel the inner demons that hinder you from achieving inner peace and happiness


Life begins with an empty slate
Life starts with a clean slate, waiting to be filled with new experiences and memories


Fragile left in the hands of fate
Life is delicate and vulnerable to the whims of the universe


Driven by love and crushed by hate
Emotions of love can uplift and propel us forward, while hate can destroy and consume us


Until the day
Continuing down this path until the end of our lives


The gift is gone
When life ends, the precious gift of existence and consciousness fades away


And shadows remain
Only fading memories of our existence will be left behind


Memories will fade
Recollections of the past will become faint and eventually forgotten


Time races on
The ever-present and unstoppable march of time


What will they say
What will be our legacy, remembered by others after we are gone?


After you're gone
Once we pass away and leave this world




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN PETRUCCI, JORDAN RUDESS, JORDAN CHARLES RUDESS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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