"Space-Dye Vest" is one of Dream Theater's most unique tracks. It was written by Kevin Moore, the band's keyboardist during their first three albums, who departed after the release of Awake, where this song serves as the closing track. The lyrics draw inspiration from the end of Moore's personal relationship, a topic he touched upon during an interview with a Japanese media outlet (as reported by Songfacts).
Kevin Moore said: "I was looking at a clothing catalog and I saw a picture of a girl modeling a piece of clothing called a space-dye vest. So I fell in love with it for some strange reason, and the moment I did that, in the moment when I became obsessed with this person, I thought, 'Why am I doing this?' I had just gotten out of a relationship that had been abandoned, basically, and so I think the situation was that I hadn't finished giving everything that I was ready to give. So I was just, like, throwing everything around, you know, just pointing in different directions. It was a total case of projection".
"This song is simply an attempt to resolve that and admit that I was kind of lost. So it's a kind of dark song. But it was very cathartic," Moore added.
Mike Portnoy said in an interview that if the band knew Kevin was about to leave the band, they would not have published the song on Awake, as it was sort of a personal song, kind of different from the band's style. Enjoy the song by clicking on the video above and follow the lyrics below, if you like.
"Space-Dye Vest" (Kevin Moore)
Falling through pages of Martens on angels
Feeling my heart pull west
I saw the future dressed as a stranger
love in a space-dye vest
Love is an act of blood and I'm bleeding
a pool in the shape of a heart
Beauty projection in the reflection
Always the worst way to start
"But he's the sort who can't know
anyone intimately, least of all a woman.
He doesn't know what a woman is.
He wants you for a possession, something to look at
like a painting or an ivory box.
Something to own and to display. He doesn't want
you to be real, or to think or to live.
He doesn't love you, but I love you.
I want you to have your own thoughts and ideas and
feelings, even when I hold you in my arms.
It's our last chance... It's our last chance..."
Now that you're gone I'm trying to take it
Learning to swallow the rage
Found a new girl I think we can make it
as long as she stays on the page
This is not how I want it to end
And I'll never be open again
"...I was gonna move out...ummm...get,
get a job, get my own place, ummm,
but... I go into the mall where I
want to work and they tell me, I'm,
I was too young..."
"Some people, gave advice before,
about facing the facts, about
facing reality. And this is, this
without a doubt, is his biggest
challenge ever. He's going to have to face it.
You're gonna have to try, he's gonna to have to try
and, uh, and, and, and get some help here.
I mean no one can say they know how he feels."
"That, so they say that, in ya know
like, Houston or something, you'd
say it's a hundred and eighty degrees,
but it's a dry heat.
In Houston they say that?
Oh, maybe not. I'm all mixed up.
Dry until they hit the swimming pool."
"...I get up with the sun... Listen.
You have your own room to sleep in,
I don't care what you do. I don't
care when. That door gets locked,
that door gets locked at night by nine o'clock.
If you're not in this house by nine o'clock, then
you'd better find some place to sleep. Because
you're not going to be a bum in this house.
Supper is ready..."
There's no one to take my blame
if they wanted to
There's nothing to keep me sane
and it's all the same to you
There's nowhere to set my aim
so I'm everywhere
Never come near me again
do you really think I need you
I'll never be open again,
I could never be open again.
I'll never be open again,
I could never be open again.
And I'll smile and I'll learn to pretend
And I'll never be open again
And I'll have no more dreams to defend
And I'll never be open again