The Best of Times

Track 5 on Black Clouds & Silver Linings

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The fifth track on Dream Theater’s 10th studio album, Black Clouds & Silver Linings. Written by then-drummer Mike Portnoy, the lyrics revolve around his relationship with… Read More

Jun. 23, 20091 viewer15.9K views

The Best of Times Lyrics

[Instrumental Intro]

[Verse 1]
Remember days of yesterday
How it flew so fast
The two score and a year we had
I thought it would always last
Those summer days and west coast dreams
I wished would never end
A young boy and his father
Idol and best friend

[Chorus 1]
I'll always remember
Those were the best of times
A lifetime together
I'll never forget

[Verse 2]
The morning shows on the radio
The case of the missing dog
Lying on the pillows at the old 812
Watching Harold and Maude
The record shops, the stickball fields
My home away from home
And when we weren't together
The hours on the phone

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[Chorus 1]
I'll always remember
Those were the best of times
I'll cherish them forever
The best of times

[Bridge]
But then came the call
Our lives changed forever more
"You can pray for a change
But prepare for the end..."

[Verse 3]
The fleeting winds of time
Flying through each day
All the things I should've done
But time just slipped away
Remember: "Seize the Day"!
Life goes by in the blink of an eye
With so much left to say

[Chorus 2]
These were the best of times
I'll miss these days
Your spirit lit my life each day!

[Verse 4]
Thank you for the inspiration
Thank you for the smiles
All the unconditional love
That carried me for miles
It carried me for miles
But most of all thank you for my life!

[Chorus 2]
These were the best of times
I'll miss these days
Your spirit lit my life each day!

[Outro]
My heart is bleeding bad
But I'll be okay
Your spirit guides my life each day!

[Guitar Solo]

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About

The fifth track on Dream Theater’s 10th studio album, Black Clouds & Silver Linings. Written by then-drummer Mike Portnoy, the lyrics revolve around his relationship with his father, the late Howard Portnoy, who was dying of cancer at the time of the song’s creation. A tribute to Portnoy’s father can be found in the album’s liner notes. This song has never been performed live, as it was too emotional for Portnoy.

A version of this song with Mike Portnoy on the lead vocals instead of the usual vocalist James LaBrie was released on the single EP for Wither. This version was the one Portnoy played to his father on both his hospital bed and at his funeral.