The Root of All Evil

Album: Octavarium (2005)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The third song in Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy's "Twelve-step Suite," this song covers steps 6 and 7 in the Alcoholics Anonymous recovery program. In 2010, Portnoy told Songfacts how alcoholism almost killed him: "If you listen to all five of these songs, there's so much stuff that I wrote about that's taken directly out of AA meetings, or taken directly out of the Big Book (the Alcoholics Anonymous guidebook). That was a big part of what was behind the songs, and what's behind me still being alive today. It's all about bettering yourself and it's not only a program of learning to be sober, it's a program of learning to live to be a better human being. That's why it's been a huge, huge help and a big part of my life for the last 10 years."
  • The intro is inspired by the beginning of "Welcome To The Machine" by Pink Floyd. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Felipe - Cascavel, Brazil
  • This is the opening track on Dream Theater's eighth album, Octavarium. Running 8:25, it's typical of their complex, heavy, progressive metal sound.

    The album was the group's last for Atlantic Records, which found other priorities as Dream Theater's sales declined. Their next album, Systematic Chaos, was issued on the smaller Roadrunner label.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Adam Duritz of Counting Crows

Adam Duritz of Counting CrowsSongwriter Interviews

"Mr. Jones" took on new meaning when the song about a misguided view of fame made Adam famous.

Mike Love of The Beach Boys

Mike Love of The Beach BoysSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist of The Beach Boys talks about coming up with the words for "Good Vibrations," "Fun, Fun, Fun," "Kokomo" and other classic songs.

Jeff Trott

Jeff TrottSongwriter Interviews

Sheryl Crow's longtime songwriting partner/guitarist Jeff Trott reveals the stories behind many of the singer's hits, and what its like to be a producer for Leighton Meester and Max Gomez.

Todd Rundgren

Todd RundgrenSongwriter Interviews

Todd Rundgren explains why he avoids "Hello It's Me," and what it was like producing Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell album.

Guy Clark

Guy ClarkSongwriter Interviews

Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris and Lyle Lovett are just a few of the artists who have looked to Clark for insightful, intelligent songs.

Mick Jones of Foreigner

Mick Jones of ForeignerSongwriter Interviews

Foreigner's songwriter/guitarist tells the stories behind the songs "Juke Box Hero," "I Want To Know What Love Is," and many more.