See main article: article and Dream Theater discography. This is a complete list of songs by American progressive metal band Dream Theater. Dream Theater was formed in 1985 by guitarist John Petrucci, bassist John Myung, and drummer Mike Portnoy. The band's current line-up consists of Petrucci, Myung, Portnoy, keyboardist Jordan Rudess, and vocalist James LaBrie. As of 2021, Dream Theater has released fifteen studio albums.
| Title | Year | Album | Lyricist | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "2285 Entr'acte" | 2016 | The Astonishing | Instrumental | 2:20 | |
| "6:00" | 1994 | Awake | 5:31 | ||
| "A Better Life" | 2016 | The Astonishing | 4:39 | ||
| "A Change of Seasons" | 1995 | A Change of Seasons | 23:09 | Originally written in 1989 and supposed to appear on Images and Words, but cut due to the album already being too long. The song was re-worked and released on the EP A Change of Seasons. The original version was never officially released. | |
| "A Crack in the Mirror" | 1994 | Instrumental | 1:05 | Extended intro added to "The Mirror". Only played live during the Waking Up the World Tour (1994–95) and never officially released. | |
| "A Fortune in Lies" | 1989 | When Dream and Day Unite | 5:12 | ||
| "A Life Left Behind" | 2016 | The Astonishing | 5:49 | ||
| "A Mind Beside Itself: I. Erotomania" | 1994 | Awake | Instrumental | 6:44 | |
| "A Mind Beside Itself: II. Voices" | 1994 | Awake | 9:53 | ||
| "A Mind Beside Itself: III. The Silent Man" | 1994 | Awake | 3:47 | Released as a single. A music video was made for the song. | |
| "A New Beginning" | 2016 | The Astonishing | 7:40 | ||
| "A Nightmare to Remember" | 2009 | Black Clouds & Silver Linings | 16:10 | ||
| "A Rite of Passage" | 2009 | Black Clouds & Silver Linings | 8:36 | Released as a single. A music video was made for the song. | |
| "A Savior in the Square" | 2016 | The Astonishing | 4:13 | ||
| "A Tempting Offer" | 2016 | The Astonishing | 4:19 | ||
| "A View from the Top of the World" | 2021 | A View from the Top of the World | 20:24 | ||
| "A Vision" | 1986 | Majesty Demos | 11:24 | Two versions exist for this song:
| |
| "Act of Faythe" | 2016 | The Astonishing | 5:00 | ||
| "Afterlife" | 1989 | When Dream and Day Unite | 5:26 | A remixed version was released as a promo single. This song was written while Chris Collins was in the band and originally featured his lyrics and a different vocal melody, although the song title was the same. | |
| "Along for the Ride" | 2013 | Dream Theater | 4:45 | Released as a single. | |
| "Anna Lee" | 1997 | Falling Into Infinity | 5:51 | ||
| "Another Day" | 1992 | Images and Words | 4:23 | Released as a single. A music video was made for the song. | |
| "Another Hand" | 1993 | Live at the Marquee | Instrumental | 2:12 | Instrumental that connected "Another Day" and "The Killing Hand" when performed live in 1992 and 1993. Also was used as the intro to "The Killing Hand" on later tours. |
| "Another Won" | 1986 | Majesty Demos | 5:27 | Appears on the Score live album. | |
| "Answering the Call" | 2021 | A View from the Top of the World | 7:35 | ||
| "As I Am" | 2003 | Train of Thought | 7:47 | Released as a single. | |
| "Astonishing" | 2016 | The Astonishing | 5:51 | ||
| "At Wit's End" | 2019 | Distance over Time | 9:20 | ||
| "Awake Jam" | 1994 | Instrumental | 5:39 | Improvisation jam. Only played live during the Waking Up the World Tour (1994–95) and never officially released. | |
| "Awaken the Master" | 2021 | A View from the Top of the World | 9:47 | ||
| "Barfbag" | 1993 | Instrumental | Improvisation jam. Only played live in the autumn of 1993 and never officially released. | ||
| "Barstool Warrior" | 2019 | Distance over Time | 6:43 | ||
| "Begin Again" | 2016 | The Astonishing | 3:54 | ||
| "Behind the Veil" | 2013 | Dream Theater | 6:52 | ||
| "Beneath the Surface" | 2011 | A Dramatic Turn of Events | 5:26 | ||
| "Blind Faith" | 2002 | Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence | 10:21 | ||
| "Bombay Vindaloo" | 1993 | Live at the Marquee | Instrumental | 6:48 | Improvisation jam. Only played live. |
| "Breaking All Illusions" | 2011 | A Dramatic Turn of Events | 12:25 | ||
| "Bridges in the Sky" | 2011 | A Dramatic Turn of Events | 11:01 | ||
| "Brother, Can You Hear Me?" | 2016 | The Astonishing | 5:11 | ||
| "Build Me Up, Break Me Down" | 2011 | A Dramatic Turn of Events | 6:59 | Released as a single. | |
| "Burning My Soul" | 1997 | Falling into Infinity | 5:29 | The original demo version is 9 minutes long and included a mellow introduction and most of what became Hell's Kitchen. | |
| "Caught in a Web" | 1994 | Awake | 5:28 | Released as a promo single. | |
| "Chosen" | 2016 | The Astonishing | 4:32 | ||
| "Constant Motion" | 2007 | Systematic Chaos | 6:55 | Released as a single. A music video was made for this song. | |
| "Cover My Eyes" | 1997 | Falling into Infinity Demos | 3:23 | Cut from the final album. A live acoustic version appears on Once in a LIVEtime. | |
| "Cry for Freedom" | 1986 | When Dream and Day Unite Demos | 6:46 | While this song had lyrics, and the song was performed live with Chris, the only "proper" recordings of this song that exist are instrumental demos. | |
| "Descent of the NOMACS" | 2016 | The Astonishing | NOMACS Instrumental | 1:10 | |
| "Digital Discord" | 2016 | The Astonishing | NOMACS Instrumental | 0:47 | |
| "Disappear" | 2002 | Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence | 6:46 | ||
| "Don't Look Past Me" | 1992 | Images and Words Demos | 6:25 | Cut from the final album. Never officially released. James LaBrie re-recorded vocals for this song in 1999 which were added to the original 1990 demo for a fanclub CD release. | |
| "Dystopian Overture" | 2016 | The Astonishing | Instrumental | 4:50 | |
| "Endless Sacrifice" | 2003 | Train of Thought | 11:24 | ||
| "Enigma Machine" | 2013 | Dream Theater | Instrumental | 6:01 | |
| "Eve" | 1992 | The Silent Man, Awake (2-disc Japanese pressing) | Instrumental | 5:10 | Initially performed live in 1993. Recorded during the Awake sessions but cut from the final album. Appears as a B-side on The Silent Man single, as well as on a two-disc Japanese pressing of Awake. |
| "Fall into the Light" | 2019 | Distance over Time | 7:04 | Second single for Distance over Time | |
| "False Awakening Suite" | 2013 | Dream Theater | Instrumental | 2:42 | |
| "Far from Heaven" | 2011 | A Dramatic Turn of Events | 3:56 | ||
| "Forsaken" | 2007 | Systematic Chaos | 5:35 | Released as a single. A music video was made for the song. | |
| "Heaven's Cove" | 2016 | The Astonishing | 4:19 | ||
| "Hell's Kitchen" | 1997 | Falling into Infinity | Instrumental | 4:16 | Most of this song was originally an instrumental part of "Burning My Soul". |
| "Hollow Years" | 1997 | Falling into Infinity | 5:53 | Released as a single. A music video was made for the song | |
| "Honor Thy Father" | 2003 | Train of Thought | 10:14 | ||
| "Hymn of a Thousand Voices" | 2016 | The Astonishing | 3:38 | ||
| "I Walk Beside You" | 2005 | Octavarium | 4:29 | ||
| "Illumination Theory" | 2013 | Dream Theater | 22:17 | ||
| "In the Name of God" | 2003 | Train of Thought | 14:16 | ||
| "In the Presence of Enemies" | 2007 | Systematic Chaos | 25:38 | Split in two parts:
| |
| "Invisible Monster" | 2021 | A View from the Top of the World | 6:31 | Released as a promo single. | |
| "Innocence Faded" | 1994 | Awake | 5:42 | ||
| "Just Let Me Breathe" | 1997 | Falling into Infinity | 5:28 | ||
| "Learning to Live" | 1992 | Images and Words | 11:30 | ||
| "Lie" | 1994 | Awake | 6:33 | A music video was made for the song | |
| "Lifting Shadows Off a Dream" | 1994 | Awake | 6:05 | ||
| "Light Fuse and Get Away" | 1989 | When Dream and Day Unite | 7:23 | ||
| "Lines in the Sand" | 1997 | Falling into Infinity | 12:05 | ||
| "Lord Nafaryus" | 2016 | The Astonishing | 3:28 | ||
| "Losing Faythe" | 2016 | The Astonishing | 4:13 | ||
| "Lost Not Forgotten" | 2011 | A Dramatic Turn of Events | 10:11 | ||
| "Machine Chatter" | 2016 | The Astonishing | NOMACS Instrumental | 1:03 | |
| "March of the Tyrant" | 1986 | Majesty Demos | 5:34 | ||
| "Metropolis Pt. I: The Miracle and the Sleeper" | 1992 | Images and Words | 9:32 | ||
| "Metropolis Pt. II" | 1996 | Falling into Infinity Demos | Instrumental (lyrics never written) | 21:25 | Original epic sequel to Metropolis pt. I and intended for the Falling into Infinity album. Lyrics were never written and this version of the song was abandoned once they decided to expand it into a full album, which became |
| "Misunderstood" | 2002 | Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence | 9:32 | ||
| "Moment of Betrayal" | 2016 | The Astonishing | 6:11 | Released as a promo single. | |
| "Moon Bubbles" | 1992 | Instrumental | Improvisation jam on guitar and bass. Only played live and never officially released. | ||
| "My Last Farewell" | 2016 | The Astonishing | 3:44 | ||
| "Never Enough" | 2005 | Octavarium | 6:46 | ||
| "New Millennium" | 1997 | Falling into Infinity | 8:20 | ||
| "Octavarium" | 2005 | Octavarium | 24:00 | ||
| "Only a Matter of Time" | 1989 | When Dream and Day Unite | 6:35 | ||
| "On the Backs of Angels" | 2011 | A Dramatic Turn of Events | 8:42 | Released as a single. A music video was made for the song. | |
| "Our New World" | 2016 | The Astonishing | 4:12 | Featuring Lizzy Hale on vocals. Released as a promo single. A music video was made for the song. | |
| "Out of Reach" | 2019 | Distance over Time | 4:04 | ||
| "Outcry" | 2011 | A Dramatic Turn of Events | 11:24 | ||
| "Pale Blue Dot" | 2019 | Distance over Time | 8:25 | ||
| "Panic Attack" | 2005 | Octavarium | 8:13 | ||
| "Paralyzed" | 2019 | Distance over Time | 4:17 | Third single for Distance over Time | |
| "Peruvian Skies" | 1997 | Falling into Infinity | 6:43 | ||
| "Power Down" | 2016 | The Astonishing | NOMACS Instrumental | 1:25 | |
| "Prophets of War" | 2007 | Systematic Chaos | 6:00 | ||
| "Pull Me Under" | 1992 | Images and Words | 8:14 | Released as a promo single. A music video was made for the song. | |
| "Puppies on Acid" | 1994 | Awake sessions | Instrumental | 1:24 | Intro part of "The Mirror", and also the working title of this song. Appears on Once in a LIVEtime |
| "Raise the Knife" | 1997 | Falling into Infinity Demos, Score | 11:40 | Cut from the final album. A live version appears on the Score live album. | |
| "Ravenskill" | 2016 | The Astonishing | 6:01 | ||
| "Raw Dog" | 2010 | Instrumental | 7:33 | Last song to be recorded with Mike Portnoy. | |
| "Repentance" | 2007 | Systematic Chaos | 10:43 | Part four of the Twelve-step Suite. | |
| "Room 137" | 2019 | Distance over Time | Mike Mangini | 4:23 | |
| "S2N" | 2019 | Distance over Time | 6:21 | ||
| "Sacrificed Sons" | 2005 | Octavarium | 10:42 | ||
| "Scarred" | 1994 | Awake | 10:59 | ||
| "Scene Eight: The Spirit Carries On" | 1999 | 6:38 | |||
| "Scene Five: Through Her Eyes" | 1999 | 5:29 | Released as a single. | ||
| "Scene Four: Beyond This Life" | 1999 | 11:22 | |||
| "Scene Nine: Finally Free | 1999 | 11:59 | |||
| "Scene One: Regression" | 1999 | 2:06 | |||
| "Scene Seven: I. The Dance of Eternity" | 1999 | Instrumental | 6:13 | ||
| "Scene Seven: II. One Last Time" | 1999 | 3:46 | |||
| "Scene Six: Home" | 1999 | 12:53 | Released as a promo single. | ||
| "Scene Three: I. Through My Words | 1999 | 1:02 | |||
| "Scene Three: II. Fatal Tragedy" | 1999 | 6:49 | |||
| "Scene Two: I. Overture 1928" | 1999 | Instrumental | 3:37 | ||
| "Scene Two: II. Strange Deja Vu" | 1999 | 5:12 | |||
| "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence" | 2002 | Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence | 42:02 | Divided into eight parts :
| |
| "Sleeping Giant" | 2021 | A View from the Top of the World | 10:05 | ||
| "Slow Motion" | 1993 | Instrumental | Improvisation jam. Only played live in January 1993 and never officially released. | ||
| "Space-Dye Vest" | 1994 | Awake | 7:29 | ||
| "Speak to Me" | 1997 | Falling into Infinity Demos | 6:25 | 6' MINI CD. Appears on Falling Into Infinity - Japanese version - EastWest Records America – AMCY-2315-S | |
| "Status Seeker" | 1989 | When Dream and Day Unite | 4:17 | A remixed version was released as a promo single. | |
| "Stream of Consciousness" | 2003 | Train of Thought | Instrumental | 11:16 | |
| "Surrender to Reason" | 2013 | Dream Theater | 6:34 | ||
| "Surrounded" | 1992 | Images and Words | 5:30 | ||
| "Take Away My Pain" | 1997 | Falling into Infinity | 6:03 | ||
| "Take the Time" | 1992 | Images and Words | John Petrucci, Mike Portnoy, John Myung and Kevin Moore[1] | 8:21 | Released as a promo single. A music video was made for the song. |
| "The Alien" | 2021 | A View from the Top of the World | 9:32 | Released as a promo single. | |
| "The Answer" | 2016 | The Astonishing | 1:52 | ||
| "The Answer Lies Within" | 2005 | Octavarium | 5:33 | ||
| "The Best of Times" | 2009 | Black Clouds & Silver Linings | 13:09 | ||
| "The Bigger Picture" | 2013 | Dream Theater | 7:40 | Released as a single. | |
| "The Count of Tuscany" | 2009 | Black Clouds & Silver Linings | 19:16 | ||
| "The Dark Eternal Night" | 2007 | Systematic Chaos | 8:53 | ||
| "The Enemy Inside" | 2013 | Dream Theater | 6:17 | Released as a single. A music video was made for the song. | |
| "The Gift of Music" | 2016 | The Astonishing | 4:00 | Released as a promo single. A music video was made for the song. | |
| "The Glass Prison" | 2002 | Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence | 13:53 | Part one of the Twelve-step Suite. | |
| "The Great Debate" | 2002 | Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence | 13:46 | ||
| "The Holiday Spirit Carries On" | 2020 | The Holiday Spirit Carries On | 5:14 | Released on December 1, 2020 for the help of the touring crew of Dream Theater because of the COVID-19 pandemic. | |
| "The Hovering Sojourn" | 2016 | The Astonishing | NOMACS Instrumental | 0:27 | |
| "The Killing Hand" | 1989 | When Dream and Day Unite | 8:41 | ||
| "The Looking Glass" | 2013 | Dream Theater | 4:53 | Released as a single. A music video was made for the song. | |
| "The Ministry of Lost Souls" | 2007 | Systematic Chaos | 14:57 | ||
| "The Mirror" | 1994 | Awake | 6:45 | ||
| "The Path That Divides" | 2016 | The Astonishing | 5:09 | ||
| "The Ones Who Help to Set the Sun" | 1989 | When Dream and Day Unite | 8:05 | ||
| "The Road to Revolution" | 2016 | The Astonishing | 3:35 | ||
| "The Root of All Evil" | 2005 | Octavarium | 8:25 | Part three of the Twelve-step Suite. | |
| "The Shattered Fortress" | 2009 | Black Clouds & Silver Linings | 12:49 | Part five of the Twelve-step Suite. | |
| "The Walking Shadow" | 2016 | The Astonishing | 2:58 | ||
| "The Way It Used to Be" | 1997 | Hollow Years, Falling Into Infinity Demos | 7:47 | Cut from the final album. Appears on the Hollow Years single. | |
| "The X Aspect" | 2016 | The Astonishing | 4:13 | ||
| "The Ytse Jam" | 1989 | When Dream and Day Unite | Instrumental | 5:46 | |
| "These Walls" | 2005 | Octavarium | 7:36 | ||
| "This Dying Soul" | 2003 | Train of Thought | 11:27 | Part two of the Twelve-step Suite. | |
| "This Is the Life" | 2011 | A Dramatic Turn of Events | 6:57 | ||
| "Three Days" | 2016 | The Astonishing | 3:44 | ||
| "To Live Forever" | 1992 | Lie, Greatest Hit (...and 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs), Images and Words Demos | 4:26 | Originally written in 1987. 4 versions exist :
| |
| "Trial of Tears" | 1997 | Falling into Infinity | 13:06 | ||
| "Two Far" | 1986 | Majesty Demos | 5:25 | ||
| "Transcending Time" | 2021 | A View from the Top of the World | 6:25 | ||
| "Under a Glass Moon" | 1992 | Images and Words | 7:03 | ||
| "Untethered Angel" | 2019 | Distance over Time | John Petrucci | 6:14 | First single for Distance over Time |
| "Vacant" | 2003 | Train of Thought | 2:57 | ||
| "Viper King" | 2019 | Distance over Time | James LaBrie | 4:00 | |
| "Vital Star" | 1986 | Majesty Demos | 5:44 | ||
| "Wait for Sleep" | 1992 | Images and Words | 2:31 | ||
| "When Your Time Has Come" | 2016 | The Astonishing | 4:19 | ||
| "Where Are You Now" | 1997 | Falling into Infinity Demos | 7:27 | Cut from the final album. Never officially released. | |
| "Whispers on the Wind" | 2016 | The Astonishing | 1:37 | ||
| "Wither" | 2009 | Black Clouds & Silver Linings | 5:25 | Released as the Wither EP. A music video was made for the song. A version with John Petrucci singing (with the same album backing track) also exists, as does a completely separate version on piano and vocals only. | |
| "You Not Me" | 1997 | Falling into Infinity | 4:58 | Heavily re-worked version of "You Or Me". | |
| "You Or Me" | 1997 | Hollow Years, Falling Into Infinity sessions | 6:28 | Original version of "You Not Me". Appears on the Hollow Years single. | |
| "Your Majesty" | 1986 | Majesty Demos | 3:45 |
| Title | Appearances | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Caught in a New Millennium" | Live Scenes from New York | Mashup of "Caught in a Web" and "New Millennium". Played in 2000 during the Metropolis 2000 tour. | |
| "Caught in Alice's Nine-Inch Tool Garden" | Old Bridge, New Jersey – 12/14/96 (CD) official bootleg | Not a true medley, but rather a reworked version of "Caught in a Web", influenced by Alice in Chains, Nine Inch Nails, Tool and Soundgarden. Played around December 1996, and April & September 1997. Served as the initial basis for what later became the song "New Millennium" | |
| Unnamed medley, labeled by fans as "Falling Into a Change of Awake" | Selections from the tracks "Puppies on Acid", "A Change of Seasons", "Just Let Me Breathe", Liquid Tension Experiment's "Acid Rain", "Caught in a Web" and "New Millenium". Played in 2000 during the Metropolis 2000 tour. | ||
| "Instrumedley" | Live at Budokan | Selections from the tracks "The Dance of Eternity", "Metropolis Pt. 1: The Miracle and the Sleeper", "Erotomania", "A Change of Seasons", "Ytse Jam", "Hell's Kitchen" and songs by Liquid Tension Experiment. Played during the World Tourbulence and Train of Thought tours. | |
| "Schmedley Wilcox" | Chaos in Motion 2007-2008 | Selections from the tracks "Trial of Tears", "Finally Free", "Learning to Live", "In the Name of God" and "Octavarium". Played as an encore song for most of the shows of the Chaos in Motion tour. | |
| "The Big Medley" | A Change of Seasons | Mashup of the following covers :
Played only at the uncovered fan club gig at the Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London (England), on January 31, 1995. | |
| "When Images and Words Unite" | Through Her Eyes single | Selection from the tracks "Pull Me Under", "Under a Glass Moon", "A Fortune in Lies", "Only a Matter of Time" and "Take the Time". Played during the Scenes from a Memory and Metropolis 2000 tours. |