The Glass Prison from Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (2002) Information: This song is the third in a multi-album series about Mike Portnoy confronting his own problem of alcoholism. You can visit an analysis of the entire series at the DTFAQ as well as an analysis of only The Glass Prison. The Glass Prison discusses the first three steps of the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step program, as the song is dedicated to Bill W., the founder of AA. Mike Portnoy said the following about it: "It's about battling addiction and recovery and those were some things that I have dealt with in my personal life over the past few years. All three of the movements are written directly about the first three steps in twelve step recovery of Alcoholics Anonymous. So the first step in the first section of the song is admitting being powerless, the second step is needing the help of others, came to believe a power greater than ourselves to restore sanity. The third section is being willing to turn your life over to a higher power and handing over your will. So the three sections are directly out of the first three steps in AA." Portnoy listed "Holy Wars...The Punishment Due" by Megadeth and "Mouth For War" by Pantera as inspirations for the song. It was also the first song that the band decided to write all-out heavy for the entire song. Alcoholism series: 1. The Mirror 2. Lie 3. The Glass Prison 4. This Dying Soul 5. The Root Of All Evil 6. Repentance Music by John Myung, John Petrucci, Mike Portnoy, Jordan Rudess Lyrics by Mike Portnoy The Glass Prison Appears on: Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, Graspop Festival 2002 Tablature: The Glass Prison Author: Carl Stelcel Type: Guitar The Glass Prison Author: Fernando Type: Guitar The solo only The Glass Prison Author: Greg Type: Guitar Incomplete The Glass Prison Author: Wulfie3D Type: Guitar Incomplete The Glass Prison Author: DaveRockz14 Type: Bass

Lyrics: [I. REFLECTION] Cunning, Baffling, Powerful Been beaten to a pulp Vigorous, Irresistable Sick and tired and laid low Dominating, Invincible Black-out, loss of control Overwhelming, Unquenchable I'm powerless, have to let go I can't escape it It leaves me frail and worn Can no longer take it Senses tattered and torn Hopeless surrender Obsession's got me beat Losing the will to live Admitting complete defeat Fatal Descent Spinning around I've gone too far To turn back round Desperate attempt Stop the progression At any length Lift this obsession Crawling to my glass prison A place where no one knows My secret lonely world begins So much safer here A place where I can go To forget about my daily sins Life here in my glass prison A place I once called home Fall in nocturnal bliss again Chasing a long lost friend I no longer can control Just waiting for this hopelessness to end [II. RESTORATION] Run - fast from the wreckage of the past A shattered glass prison wall behind me Fight - past walking through the ashes A distant oasis before me Cry - desperate crawling on my knees Begging God to please stop the insanity Help me - I'm trying to believe Stop wallowing in my own self pity "We've been waiting for you my friend The writing's been on the wall All it takes is a little faith You know you're the same as us all" Help me - I can't break out this prison all alone Save me - I'm drowning and I'm hopeless on my own Heal me - I can't restore my sanity alone Enter the door Desperate Fighting no more Help me restore To my sanity At this temple of hope I need to learn Teach me how Sorrow to burn Help me return To humanity I'll be fearless and thorough To enter this temple of hope Believe Transcend the pain Living the life Humility Opened my eyes This new odyssey Of rigorous honesty Serenity I never knew Soundness of mind Helped me to find Courage to change All the things that I can "We'll help you perform this miracle But you must set your past free You dug the hole, but you can't bury your sole Open your mind and you'll see" Help me - I can't break out this prison all alone Save me - I'm drowning and I'm hopeless on my own Heal me - I can't restore my sanity alone [III. REVELATION] Way off in the distance I saw a door I tried to open I tried forcing with all of my will and still The door wouldn't open [replaced with "but" in this line] Unable to trust in my faith I turned and walked away I looked around, felt a chill in the air Took my will and turned it over The glass prison which once held me is now gone ["now" is not heard in this line] A long lost fortress Armed only with liberty And the key of my willingness Fell down on my knees and prayed "Thy will be done" I turned around, saw a light shining through The door was wide open