The opening track of Dream Theater’s 2005 album Octavarium. Written by then-drummer Mike Portnoy, “The Root of All Evil” is the third song in his “12-Step Suite” that addresses his struggles with alcoholism and the steps he has been taking to recover from it. In this case, it covers Steps VI. and VI...
[VI: Ready]
[Intro]
[Verse 1]
Proud enough for you to call me arrogant
Greedy enough to be labeled a thief
Angry enough for me to go and hurt a man
Cruel enough for me to feel no grief
Never could have just a part of it
I always need more to get by
Getting right down to the heart of it
The root of all evil has been running my whole life
[Verse 2]
Dirty enough for me to lust
Leaving nothing left to trust
Jealous enough to still feel envious
Lazy enough to sleep all day and let my life just waste away
Selfish enough to make you wait for me
Driven blindly by our sins
Misled so easily
Entirely ready to leave it behind
I'm begging to break free
[Chorus 1]
Take all of me
The desires that keep burning deep inside
Cast them all away
And help to give me strength to face another day
[Post-Chorus]
I am ready, help me be what I can be!
[VII: Remove]
[Verse 3]
Self-centered fear has got a hold of me
Clutching my throat
Self righteous anger running all through me
Ready to explode
Procrastination paralyzing me
Wanting me dead
These obsessions that keep haunting me
Won't leave my head
[Verse 4]
Help to do for me what I can't do myself
Take this fear and pain
I can't break out of this prison all alone
Help me break these chains
Humility now my only hope!
Won't you take all of me
Heal this dying soul?
[Chorus (Reprise)]
I can feel my body breaking
I can feel my body breaking
I'm ready to let it all go!
I can feel my body shaking
Right down to the foundation
The root of it all!
[Instrumental Break]
[Chorus 2]
Take all of me
The desires that keep burning deep inside
Cast them all away
And help to give me strength to face another day
[Post-Chorus]
I am ready, help me be what I can be!
I am ready, come to me and take me away
[Instrumental Outro]
The Root of All Evil was written by Dream Theater & Jordan Rudess & John Petrucci & John Myung & James LaBrie & Mike Portnoy.
The Root of All Evil was produced by John Petrucci & Mike Portnoy.
Dream Theater released The Root of All Evil on Tue Jun 07 2005.