The Best of Times -- Dream Theater

Remember days of yesterday And how it flew so fast The two score and a year we had,
I thought would always last The summer days and west coast dreams,
I wished would never end  A young boy and his father, Idol and best friend
I'll always remember  Those were the best of times A lifetime together
I'll never forget

Morning shows on the radio The case of the missing dog Lying on the pillows at the 
old 812  Watching Harold and Maude  Record shops, the stick-ball fields
My home away from home  When we weren't together The hours on the phone
I'll always remember Those were the best of times I'll cherish them forever
The best of times   But then came the call Our lives changed forever more
You can pray for a change  But prepare for the end

The fleeting winds of time  Flying through each day  All the things I should have 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
These were the best of times  I'll miss these days Your spirit led my life each day

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
These were the best of times   I'll miss these days Your spirit led my life each day
My heart is bleeding bad  But I'll be okay  Your spirit guides my life each day

This song is a tribute to Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy's father, Howard, who died at the end of 2008.  "My dad was battling cancer throughout the making of this whole record. So it was something that was a big part of my life, and I was going through it throughout the making of this record. And sadly, he passed away before the record was finished. But I wanted to write a song that was a tribute to our life together.  I wanted to focus on the 41 years of great times that we had before that. And I wrote this song as a tribute to him, and luckily I was able to play it for him before he passed away. I had a version with me singing, and I played it for him at his bedside, and we held hands and we cried. One of the most emotional experiences of my life, but something I'll be eternally grateful for.           (songfacts)