I really like 01011001 by Ayreon. It might be my favourite record of the decade, and it’s definitely my favourite metal album from the oughts. You can be a metal purist and say it’s not metal, but it’s definitely not a rock record, nor is it a prog-rock record, so to me, it defaults itself into the “metal” category. The entire album tells a story, the first act, Y, tell the tale of life in Western culture, as we experience it today, the second act, EARTH, tells an epic science fiction story that you can very easily find more interesting than the music itself. However, my favourite track from the album comes from the first act, and that track is “Connect the Dots”. Very rarely does a song click with me, and for some reason, Connect the Dots did. The gist of it is; Western culture is wasteful, but it explains way in very subtle ways, and right here, RIGHT THE FRAK NOW, I am going to pick apart every last bit of the song.
“I hugged the wife and drove to work today
It was only a few miles”
Drove to work today, it was only a few miles. We choose to drive short distances, rather than to walk, when there’s no reason to drive. It’s a burden to the environment, our resources, and our wallets.
“Was in no hurry, but the lights were changing up ahead
So I stepped on the gas”
Running yellow lights is something that will in the short run make your life easier, or give you a reward, however, you’re weighing a risk against a reward.
“I checked the Mac, I left it on over night
Downloading all the latest files
Peer-to-peer, the torrent flows into my lap
And I disconnect”
We choose to pirate our media, rather than buy it. For us, we get an immediate reward, but in the long run, it’s detrimental to us, and it already has been detrimental to us. DRM, and the DMCA were birthed out of our lust for instant satisfaction, and few will argue those have been positive things.
“We all know no need to remind us
We all know we won’t connect the dots
We all know locked away inside us
We are dying for tomorrow
We are living for today”
To me, this is the most important part of the song. We all know, no need to remind us. We all know what we do today, that is quicker and easier, and bad for us, will be detrimental to us in the long run. Almost every line of the song points to this. We all know, we won’t connect the dots. A lot of us do these things that are inherently detrimental to our well being, but we choose to ignore it, because it makes living in the moment easier, we may know it, but we deny it. This is what “We are dying for tomorrow, we are living for today” means.
“I rushed back home to my family
I got my son a brand new game
No need to cook, I picked up fast food on the way
And it’s finger-licking good”
Again, something that makes living in the moment easier, but is detrimental to our overall long-term well being. You can buy fast food, and get immediate satisfaction, however it’s a financial, and health burden. Making something at home will take longer, but it will generally cost less, and be better for you. As well, rushed back home, driving fast to get a reward in favour of a risk. The risk is the danger that comes with speeding, the reward is getting to your destination quicker.
“Have you seen little Steve today?
Guess he’s still up there in his room
But if he comes down tell him I’ll be right here just staring at the tube
Playing his game”
Rather than taking his son outside, to a museum, to a sporting event, either to watch or play, or taking him to do something social, he instead buys him a videogame. It’s an easier form of entertainment to just sit in front of a TV, rather than having to drive (or walk) somewhere with his son, or to have to sign him up to a football, soccer, or lacrosse team. A game is immediate gratification which has no physical, and fewer social rewards than other activities.
“Don’t you think it’s rather warm tonight
Especially for the time of year
I turn up the air pull my sheets up to my chin
And I close my eyes”
Don’t you think it’s rather warm tonight, especially for the time of the year. This is definitely a comment on global warming, which if you’ve listened to the song thus far, we know it’s being attributed to needless driving, and other wasteful things. I turn up the air, pull the sheets up to my chin. This is also wasteful, to turn the air on, and pull the sheets all the way up to your chin. Again, it makes living in the moment more comfortable, but drains resources, and costs money in the long run.
“Can’t relax, can’t fall asleep
Should I take another pill?
I turn up the lights, light up a cigarette and smile
I’ve got it made”
Can’t relax, can’t fall asleep. Perhaps a stressful lifestyle is keeping you up? Lack of exercise, and too many calories keeping you awake? You can interpret this as you please. The last two lines, smoking, it does give you a reward, but again, it’s detrimental to your health, and “I’ve got it made”, which I take to mean “I’ve got it made where I’m at, so I don’t feel the need to try harder to get to get someplace better”.
It’s a really cool song, and it’s got a lot going on! I’m sure it’s open to interpretation, so if you have any comments, feel free to add them.
