Dislocated Day - Porcupine Tree

Finally, my first song post. Took me a while, as things kept coming up. But finally, here it is.

Dislocated Day, the second track from Porcupine Tree's third studio album (not including Voyage 34), released in 1995. And a very interesting track it is. It begins with a phone ringing, then suddenly leaps into a very psychedelic sort of riff. We hear a distorted Floydish guitar note dancing wildly; an appropriate introduction to the song. We hear a simple yet fitting bass riff that is to repeat through most of the song; it evokes a sort of trance almost. Most noticeable, however subtle, is the percussion (aside from the usual drumset of course) in the background, one that makes me think of a ritual. Its distance from the foreground of the instruments suggests some muted urgency of sorts, characteristic of psychedelic and maybe space rock. The fast pace of the percussion contrasts nicely with the slow daunting Floydish keyboard chords when they enter a few seconds into the song.

In the chorus we find ourselves gradually descending down those keyboard chords in synchronization with the lines of lyrics. When we reach the bottom, we are struck with a strange very psychedelic riff consisting of what sounds like two strangely harmonized guitars; one of which is fairly clean in tone, and the second an reiteration of the wild overzealous note which greeted us when the song began. These two guitars follow a sort of arpegio, upon which the second measure brings with it those Floyd chords.

After the second chorus we get the solo. The clean guitar flies into a fancy while the wild one seems to take after the bass pattern. About three fourths into the solo, a third guitar joins in, higher in pitch, sort of gliding above the first. After the solo, the percussion is no longer audible, and we enter into one last verse. The song ends with a man leaving a voice mail, finishing what the ringing phone began. From what I can make out "let me know what you think and I'll speak to you soon. Bye!"

Lyrics suggest some kind of drug trip. The way Wilson sings this is very haunting, somewhat whispered, definitely not fully sung out, suggesting that the protagonist is at least partially incapacitated, furthering the drug trip theory. From what I collect from the title of the song and the musical composition, it is about a day that simply feels odd (due to narcotics or otherwise). It "peers into the ether". We have very beautiful, however cryptic, lyrics here. "Dislocated Day, I will find a way to make you say the name of your forgiver" is what is said in the chorus. The word 'forgiver' here makes me think of a priest or a church like setting, perhaps. Who knows?

This song clearly has no concrete interpretation. But there are many different interpretations that are definitely plausible. And so, readers, I ask that you leave a comment, telling me of your own interpretations, or to simply point out a flaw in my logic or analysis.

If you have not heard the song, or have not heard of Porcupine Tree, I highly suggest you check them out. Quality stuff, without a doubt. And with that, good night!