The first section, "The Dream", is a mellotron-driven ballad, but after two and a half minutes it changes to a completely free-form instrumental improvisation by the band (called "The Illusion"), which lasts until the end of the song. Robert Fripp plays a snippet of "The Surrey With the Fringe on Top" (from Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Oklahoma!")
The inaugural segment, "The Dream", is an emotive ballad utilizing a mellotron, but it transitions into an unstructured instrumental exploration by the band ("The Illusion") that persists until the song's end. Robert Fripp incorporates a brief musical reference from "The Surrey With the Fringe on Top" (from Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Oklahoma!")