Originally Posted by Jicks

The reason this is sounds so much alike played backwards and forwards is because this song was made using the fibonnacci sequence, (a series of numbers in which the next number is the sum of the previous two) ie this number sequence: 1 1 2 3 5 8. This song uses that formula backwards and forwards ie: 1 1 2 3 5 8 5 3 2 1 1, the numbers being the syllables in the way lyrics sung, drums are beat, and guitar is played. Also seen in Lateralus with the lyrics "black, then, white are, all I see, in my in-fan-cy, red and yell-ow then came to be, reach-ing out to me, lets me see 1 1 2 3 5 8 5 3.

Said in more detail, with much more itneresting facts here : http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=6052