As I Am | |
Train of Thought | |
Length | 7:47 |
Working title | |
Release date | October 29, 2003 |
Lyrics | John Petrucci |
Music | Dream Theater |
First live performance | |
Total live plays | |
Recorded | Cove City Sound Studios, Pie Studios NY |
Other appearances | Live at Budokan, Greatest Hit (...and 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs), Happy Holidays 2013, Live at Budokan 2017 |
Previous song | Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence |
Next song | This Dying Soul |
As I Am is the first song and the lead single on Dream Theater's seventh album Train of Thought. It begins with the same orchestral chord that the previous album, Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence ended with as part of the Meta album cycle.
Personnel
- Mike Portnoy - Drums, backing vocals, co-producer
- John Petrucci - Guitar, backing vocals, co-producer
- John Myung - Bass
- Jordan Rudess - Keyboards
- James LaBrie - Vocals
Lyrics
Don't Tell me what's in Tell me how to write Don't tell me how to win This fight Isn't your life It isn't your right To take the only thing that's mine Proven over time It is over your head Don't try to read between the Lines Are clearly defined "Never lose sight of Something you believe in" Taking in the view from the outside Feeling like the underdog Watching through the window I'm on the outside Living like the underdog I've been trying to justify you In the end I will just defy you To those who understand, I extend my hand To the doubtful I demand, take me as I am Not under your command, I know where I stand I won't change to fix your plan, Take me as I am As I am Still Running uphill Swimming against the current I wish I weren't so Fucked Feels like I'm stuck Lost in a sea of mediocrity Slow down, You're thinking too much Where is your soul? You cannot touch The way I Play Or tell me what to say You're in the way Of all that I believe in Taking in the view from the outside Feeling like the underdog Watching through the window I'm on the outside Living like the underdog I've been wasting my breath on you Open minds will descend upon you To those who understand, I extend my hand To the doubtful I demand, take me as I am Not under your command, I know where I stand I won't change to fix your plan, take me as I am To those who understand, I extend my hand To the doubtful I demand, take me as I am Not under your command, I know where I stand I won't change to fix your plan, take me as I am As I am
Analysis
Some of the lyrics are about a tour with Queensrÿche, which Mike Portnoy described as an "irksome series of shows", where at one point their guitarist Mike Stone tried to give Petrucci some tips in guitar playing and musical direction, inspiring the line, "Don't tell me what's in, tell me how to write".
Appearances
- Live at Budokan - Live performance
- Greatest Hit (...and 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs) - Clean version
- Happy Holidays 2013 - Live performance
- Live at Budokan 2017 - Live performance