Over the course of various lineup changes, Petrucci and Myung have been the only two constant members, and Portnoy remained with the band until 2010, when he left to pursue other musical endeavors and he has since been replaced by Mangini. After a brief stint with Chris Collins, followed by Charlie Dominici (who was dismissed from Dream Theater not long after the release of their first album), LaBrie was hired as the band's singer in 1991. Dream Theater's first keyboardist, Kevin Moore, left the band after three albums and was replaced by Derek Sherinian in 1995 after a period of touring. After just one album with Sherinian, they replaced him with current keyboardist Jordan Rudess in 1999.
To date, Dream Theater has released fifteen studio albums. The band's highest-selling release is their second album Images and Words (1992), which reached No. 61 on the Billboard 200 chart. Both the albums Awake (1994) and Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (2002) also entered the charts at No. 32 and No. 46, respectively, and received critical acclaim. Their fifth album, Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory (1999), was ranked number 95 on the October 2006 issue of Guitar World magazine's list of the greatest 100 guitar albums of all time. It was also ranked as the 15th Greatest Concept Album in March 2003 by Classic Rock Magazine.
As of 2018, Dream Theater has sold over 12 million records worldwide and has received three Grammy Award nominations (including one win in 2022). Along with Queensrÿche and Fates Warning, the band has been referred to as one of the "big three" of the progressive metal genre, responsible for its development and popularization.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dream_Theater
Studio albums
When Dream and Day Unite (1989)
Images and Words (1992)
Awake (1994)
Falling into Infinity (1997)
Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory (1999)
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (2002)
Train of Thought (2003)
Octavarium (2005)
Systematic Chaos (2007)
Black Clouds & Silver Linings (2009)
A Dramatic Turn of Events (2011)
Dream Theater (2013)
The Astonishing (2016)
Distance over Time (2019)
A View from the Top of the World (2021)
As I Am
Dream Theater Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
Proven over time
It's over your head
Don't try to read between
The Lines
Are clearly defined
Never lose sight of something
You believe in.
Takin' in the view from the outside
Feelin' like the underdog.
Watchin' 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 fit 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.
Takin' in the view from the outside
Feelin' like the underdog.
Watchin' through the window I'm on the outside
Living like the underdog.
I've been wasting my breath
On you.
Open mind 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 fit 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 fit your plan.
Take me as I am.
As I am.
Yeah!
As I am.
The lyrics of Dream Theater’s “As I Am” speak about independence, perseverance, and remaining true to oneself despite the pressures and criticisms of others. The chorus is an anthem for individuality and a call to acceptance – “Take me as I am” – as the singer challenges his detractors to either embrace him or stay out of his way. The opening lines set the tone of the song: “Don't / Tell me what's in / Tell me how to write / Don't tell me how to win this / Fight.” Here, the singer is telling his opponents to back off and not try to control his creative process, implying that they do not have the right to dictate how he should express himself.
The song goes on to describe the feeling of being an outsider, of feeling overlooked and underestimated, but still pushing forward. The image of “running uphill / Swimming against the current” suggests that the singer is facing obstacles and challenges, but is determined to persevere. He questions the doubters and their lack of understanding, but ultimately has faith in himself and his own abilities. The closing line of the song – “As I am” – reinforces the message that the singer is not going to change or compromise himself for anyone.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't
Do not dictate to me
Tell me what's in
Do not describe what is inside
Tell me how to write
Instead, guide me on how to go about writing
Don't tell me how to win this
I don't need your instructions on how to emerge victorious
Fight.
That's my battle, and I'll handle it myself
Isn't your life
That's not your existence
It isn't your right
You don't have the authority
To take the only thing that's
To snatch away the only possession that is
Mine.
Mine alone
Proven over time
It has been substantiated over the years
It's over your head
You cannot comprehend it
Don't try to read between
Don't attempt to analyze further
The Lines
The script is clear
Are clearly defined
Everything is straightforward
Never lose sight of something
Always keep focused on something
You believe in.
That you wholeheartedly believe in
Takin' in the view from the outside
Observing from an outsider's perspective
Feelin' like the underdog.
Feeling like the disadvantaged one
Watchin' through the window I'm on the outside
Peering from outside through the window
Living like the underdog.
Existing like the underprivileged one
I've been trying
I have attempted
To justify you.
To prove your worth
In the end I will
Eventually, I will
Just defy you.
Defy you outright
To those who understand,
For those who comprehend
I extend my hand.
I offer my assistance
To the doubtful I demand
To those who are skeptical, I command
Take me as I am.
Accept me for who I am
Not under your command,
I'm not under your control
I know where I stand.
I'm aware of my position
I won't change to fit your plan.
I won't conform to your blueprint
As I am.
Exactly the way I exist
Still
Even though
Running uphill.
Struggling to achieve the feat
Swimming against the current
Going against the tide
I wish I weren't so
I regret being
Fucked.
Cornered and helpless
Feels like I'm stuck,
I have an impression of being immobile
Lost in a sea of mediocrity.
Submerged in the ocean of inadequacy
Slow down,
Just take your time
You're thinking too much,
You overthink things
Where is your soul
Where is your passion
You cannot touch the way
You cannot influence my style
I play,
How I perform
Or tell me what to say.
And dictate what I should say
You're in the way
You are obstructing
Of all that I believe in.
All my convictions and beliefs
I've been wasting my breath
I have been talking in vain
On you.
Trying to make you comprehend
Open mind will descend
An open-mindedness will emerge
Upon You.
A descension of open-mindedness towards you
Yeah!
An expression of enthusiasm
As I am.
Exactly the way I exist
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN MYUNG, JOHN PETRUCCI, JOHN RO MYUNG, JORDAN RUDESS, JORDAN CHARLES RUDESS, MICHAEL PORTNOY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind