A pioneer of the progressive metal movement, Fates Warning has been referred to as one of the "Big Three" of the genre, creating and popularizing the style along with Queensrÿche and Dream Theater. Their early work, influenced by the new wave of British heavy metal, is also important in the development of American power metal. Fates Warning has released thirteen studio albums, two live albums, one compilation album, one VHS cassette, three DVDs (each featuring live concerts) and four demo tapes. The band experienced its first commercial success with the 1986 release of their third studio album, Awaken the Guardian, which peaked at No. 191 on the Billboard 200 and became the first album released on Metal Blade to enter that chart. Their next three albums—No Exit (1988), Perfect Symmetry (1989) and Parallels (1991)—were also successful; the first two peaked at No. 111 and No. 141 on the Billboard 200, respectively. By 2001, Fates Warning had sold over a million albums worldwide. Their thirteenth studio album, Long Day Good Night, was released on November 6, 2020.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fates_Warning
Studio albums
Night on Bröcken (1984)
The Spectre Within (1985)
Awaken the Guardian (1986)
No Exit (1988)
Perfect Symmetry (1989)
Parallels (1991)
Inside Out (1994)
A Pleasant Shade of Gray (1997)
Disconnected (2000)
FWX (2004)
Darkness in a Different Light (2013)
Theories of Flight (2016)
Long Day Good Night (2020)
I AM
Fates Warning Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where you belong
Take what you deserve, don't make it mine to carry now
Take what you deserve, and never make a sound
When words are walls I am the end
I'll make them fall, I am
Tearing walls down, I am
It's happening
Can't you see the edge calling to us?
In spite of everything
That lives and moves
In silence I breathe again
I flow and descend
I'll take what I deserve but can you help me understand
Why should I deserve a solitary word?
When words are walls I am the end
I'll make them fall, I am
Tearing walls down, I am
Tearing walls down, I am
The lyrics to Fates Warning's song "I Am" seem to be about taking control of one's life and destiny. The lines "My friend, it seems you've been where you belong, take what you deserve, don't make it mine to carry now" illustrate the idea of taking responsibility and ownership for what one deserves in life. The repeated phrase "When words are walls I am the end, I'll make them fall, I am" suggests the power of the individual to overcome obstacles and break down barriers.
The chorus, "Tearing walls down, I am," serves as a declaration of agency and strength, while the lines "In spite of everything that lives and moves, in silence I breathe again, I flow and descend" convey a sense of resilience and perseverance. The verse "I'll take what I deserve but can you help me understand why should I deserve a solitary word?" reflects the ambiguity and complexity of self-worth and deservingness, and implies a need for validation and understanding from others.
Overall, "I Am" is a powerful anthem about seizing control of one's life, breaking down barriers, and persevering through adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
My friend, it seems you've been
It appears you have returned where you belong, my friend
Where you belong
You have come back to where you belong, to your rightful place
Take what you deserve, don't make it mine to carry now
Take what you deserve and do not burden me with carrying it for you
Take what you deserve, and never make a sound
Take what is rightfully yours and do not make a fuss about it
When words are walls I am the end
I represent the end of communication when words are barriers between us
I'll make them fall, I am
I will bring down those barriers and make sure the words stand no more
Tearing walls down, I am
I am breaking down the walls that have been put up between us
It's happening
Something significant is taking place
Can't you see the edge calling to us?
Do you not realize that we are being called towards the brink of something significant?
In spite of everything
Despite all that has happened
That lives and moves
All living things that are in motion
In silence I breathe again
I take a deep breath in silence and find peace within myself
I flow and descend
I am moving down smoothly and steadily
I'll take what I deserve but can you help me understand
I will claim what is rightfully mine but can you provide me with an explanation?
Why should I deserve a solitary word?
Why do I not deserve more than just a single word?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JIM MATHEOS, RAY BALDERRAMA, ROBERT JARZOMBEK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
80sMetalMan
Fates FREAKING Warning..... Nuff Said!
Boy, They ARE All KILLING It in this Live Video!
Way To Go BOYS!!!
Rays REALLY Belting It OUT!
JOEY V.... Love this guy! He's Always Super into it!!!
AND "Jimmeeeeeeeee" He's ALWAYS in his own Universe when Playing!!!
Everybody Just AMAZING Talent!!!
Love Their MUSIC.... So DEEP, So MEANINGFUL & MOVING! Too bad most people don't get these guys....... BUT I Do!!!!!
All Hail "FATES WARNING"
Paul Korver
I Am
My friend, it seems you've been
Where you belong
Take what you deserve, don't make it mine to carry now
Take what you deserve, and never make a sound
When words are walls I am the end
I'll make them fall, I am
Tearing walls down, I am
Tearing walls down, I am
It's happening....
Can't you see the edge calling to us?
In spite of everything
That lives and moves
In silence I breathe again
I flow and descend
I'll take what I deserve but can you help me understand
Why should I deserve a solitary word?
When words are walls I am the end
I'll make them fall, I am
Tearing walls down, I am
Tearing walls down, I am
Tearing walls down, I am
Tearing walls down, I am
Romchael1
Have listened to the music of Fates Warning for several decades and they are still as excellent as always!!!!
heavymetalnut1965
Bobby Jarzombek is a beast on the drums
tirusq2k
Yes he is but I miss Mr Zonder!! He was the touch of FW.
Omair Sheikh
InsideOut is the right label for the band artistically, but not for promotional purposes. Fates needs a lot more recognition like even modern Queensryche are getting. You don't get nearly enough intelligently composed metal like this nowadays.
Sam Aponte
FATES WARNING RULES! THE MOST UNDERRATED BAND EVER!
jumanji 1980
people are deaf and blind in the modern days that SAD BUT TRUE!
Omair Sheikh
+EricMetalhead Opeth has received plenty of recognition and so has Katatonia to an extent. Fates helped invent a genre and aren't even heard of by lot of prog metal fans.
EricMetalhead
@Sam Aponte Mmmm, I think Katatonia deserves that title. Maybe Opeth, but they are still pretty famous.
Eduardo Rocha
Just saw them here @ Rio de Janeiro for a crowd no bigger than a hundred folks and they played as if it was their very last day on earth, it was nothing short of amazing, one of the best shows I've seen in my life, one of the best bands that can possibly exist. Absurd skills, energy, charisma, artistry. I truly hope to see them again soon. Fates Warning rules.
Swirvin' Birds
I experience the same in Seattle a couple years back. Probably no more than 50 people and they were amazing.