Some songs show off what a band can do. Others make it clear that the band has no intention of listening to anyone telling them what to do. Dream Theater’s “As I Am” does both.
Released on October 29, 2003, “As I Am” opens “Train of Thought”, the band’s seventh studio album. At 7 minutes and 47 seconds, it gives Dream Theater plenty of room to show their musical skills, but this time they come in with a heavier, more direct sound. The complicated progressive metal parts are still there, but the riffs hit hard, the groove keeps moving and the whole song has a much more aggressive feel.
A Heavier Side of Dream Theater
The opening has a cool detail for longtime fans. It starts with the same orchestral chord that ended “Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence”, the band previous album. From there, the song moves into heavy guitar riffs and a controlled groove that gives it a different feel from some of their more complex material.
John Petrucci recorded the track using a six-string guitar tuned down two whole steps to C–F–B♭–E♭–G–C. That lower tuning helps give the guitars their thick, heavy sound.
There are strong heavy metal and groove metal influences here, with Metallica and Pantera among the bands that helped shape the sound. Dream Theater don’t abandon their progressive roots, though. The extended instrumental section gives the musicians room to stretch out, with the kind of playing you’d expect from a band whose members know exactly what they’re doing.
James LaBrie handles the lead vocals, while Petrucci gets the riffs and backing vocals. John Myung’s bass, Jordan Rudess’s keyboards, and Mike Portnoy’s drumming fill out the sound. Petrucci and Portnoy also co-produced the track.
The result is a song that feels heavy without losing the musicianship that makes Dream Theater stand out.
The Story Behind the Lyrics
What makes “As I Am” even more interesting is the story behind it.
John Petrucci wrote the lyrics after an irritating experience during a tour supporting Queensrÿche. According to the story behind the song, Queensrÿche guitarist Mike Stone offered Petrucci unsolicited advice about guitar playing and songwriting.
Petrucci clearly wasn’t interested in being told how to do his job. That frustration found its way into the lyrics, including the line “Don’t tell me what’s in, tell me how to write”.
It’s a pretty direct message and that’s exactly what makes it work. The song is about refusing to let other people decide who you should be or how you should express yourself. You can listen to advice, take your own path or disagree with someone completely. What you don’t have to do is change everything just to make them happy.
That attitude fits the music perfectly. The riffs sound firm and unapologetic and the vocals carry the same feeling of someone who’s had enough of being told what to do.
Why “As I Am” Still Works
One of the best things about “As I Am” is that Dream Theater don’t bury the song under too many ideas. The heavy riffs get room to breathe, the groove keeps everything moving and the instrumental section adds the technical side without taking away the song punch.
For fans who enjoy the band progressive side, there’s still plenty to hear. But if you prefer your metal with a strong riff, a heavier groove and a message that doesn’t need much explaining, this track has that covered too.
“As I Am” is a fitting opening for “Train of Thought”. It sets a heavier tone for the album and makes its point without backing down. Sometimes the best answer to unwanted advice is to turn up the volume and keep doing things your own way.
And if someone still doesn’t like it? That’s their problem.
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