I Am Colossus

This song speaks about man's search of a higher power - possibly God. The writing seeks to convey the creation of the aforementioned higher power in the mind of a person. It also highlights man's inherent need to "please" the higher power that is its own creation. In this song, the higher power, or "Colossus" is depicted as "speaking" to a person. As with the majority of Meshuggah's work, this song also adopts a nihilistic perspective of life.

"I'm the great Leviathan, insatiable colossus Titanic engulfer of lives, I reward you, absorb you I'm the monstrous mouth that hungers for your awe Immense construction of lies. I own you, disown you." This stanza is like an introduction. The Colossus establishes its presence in the mind of a person, like a parasite, as large as Leviathan himself. It is the personification of man's never-ending quest for perfection, the unattainable goal that everyone seeks to achieve. It can make or break a person, its host.

"I am life. I'm death. You empower me." A simple depiction of the megalomanic nature of the Colossus.

"I'm a mammoth king evoked, conjured by your dreams Summoned by your fears. You need me, you feed me I'm the imposing giant. Infallible dictator My rules apply to all. You'll heed me, bleed for me." The Colossus explains how it was created. It is the personification of the host's dreams and fears. The person is dependant on the Colossus, and the Colossus is dependant on the person. It is a symbiotic relationship. However, it is the Colossus that calls the shots. As for the final line "... You'll heed me, bleed for me.", I think it is a shout-out to their masterpiece "Bleed" from 2008's obZen.

"I am life. I'm death. I decide your fate You empower me. You'd even kill for me." Once again, the Colossus describes its megalomanic nature and its control over its host.

"Guzzling down your dreams - the tears of unheard pleas I drink, Imbibe with such delight the fear that floods your temporal shell Raging red rivers and streams - the kingdom of my shadow Where dread of man in endless night revives my every cell." This stanza describes how the Colossus feeds off failure. It is only satisfied by worldly successes. It punishes failure by inducing its host with fear of the spiritual, the unknown. The failures flow like rivers and streams towards the shadowy kingdom of the Colossus, where the dread of its host strengthens the parasite.

"To those who doubt - your wounds will never heal To those who question my creation - I'm not real." The Colossus preys on the fears of its host. It will inflict wounds that cannot be healed upon the doubters. Only the disbelivers will be spared of the parasite's wrath, as it does not exist in their minds.

"I am pain. I am grief. I'm the things you fear I'm the lie whispered into your ear I'm the great Leviathan. I'm dominance and greed You imagined me, so I was conceived." The constituents of the Colossus are pain, grief, fear and lies. It has the proportions of Leviathan (or a Colossus). It is the personification of the host's greed and the need to dominate every task that the host sets out to do. However, the Colossus emphasises the fact that it is purely imaginary. It exists only so long as the host wills it to exist.

"I am life. I'm death. You belong to me Call me what I am. I am colossus." The host has given his life to the Colossus. He belongs to it. He acknowledges its presence. Satisfaction of the parasite, the great Leviathan, the Colossus - this is the only purpose of the host's existence.