(Bold = Chorus)
I am, I am, what I am, what I am, what I am, what I am, I'll be, I'll be
I am, I am, what I am, what I am, for the rights, for the rights, of man, hey
People have the right to be just who they are
People have the right to share all of their love
People have the right to share just what they give
The right to their free will
I did not choose the way I am, I did not choose the way I am
I said I am what I am, This is my fellow man
I did not choose the way I a-a-am, I did not choose the way I am
I said I am what I a-a-am, Please try to understand
I did not choose the way I a-a-am, I did not choose the way I am
I said I am what I a-a-am, I am just a man
I was born into this wor-or-orld, Born into this world
I said I am what I a-a-am, I am what I am, hey, alright
Say it, say it y'all
I am, I am, what I am, what I am, what I am, what I am, I'll be, hey, alright
I am, I am, what I am, what I am, for the rights, for the rights, of man, listen here
People have the right, regardless of their skin
People have the right to let God's love come in
People have the right to truly be yourfriend
To love is not a sin
I did not choose the way I am, I did not choose the way I am
I said I am what I am, This is my fellow man
I did not choose the way I a-a-am, I did not choose the way I am
I said I am what I a-a-am, Please try to understand
I did not choose the way I a-a-am, I did not choose the way I am
I said I am what I a-a-am, I am just a man
I was born into this wor-or-orld, Born into this world
I said I am what I a-a-am, I am what I am, hey
Everybody, everybody say it with me y'all
I am, I am, what I am, what I am, what I am, what I am, I'll be, hey, alright
I am, what I am, what I am, what I am, for the rights, for the rights, of man, yeah
People have the right to live with who they please
People have the right to live there happily
No one has the right to choose my love for me
I was born free
I did not choose the way I am, I did not choose the way I am
I said I am what I am, This is my fellow man
I did not choose the way I a-a-am, I did not choose the way I am
I said I am what I a-a-am, Please try to understand
I did not choose the way I a-a-am, I did not choose the way I am
I said I am what I a-a-am, I am just a man
I was born into this wor-or-orld, Born into this world
Oh, I am what I a-a-am, I am what I am, hey
I did not choose the way I am, I did not choose the way I am
I said I am what I am, This is my fellow man
I did not choose the way I a-a-am, I did not choose the way I am
I said I am what I a-a-am, Please try to understand
I did not choose the way I a-a-am, I did not choose the way I am
I said I am what I a-a-am, I am just a man
I did not choose the way I a-a-am, Born into this world
Hey, I am what I a-a-am, I am what I am
I did not choose the way I am - No one chooses the way they are-are
This is my fellow man - You've get to love everybody
I did not choose the way I am - Everybody was born into this wor-or-orld
Please try to understand - Nobody forgives their pa
I did not choose the way I am - Na, na, na, I did not choose
I am just a man - I'm just a ma-an
Born into this world - I am what I am, yeah
I am what I am - Everybody, everybody everybody
I did not choose the way I am - I did not choose the way I am
This is my fellow man - I'm just a man
I did not choose the way I am - I'm just a man you know
Please try to understand - Everybody, I'm just a man you know
I Am What I Am was written by Peter Whitehead & Victor Willis & Jacques Morali & Henri Belolo.
I Am What I Am was produced by Jacques Morali.