I Am What I Am

From the musical: La Cage Aux Folles
Lyrics and score by Jerry Herman

I Am What I Am
I am my own special creation
So, come take a look
give me the hook or the ovation.
It's my world that I want to have a little pride in
My world and it's not a place I have to hide in
Life's not worth a damn until you can say "Hey world, I Am
What I Am"

I am what I am
I don't want praise
I don't want pity
I bang my own drum
Some think it's noise, I think it's pretty
And so what if I love each feather and each spangle?
Why not
Try and see things from a different angle
Your life is a sham till you can shout out "I Am What I Am"

I am what I am
And what I am need's no excuses
I deal my own deck, sometimes the Ace, sometimes the
Deuces
There's one life
And there's no return and no deposit
One life, so it's time to open up your closet
Life's not worth a damn till you can say "Hey world! I Am
What I Am"