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 dam   Till 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 bangle   Why not try to see things from a different angle   Your life is a sham   Till you can shout out loud, I am what I am      I am what I am   And what I am needs 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 dam   Till you can say, hey world, I am what I am