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

[total overlapping, battle between chorus and singer]

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, (fade begin)

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