(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
I stand
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 it, my fellow man)
I did not choose the way I am
(I did not choose the way I am)
I said: I am what I am
(Please try to understand)

I did not choose the way I am
(I did not choose the way I am)
I said: I am what I am
(I am just a man)
I was born into this world
(Born into this world)
I said: I am what I 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
Hey, alright

(I am) I am
(What I am) what I am
(For the rights) for the rights
I stand
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
Listen, my fellow man
I did not choose the way I am
(I did not choose the way I am)
I said: I am what I am
(Please try to understand)

I did not choose the way I am
(I did not choose the way I am)
I said: I am what I am
(I am just a man)
And I was born into this world
(Born into this world)
I said: I am what I am
(I am what I am)
Hey

Everybody, everybody
Sing 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) I am
(What I am) what I am
(For the rights) for the rights
I stand
Hey

People have the right
Live with who they please
People have the right
To live life 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
Listen, my fellow man
I did not choose the way I am
(I did not choose the way I am)
I said: I am what I am
(Please try to understand)

I did not choose the way I am
(I did not choose the way I am)
I said: I am what I am
(I am just a man)
I was born into this world
(Born into this world)
Oh, I'm what I am
(I am what I am)

I did not choose the way I am
(I did not choose the way I am)
I said: I am what I am
Listen, my fellow man
I did not choose the way I am
(I did not choose the way I am)
I said: I am what I am
(Please try to understand)

I did not choose the way I am
(I did not choose the way I am)
Oh, I said: I am what I am
(I am just a man)
I did not choose the way I am
(Born into this world)
Hey, I said: I am what I am
(I am what I am)

(I did not choose the way I am)
No one chooses the way they are
This is it, my fellow man
You've get to love everybody, everybody
(I did not choose the way I am)
Everybody was born into this world
(Please try to understand)
Nobody forgives their pa

(I did not choose the way I am)
Na, na, na, I did not choose the way I am
(I am just a man)
I'm just a man
(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
Everybody, I'm just a man, you know
(Please try to understand)