Under the Church

 

I Am What I Am 

My Ma was born down in Missouri
Her Pa was gone when she was 5
Her Mamma brought her to the East Coast baby
And found a way to stay alive.
They'd get up early in the morning 
Make a dollar with their hands
Found a way to scratch a living
Did it all without a man.

Chorus
She said I am what I am,  
and I do what I say
You can call it what you like 
or you don't have to call at all
Don't make no "never minds" to me
And I am what I am, and I do what I'll be
You tell the man that I've been drinking Rye whiskey
Piss'n oil and whistlin' Dixie to the king

My Pa was born down in the city back in 1933
His Mamma couldn't speak no English
she was proud that she was free
His daddy died in '37 left 'em struggling on their own
Got off the boat a band of dreamers 
and just like that the dream was gone.

Chorus:
Said I am what I am, and I do what I say
You can call it what you like 
or you don't have to call at all
Don't make no "never minds" to me
And I am what I am, and I'll do what I'll be
You tell the man that I've been drinking Rye whiskey
Piss'n oil and whistlin' Dixie to the king

Bridge:
My Mamma held me in her fierce lov'n eyes said 
"boy you better listen to what I say, 
we been scratchin' and clawing for it all our lives 
now don't you ever let 'em take your dreams away. 
Say, "I am what I am"".

Now if they ever find a jury of sons 
of sinners just like me
They can lock me in a deep dark hole 
and in the end I'll still be free
I ain't surrender'n to Wallstreet; 
politicians all be damned
I ain't back'n down from no one.  
I'm step'n up to make a stand

Chorus

Said I am what I am, 
and I do what I say
You can call it what you like 
or you don't have to call at all
Don't make no neverminds to me
And I am what I am, and I am what I'll be
You tell the man that I've been drinking rye whiskey
Piss'n oil and whistlin' Dixie to the king