I Am What I Am Lyrics – La Cage Aux Folles
I Am What I Am Lyrics
We are what we are
And what we are is an illusion
We love how it feels
Putting on heels causing confusion
We face life
Though it's sometimes sweet and sometimes bitter
Face life with a little guts and lots of glitter
Look under our frocks:
Girdles and jocks
Proving We are what...
Albin: "No! Get off"
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 take a little pride in,
My world, and it's not a place I have to hide in.
Life's not worth a damn,
'Til 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 to see things from a different angle?
Your life is a sham 'til 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 damn 'til you can say,
"Hey world, I am what I am!"
Song Overview
Song Credits
- Artist: Jerry Herman
- Featured Vocals: George Hearn
- Producer: Thomas Z. Shepard
- Writer: Jerry Herman
- Album: La Cage Aux Folles (Original Cast Recording)
- Release Year: 1983
- Genre: Musical Theatre
- Language: English
- Track Number: 7
- Copyrights © 1983 RCA Victor
Song Meaning and Annotations
When Jerry Herman penned “I Am What I Am” for La Cage Aux Folles, he didn’t just craft a showstopper. He handed the queer community a musical declaration of independence. Sung with explosive passion by George Hearn as Albin, this track isn't just a song — it’s a coming-out speech dressed in sequins and spotlight.
Opening Pride Anthem
I am what I am / I am my own special creation
This iconic opener doesn’t tiptoe. It stands, center stage, hands on hips. It's not shy, it’s proud. Albin — a drag performer and gay man — asserts his right to live visibly. In the face of disapproval, he chooses self-love over conformity. The line “special creation” isn't just about flamboyance; it’s a spiritual stance. You were made this way. Glorious, complex, whole.
Turning the Tables
There’s righteous anger wrapped in rhinestones here. Albin pushes back at judgment:
I don't want praise, I don’t want pity / I bang my own drum
It’s both punchline and punch — who needs applause when you’ve already embraced yourself? The song toys with societal standards, flipping them. What some call “noise,” Albin hears as beauty. What’s seen as flamboyance becomes freedom. It’s resilience, in full voice.
The Closet Kicks Open
But perhaps the most devastatingly powerful turn is in this moment:
One life, so it's time to open up your closet
This isn’t subtle. This is confrontation — raw and liberating. Herman's lyrics, while theatrical, slice into real-life stakes. Being closeted — living in fear or shame — is shown as the real tragedy. The chorus returns one last time with added gravitas, making it clear: being yourself, loudly, is an act of rebellion and survival.
Similar Songs
- “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga’s queer anthem of the 2010s owes a spiritual debt to Jerry Herman’s classic. Both scream self-acceptance. While Gaga turns to pop-electro gloss, Herman's Broadway roots offer the same message wrapped in orchestral grandeur. They're different centuries, same pride. - “This Is Me” by Keala Settle (The Greatest Showman)
Another empowerment anthem belted with theatrical fire. This track captures the same emotional climax, claiming space unapologetically. Like Albin, Settle’s character is singing not just to others, but to her reflection. - “And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going” by Jennifer Holliday
Though rooted in heartbreak rather than identity, this song’s defiant power mirrors “I Am What I Am.” It's a vocal wallop, a soul bared. Both command attention and demand dignity through performance that borders on spiritual revival.
Questions and Answers
- Why is “I Am What I Am” so iconic in LGBTQ+ culture?
- It gives voice — proudly and unashamedly — to queer identity. Its lyrics are a manifesto of self-worth and visibility, resonating deeply with those forced to hide who they are.
- What does “deal my own deck” symbolize?
- It implies agency — living on your own terms. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but the deck is yours. It’s an anthem of ownership over one's fate and choices.
- Is this song performed in drag in the musical?
- Yes. Albin, the character, is a drag performer, and the theatricality of the number is essential — it's sung in full regalia, making the visual and emotional impact inseparable.
- What makes the musical arrangement so powerful?
- It starts subdued, intimate. Then, it swells — full orchestra, crashing cymbals, big brass. It mirrors Albin’s journey from internal affirmation to bold, external declaration.
- Has the song been covered outside Broadway?
- Absolutely. It's been covered in jazz, pop, and dance versions by artists like Latrice Royale and John Barrowman. It lives beyond the stage, in parades, protests, and pride anthems worldwide.
Fan and Media Reactions
"This song helped me come out. It felt like Albin was singing directly to me." – YouTube user: RainbowChaser84
"‘Open up your closet’ — the most direct and powerful metaphor in musical theatre." – YouTube user: TheatreAddict22
"George Hearn’s voice just shreds me emotionally. That final note? Goosebumps." – YouTube user: BroadwaySoul1976
"This should be the anthem for every Pride parade ever. Unapologetically fabulous." – YouTube user: QueerlyBeloved
"Every drag queen who has ever lived owes a tip of the wig to this number." – YouTube user: GlitterNJustice