I've been obnoxious, I've been unconscious -- I've been 
all kinds of things that are hard to spell
I've been unruly, speaking truly  -- I've been so cruel 
I couldn't hardly even stand myself
I've been a monster, without a sponsor  -- I've been, 
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
I've been a goner, I've been a loner  -- and when my 
mixture was right I'm a nice bunch of guys
I am what I am but I ain't what I used to be.   It is 
what it is but it ain't what it used to be.
I was a mover, I was a shaker – You had a girlfriend, 
I'd try to snake her
I've been mysterious, I've been delirious-- I've been 
so weird, it would have killed a normal man
I wanted money, I wanted power – I want a monument – 
kind of like the Eiffel tower
I've been lost at sea, I've been lost in space, and 
when I fall in love I fall all over the place
I am what I am but I ain't what I used to be.  Cause it 
is what it is but it ain't what it used to be.
Bridge
Oh you can go on forever, make the same mistakes – 
Or you can stand up on your hind legs and change your 
fate
Go on and do, until you finally see -- what it is that 
it was that you don't wanna be
I was an outlaw, I was an in-law – I was a scapegoat, 
that was the last straw
I hit the highway, sing'in My Way – but it wound up 
soundin' like You'll Never Walk Alone
I got a story, reflected glory – Is the way that I been 
seein' for most of my life
I heard the laughter, up in the rafter – but I never 
ever thought that the joke was on me
I am what I am, cause I ain't what I used to be. Cause 
it is what it is but it ain't what it used to be.