I Am What I Am

by Linda Eder

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Lyrics

(G)I am what I (Bm)am.

I am my (Em)own spe cial cre (Dsus)a tion.

(G)So come

take a (Bm)look, give me the (Em)hook or the o (Am7)va tion.

It’s (G)my (B7)world that I (Em)want to have a lit tle pride in, (A7sus)my

(A7)word and it’s not a place I have to hide in.

(G)Life’s not worth a (Bm)damn till you can (Em)say,

“Hey, world!

I (Am7)am what (D9sus)I (G)am!”

(Ab)I am what I (Cm)am.

I don’t want (Fm)praise.

I don’t want (Eb7sus)pit y.

(Ab)I bang my own (Cm)drum.

Some think it’s (Fm)noise.

I think it’s (Bbm)pret ty.

And (Ab)so (C)what if I (Fm)love each feath er and each span gle.

Why not try to see things from a dif f’rent an (Eb)gle.

(Ab)Your life is a (Cm7)sham till you can (Fm)shout out loud, “I (Bbm)am what (Db)I (Ab)am!”

(A)I

am what I (C#m)am,

and what I (F#m)am

(F#m7)needs no ex (Bm11)cus es.

(A)I

deal my own (C#m)deck,

(C#m7)some times the (F#m)ace,

some times the (G#m7)deuc es.

It’s (Amaj7)one

(G#)life and there’s (F#m)no re turn and no de pos it.

(B9)One

life,

so it’s (Bm)time (A)to (G#dim)o (F#m7)pen (Fm)up (Em)your (Dm)clos (B)et.

(Bb)Life’s not (F)worth (Bb)a (Dm)damn till (A)you (Dm)can (Gm)shout,

(Gm7)“Hey, (Gm6)world!

I am

what

I

(Bb)am!”

I Am What I Am by Linda Eder — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “I Am What I Am” by Linda Eder in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of G at 100 BPM, a medium-difficulty arrangement — try slowing the tempo down using the BPM control.

Tips for parents & teachers

  • Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
  • Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
  • Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
  • Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "I Am What I Am" good for a child learning piano?
Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "I Am What I Am"?
Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?
No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?
Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.
How many chords does "I Am What I Am" use?
Just 44 chords: A, A7, Ab, Am7, Amaj7, Asus4, B7, B9, +36 more. Take it one section at a time.
What other Linda Eder songs work for kids?
Try "DON'T RAIN ON MY PARADE", "SON-OF-A-PREACHER MAN", "We're All Alone". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.