CLOSE MY EYES BUT I AIN'T BLIND
I MAY BE SLOW BUT AIN'T LEFT BEHIND
RING THE BELL BUT I AIN'T GOT THE TIME
TELL ME WHAT I AM BUT I AIN'T THAT KIND

TOW ME TO TOW THE LINE
I WANNA KNOW IF SIX WAS NINE
THE THING I GOT WILL PUT A THRILL
UP & DOWN YOUR SPINE

CAN'T TAKE IT AWAY
I'M HERE TO STAY
CAN'T TAKE IT AWAY
I'M HERE TO STAY

I AM WHAT I AM
OF THAT YOU DONT NEED TO WONDER
I AM WHAT I AM
CAN'T TAKE ONE FROM THE OTHER
I AM WHAT I AM
DON'T MEAN THAT I AIN'T YOUR BROTHER
I AM WHAT I AM
WON'T LET YOU TAKE ME UNDER
NO MATTER THE SHAPE OR COLOR
WON'T LET YOU TAKE MY THUNDER

OPEN MY MOUTH YOU DID NOT HEAR
TRIED TO TESTIFY I WAS NOT CLEAR
WON'T FALL INTO YOUR HATE & FEAR

TRIED TO STICK TO IT, WOULD NOT ADHERE
UP AGAINST ME YOU DON'T COMPARE
WHEN I SHOW UP YOU DISAPPEAR
I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU I DON'T PLAY
THIS IS A CAREER

CAN'T TAKE IT AWAY
I'M HERE TO STAY
CAN'T TAKE IT AWAY
I'M HERE TO STAY

I AM WHAT I AM
OF THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO WONDER
I AM WHAT I AM
CAN'T TAKE ONE FROM THE OTHER
I AM WHAT I AM
DON'T MEAN THAT I AIN'T YOUR BROTHER
I AM WHAT I AM
WON'T LET YOU TAKE ME UNDER
NO MATTER THE SHAPE OR COLOR
WON'T LET YOU TAKE MY THUNDER

JORDAN RIVER IS DEEP & WIDE
PARADISE ON THE OTHER SIDE
LET YOUR CONSCIENCE BE YOUR GUIDE
SAY WE GONNA MAKE IT, WE GONNA MAKE IT
JORDAN RIVER IS DEEP & WIDE
PARADISE ON THE OTHER SIDE
LET YOUR CONSCIENCE BE YOUR GUIDE
WE GONNA MAKE IT, WE GONNA MAKE IT

CAN'T TAKE IT AWAY

IM HERE TO STAY
CAN'T TAKE IT AWAY
IM HERE TO STAY

I AM WHAT I AM
OF THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO WONDER
I AM WHAT I AM
CAN'T TAKE ONE FROM THE OTHER
I AM WHAT I AM
DON'T MEAN THAT I AIN'T YOUR BROTHER
I AM WHAT I AM
WON'T LET YOU TAKE ME UNDER
JUST REMEMBER THAT I LOVE YA
BUT I WON'T LET YOU TAKE MY THUNDER