It features the first beat Eminem produced on his own, featuring an ominous bassline, a piano loop, and chimes. In the song, Eminem lashes out at people he feels are putting too much pressure on him, including overzealous fans and record executives expecting him to top the success of his hit single "My Name Is" (which he ironically was able to do with "The Real Slim Shady.") He slows down his typical flow for the song and delivers each line very aggressively, almost shouting them out.
The song has also been remixed by Danny Lohner featuring Marilyn Manson, who has performed the song with Eminem on stage.
In 2005 "The Way I Am" was released on the album Curtain Call: The Hits.
the way
Eminem & Marilyn Manson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dre just let it run
Ayo, turn the beat up a little bit
Ayo, this song is for anyone
Fuck it, just shut up and listen, ayo
I sit back with this pack of Zig-Zag's and this bag
Of this weed, it gives me the shit needed to be
And since birth I've been cursed with this curse to just curse
And just blurt this berserk and bizarre shit that works
And it sells and it helps in itself to relieve all this tension
Dispensing these sentences, getting this stress
That's been eating me recently off of this chest
And I rest again peacefully
But at least have the decency in you
To leave me alone, when you freaks see me out
In the streets when I'm eating or feeding my daughter
To not come and speak to me, I don't know you
And no, I don't owe you a mothafuckin' thing
I'm not Mr. N'Sync, I'm not what your friends think
I'm not Mr. Friendly, I can be a prick if you tempt me
My tank is on empty, no patience is in me
And if you offend me, I'm lifting you ten feet in the air
I don't care who was there and who saw me just jaw you
Go call you a lawyer, file you a lawsuit
I'll smile in the courtroom and buy you a wardrobe
I'm tired of all you, I don't mean to be mean
But that's all I can be, it's just me
And I am whatever you say I am
If I wasn't, then why would I say I am?
In the paper, the news, every day I am
Radio won't even play my jam
'Cause I am whatever you say I am
If I wasn't, then why would I say I am?
In the paper, the news, every day I am
I don't know, it's just the way I am
Sometimes I just feel like my father
I hate to be bothered with all of this nonsense
It's constant, and, "Oh, it's his lyrical content
The song 'Guilty Conscience' has gotten such rotten responses."
And all of this controversy circles me
And it seems like the media immediately points a finger at me
So I point one back at 'em, but not the index or pinkie
Or the ring or the thumb, it's the one you put up
When you don't give a fuck, when you won't just put up
With the bullshit they pull, 'cause they full of shit too
When a dude's getting bullied and shoots up his school
And they blame it on Marilyn and the heroin
Where were the parents at? And look where it's at!
Middle America, now it's a tragedy
Now it's so sad to see, an upper-class city havin' this happening
Then attack Eminem 'cause I rap this way
But I'm glad, 'cause they feed me the fuel that I need
For the fire to burn, and it's burning, and I have returned
And I am whatever you say I am
If I wasn't, then why would I say I am?
In the paper, the news, every day I am
Radio won't even play my jam
'Cause I am whatever you say I am
If I wasn't, then why would I say I am?
In the paper, the news, every day I am
I don't know, it's just the way I am
I'm so sick and tired of being admired
That I wish that I would just die or get fired
And dropped from my label, let's stop with the fables
I'm not gonna be able to top on "My Name Is"
And pigeon-holed into some poppy sensation
To cop me rotation at rock-n-roll stations
And I just do not got the patience
To deal with these cocky Caucasians
Who think I'm some wigger who just tries to be black
'Cause I talk with an accent and grab on my balls
So they always keep asking the same fucking questions
What school did I go to, what hood I grew up in
The why, the who, what, when, the where and the how
'Til I'm grabbing my hair and I'm tearin' it out
'Cause they driving me crazy, I can't take it
I'm racin', I'm pacin', I stand and I sit
And I'm thankful for every fan that I get
But I can't take a shit
In the bathroom without someone standing by it
No, I won't sign you an autograph
You can call me an asshole, I'm glad
'Cause I am whatever you say I am
If I wasn't, then why would I say I am?
In the paper, the news, every day I am
Radio won't even play my jam
'Cause I am whatever you say I am
If I wasn't, then why would I say I am?
In the paper, the news, every day I am
I don't know, it's just the way I am
The song 'The Way I Am' by Eminem & Marilyn Manson discusses the pressure and scrutiny of fame and the media's portrayal of their respective personas. Eminem begins by discussing his process of preparing for a presence on stage or in the public eye, using weed to counteract nerves and provide himself with anger to fuel his performance. He discusses the burden of being a public figure, unable to dine in peace with his daughter or deal with people's constant need to approach and speak to him. Eminem asserts his own identity, pushing back against anyone who wants to label or control him.
The chorus of the song, "I am whatever you say I am," is a statement of defiance towards those who seek to limit or belittle Eminem's artistic expression. He acknowledges that the media and public perception of him are not always positive, but he refuses to conform to anyone's expectations. He takes issue with the media's tendency to blame hip-hop and heavy metal music for incidents of violence, rather than directing critical attention towards the societal issues that may have led to these tragedies. Eminem takes control of his own narrative and insists that he will continue to create according to his own vision, regardless of how he is perceived.
Line by Line Meaning
Man, whatever
I don't care about anything right now.
Dre just let it run
Dr. Dre should let the beat play without interruption.
Ayo, turn the beat up a little bit
Turn up the volume on the instrumental.
Ayo, this song is for anyone
This song is for everyone who can relate.
Fuck it, just shut up and listen, ayo
Stop talking and pay attention.
I sit back with this pack of Zig-Zag's and this bag
relaxing, smoking marijuana to get in the right mindset
Of this weed, it gives me the shit needed to be
Marijuana gives me the confidence to be the best.
The most meanest MC on this—on this Earth
I am the best rapper in the world.
And since birth I've been cursed with this curse to just curse
I have a tendency to use curse words in my music.
And just blurt this berserk and bizarre shit that works
I say crazy things, but people like it.
And it sells and it helps in itself to relieve all this tension
My music sells well and helps me release stress.
Dispensing these sentences, getting this stress
Rapping helps me get rid of stress.
That's been eating me recently off of this chest
I have had a lot on my mind lately.
And I rest again peacefully
When I am done rapping, I feel at peace.
But at least have the decency in you
Be respectful and leave me alone.
To leave me alone, when you freaks see me out
Don't bother me if you see me in public.
In the streets when I'm eating or feeding my daughter
I want privacy when I'm with my daughter in public.
To not come and speak to me, I don't know you
I don't want to talk to strangers.
And no, I don't owe you a mothafuckin' thing
I don't owe anyone anything.
I'm not Mr. N'Sync, I'm not what your friends think
I am not a boy band member, and I won't act the way your friends want me to act.
I'm not Mr. Friendly, I can be a prick if you tempt me
I am not your friend, and I can be rude if you provoke me.
My tank is on empty, no patience is in me
I am tired and have run out of patience.
And if you offend me, I'm lifting you ten feet in the air
If you make me angry, I am going to physically harm you.
I don't care who was there and who saw me just jaw you
I don't care who witnesses me hurting you.
Go call you a lawyer, file you a lawsuit
If you sue me, I don't care. Go ahead.
I'll smile in the courtroom and buy you a wardrobe
I will be happy in court and pay for your clothes.
I'm tired of all you, I don't mean to be mean
I am fed up with all of you, but I don't want to be rude.
But that's all I can be, it's just me
I can only be myself.
And I am whatever you say I am
I am the person people say I am.
If I wasn't, then why would I say I am?
I am the person people think I am.
In the paper, the news, every day I am
I am always in the media.
Radio won't even play my jam
My music doesn't get played on the radio because of my controversial lyrics.
'Cause I am whatever you say I am
I am who people think I am.
I don't know, it's just the way I am
I don't have an explanation for who I am.
Sometimes I just feel like my father
I feel like my father is judging me and my music.
I hate to be bothered with all of this nonsense
I don't want to deal with all of these problems.
It's constant, and, "Oh, it's his lyrical content
People always criticize my lyrics.
The song 'Guilty Conscience' has gotten such rotten responses."
The song 'Guilty Conscience' has received negative feedback.
And all of this controversy circles me
I am always in the middle of controversy.
And it seems like the media immediately points a finger at me
The media always blames me for everything.
So I point one back at 'em, but not the index or pinkie
I blame the media back, but not in a childish way.
Or the ring or the thumb, it's the one you put up
I put up the middle finger to show my anger.
When you don't give a fuck, when you won't just put up
When you don't care and won't tolerate bullshit.
With the bullshit they pull, 'cause they full of shit too
The media is full of lies and hypocritical.
When a dude's getting bullied and shoots up his school
When someone gets bullied and shoots up a school.
And they blame it on Marilyn and the heroin
People blame Marilyn Manson's music and drug addiction.
Where were the parents at? And look where it's at!
People blame the parents for not being there.
Middle America, now it's a tragedy
A tragedy happens in middle America.
Now it's so sad to see, an upper-class city havin' this happening
It's sad to see a wealthy city having this kind of tragedy.
Then attack Eminem 'cause I rap this way
People criticize Eminem's music style.
But I'm glad, 'cause they feed me the fuel that I need
People's criticism motivates me.
For the fire to burn, and it's burning, and I have returned
I am motivated to continue making music.
I'm so sick and tired of being admired
I am tired of being praised.
That I wish that I would just die or get fired
I wish I could disappear or lose my job.
And dropped from my label, let's stop with the fables
I want to stop the lies and rumors about me getting fired.
I'm not gonna be able to top on "My Name Is"
I won't be able to top my previous hit song.
And pigeon-holed into some poppy sensation
I don't want to be forced into making commercial music.
To cop me rotation at rock-n-roll stations
I don't want to be played on rock stations to get more publicity.
And I just do not got the patience
I don't have the patience for all of this.
To deal with these cocky Caucasians
I don't want to deal with arrogant white people.
Who think I'm some wigger who just tries to be black
Some people think I'm trying to act like a black person.
'Cause I talk with an accent and grab on my balls
Some people think I'm trying to act tough.
So they always keep asking the same fucking questions
People keep asking me the same questions over and over.
What school did I go to, what hood I grew up in
People want to know about my background.
The why, the who, what, when, the where and the how
People want to know everything about me.
'Til I'm grabbing my hair and I'm tearin' it out
I am getting frustrated and stressed out.
'Cause they driving me crazy, I can't take it
People are making me crazy with their questions.
I'm racin', I'm pacin', I stand and I sit
I am anxious, I am restless, I can't sit still.
And I'm thankful for every fan that I get
I am grateful for my fans.
But I can't take a shit
I can't even use the bathroom in peace.
In the bathroom without someone standing by it
Without someone watching me.
No, I won't sign you an autograph
I won't give you an autograph.
You can call me an asshole, I'm glad
You can insult me all you want, I don't care.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Marshall B Mathers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind