She started her solo career in 1999 with a collaboration single along with Tin Tin Out for their single "What I Am", which peaked number 2 on the UK charts. Her debut solo album entitled "A Girl Like Me" was released in 2001, and spawned the UK number-one hit "What Took You So Long?", as well as the top five hits "What I Am" (a cover of a 1998's song earlier recorded by Edie Brickell & New Bohemians) and "Take My Breath Away" (which was not a cover of Berlin's 1986's hit), and top twenty hit "We're Not Gonna Sleep Tonight". The album sold around 125,000 in the UK.
In spring of 2003, she returned as Emma (losing the Bunton), with the top five hit "Free Me" and later that year released "Maybe", which also went top ten and outsold the previous single. In spring of 2004, the single "I'll Be There" and the album "Free Me" were released. The album contained '60s-style pop gems and went on to outsell her first album, something other solo Spice Girls have yet to achieve. The album Free Me was released in the United States on January 25, 2005.
Emma released "Downtown" the official charity single for the BBC's 2006 Children in Need appeal, it reached number three. The album "Life in Mono" was released on (4 December).
What I Am
Emma Bunton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know what I know, if you know what I mean
I'm not aware of too many things
I know what I know, if you know what I mean
Philosophy is the talk on a cereal box
Religion is the smile on a dog
I'm not aware of too many things
choke me in the shallow water
Before I get too deep
What I am is what I am
You what you are or what?
What I am is what I am
You what you are or what?
I'm not aware of too many things
I know what I know, if you know what I mean
Philosophy, is a walk on the slippery rocks
Religion is a light in a fog
I'm not aware of too many things
I know what I know, if you know what I mean, d-do ya?
Choke me in the shallow water
Before I get too deep
Choke me in the shallow water
Before I get too deep
What I am is what I am
You what you are or what?
What I am is what I am
You what you are or what?
What I am is what I am
You what you are or what you are
What I am is what I am
You what you are or what?
now now now now
I say, I say, I say
I do hey-eh-eh-eh-eh-eh-ay
Choke me in the shallow water
Before I get too deep (repeat 4 times)
don't let me get to deep (repeat 4 times)
What I am is what I am
You what you are or what?
What I am is what I am
You what you are or what?
What I am is what I am
You what you are or what you are
What I am is what I am
You what you are or what?
(repeat to fade)
The lyrics of Emma Bunton's "What I Am" are about self-knowledge and acceptance. The lines "I'm not aware of too many things, I know what I know, if you know what I mean" suggest that the singer is humble and self-aware, recognizing that she cannot know everything but is content with what she does know. The lines "Philosophy is the talk on a cereal box, religion is the smile on a dog" are playful in their juxtaposition of high-minded philosophy with mundane breakfast food and religion with the simple happiness of a dog. This suggests that the singer is not interested in intellectual posturing or dogmatic religious beliefs, but rather prefers a down-to-earth approach to life. The repeated lines "What I am is what I am, you what you are or what?" reinforce this idea of embracing oneself without judgment and accepting others without trying to change them.
The final lines "Choke me in the shallow water before I get too deep" could be interpreted in a few different ways. They could be a metaphor for the idea that the singer wants someone to stop her from going too far down a dark or dangerous path before it's too late. Alternatively, they could be a playful nod to the song's lighthearted tone, suggesting that the singer doesn't take herself too seriously and is willing to make fun of her own earnestness.
Overall, "What I Am" is a song about being comfortable with who you are and not worrying too much about what others think. It celebrates the joy of self-discovery and encourages listeners to embrace their own unique quirks and perspectives.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm not aware of too many things
I don't claim to know everything
I know what I know, if you know what I mean
I trust my own knowledge and intuition
Philosophy is the talk on a cereal box
Philosophy is often presented in simplified, easily digestible terms
Religion is the smile on a dog
Religion brings a sense of joy and comfort to believers, much like a dog's happy expression
choke me in the shallow water
Stop me before I get in too deep
What I am is what I am
I am who I am and nothing can change that
You what you are or what?
Are you comfortable with who you are?
Philosophy, is a walk on the slippery rocks
Philosophy can be a challenging and uncertain path
Religion is a light in a fog
Religion provides clarity and guidance in uncertain times
Choke me in the shallow water
Protect me from harm while I'm still discovering myself
don't let me get to deep
Don't let me lose myself in things I don't understand
now now now now
I say, I say, I say
I'm emphasizing the urgency of the message
What I am is what I am
I won't change for anyone else's benefit
You what you are or what you are
Are you true to yourself?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Edie Arlisa Brickell, Kenneth Neil Withrow, John Bradley Houser, John Walter Bush, Brandon Aly
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind