It Is What It Is
Highwaymen Lyrics

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I’ve been obnoxious, I’ve been unconscious,
I’ve been all kind of things that are hard to spell.
I’ve been unruly, speaking truly,
I’ve been so cool 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 cause I ain’t what I used to be.
'Cause it is what it is but it ain’t what it used to be.

I’ve been a mover, I was a shaker,
He had a girlfriend, I tried to snake her.
I been mysterious, I been delirious,
I been so weird it woulda killed a normal man.
I wanted money, I wanted power,
I want a monument kinda like the Eiffel Tower.
I been lost at sea, I been lost in space,
And when I fall in love I fall all over the place.

I am what I am cause I ain’t what I used to be. (oooh, yeah)
Cause it is what it is but it ain’t what it used to be.

Spoken: Well, tell 'em about it

And you can go on forever and make the same mistakes,
Or you can stand up on your hind legs and change your fate.
Go on and do it till you finally see,
What it is that it was that you don't want to be.

Spoken: Walking tall, hoo!

I was an outlaw, I was an in-law,
I was a scapegoat, that was the last straw.
I hit the highway, singin' my way,
But it wound up sounding like 'you’ll never walk alone'.
I got a story, reflected glory,
Is the way that I been seeing for most of my life.
I heard the laughter, up in the rafters,
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. (Spoken: well, maybe just a little.)
Cause it is what it is but it ain’t what it used to be.

Yeah, 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.

Overall Meaning

The Highwaymen’s song It Is What It Is is about accepting oneself for who they are, flaws and all. The lyrics describe various personas the singer has taken on in the past, ranging from obnoxious and unconscious to a mover and a shaker. The singer has been all kinds of things that are difficult to spell, unruly and speaking truly, and a monster without a sponsor. The singer has also been mysterious, delirious, and so weird that it would have killed a normal person. However, despite all of these past versions of himself, the singer declares that he is what he is, acknowledging that he is not what he used to be, but still accepting himself nonetheless.

The chorus repeats the phrase “I am what I am cause I ain’t what I used to be” multiple times, emphasizing the idea that it’s okay to change and evolve over time. The singer acknowledges that life changes, and things are not always what they used to be, but despite that, they accept themselves for who they are now. Towards the end of the song, the singer encourages listeners to make changes if they don’t like who they are, and accept themselves for who they truly are.

Overall, the song is a celebration of self-acceptance and acknowledging that growth and change are essential parts of life. It encourages listeners to embrace themselves for who they are and to continue evolving and changing throughout their lives.

Line by Line Meaning

I’ve been obnoxious, I’ve been unconscious, I’ve been all kind of things that are hard to spell.
I have acted in ways that are rude and inappropriate, sometimes without even being aware of it, and I have done so many different things that it's difficult to articulate them all.

I’ve been unruly, speaking truly, I’ve been so cool I couldn't hardly even stand myself.
I have behaved in a rebellious manner and spoken my mind without reservation. There have been times when I was so impressive that I couldn't even handle it myself.

I’ve been a monster, without a sponsor, I’ve been Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
I have been truly terrifying and unpredictable and have acted in ways that were completely contradicting one another. I have acted as both the good and the bad that is within me.

I’ve been a goner, I’ve been a loner, And when my mixture was right, I’m a nice bunch of guys.
I have felt so alone and have disappeared from social activity, but when I am in the right frame of mind, I can be a warm and pleasant person to be around.

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.
I acknowledge that I have changed over time and I am who I am now because of those changes. Even though things may be what they are currently, they are not the same as they once were.

I’ve been a mover, I was a shaker, He had a girlfriend, I tried to snake her.
I have been somebody who is on the go and always trying to make things happen. I have been so determined in the past that I tried to take somebody else's significant other.

I wanted money, I wanted power, I want a monument kinda like the Eiffel Tower.
I have had strong desires for wealth and influence, and I have envisioned myself with a grand symbol of my achievements, such as the Eiffel Tower.

I am what I am cause I ain’t what I used to be. (oooh, yeah) Cause it is what it is but it ain’t what it used to be.
The changes I have gone through have made me who I am today. Things are currently the way they are, but they are not the same as they were in the past.

And you can go on forever and make the same mistakes, Or you can stand up on your hind legs and change your fate.
You can continue to repeat your mistakes over and over again, or you can take control of your life and make changes to alter your destiny.

Go on and do it till you finally see, What it is that it was that you don't want to be.
Keep pushing forward until you realize what behaviors or actions you want to leave behind and no longer become.

I was an outlaw, I was an in-law, I was a scapegoat, that was the last straw.
I have lived both outside and within the laws, I have been both family and outcast, and there was a point in time where I could no longer tolerate being used as the blame for every problem.

I hit the highway, singin' my way, But it wound up sounding like 'you’ll never walk alone'.
I embarked on a journey on the open road with music as my companion, but ultimately, it ended up being a lonely and uncertain path to follow.

I am what I am cause I ain’t what I used to be. (Spoken: well, maybe just a little.) Cause it is what it is but it ain’t what it used to be.
I understand that I have evolved over time, but I still hold onto some of the qualities that I used to possess. Although things are currently the way they are, they are different from how they once were.

Yeah, 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.
I am aware of the changes I have undergone, and I accept that I am now different from how I used to be. Even though things are currently the way they are, they are not the same as they once were.

Contributed by Alexandra C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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