Mike Posner is an American singer, songwriter, and producer. He has collaborated with such artists as Kid Cudi, Wale, Big Sean, Bun B, One Be Lo, Eric Holljes, and 3OH!3. He worked with Don Cannon and DJ Benzi on his first mixtape, "A Matter of Time," which was released in early 2009. In early 2009, he hired manager Daniel Weisman of Elitaste, Inc, who also manages Wale.
In July 2009, Posner signed a major label deal with J Records (RCA/Sony).
Posner's second mixtape, "One Foot Out The Door" was released on October 27, 2009.
The web series accompanying this mixtape, also titled "One Foot Out The Door," first aired on September 30, and ran every other week through December 2009.
He performed on national television for the first time on the TV show Last Call with Carson Daly on Tuesday, October 27, 2009.
In 2015-16, his comeback single "I Took a Pill in Ibiza" charted in the Top 10 in dozens of countries. In 2021, Posner's 2010 single "Please Don't Go" went viral on TikTok, where where users would wear a scarf and glasses and drive in a car.
Be As You Are
Mike Posner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No one seemed to notice me
Being young was getting so old
Cheap beer and cigarettes
Life was like a movie set
And I seemed to be given no role
But in times of trouble
And I know that she gon' understand
So at age 18
I cried to my mother
And she told me, young man
There are moments when you fall to the ground
But you are stronger than you feel you are now
You don't always have to speak so loud, no
Just be as you are
Life is not always a comfortable ride
Everybody's got scars that they hide
And everybody plays the fool sometimes, yeah
Just be as you are
They played me on the radio
And everything was changing, so
I thought I was all the way grown
But I can still remember in that cold November
When I realized I'm all alone
But in times of trouble
I can turn to my mother
And I know that she gon' understand
So at age 22
I cried to my mother
And she told me, young man
There are moments when you fall to the ground
But you are stronger than you feel you are now
You don't always have to speak so loud, no
Just be as you are
It doesn't matter if you become some star
Life is better when you open your heart
You don't always have to act so hard, no
Just be as you are (just be as you are)
Be as you are, be as, be as you are
Be as you are
Be as you are, be as, be as you are
If I'm speaking truthfully
I'm not who I used to be
And I know some people might laugh
'Cause my music doesn't sound the same
And my head's no longer shaved
I'm worried if I'm on the right path
But in times of trouble
I can turn to my mother
And I know that she gon' understand
So at age 26
I spoke to my mother
And she told me, young man
There are moments when you fall to the ground
But you are stronger than you feel you are now
You don't always have to speak so loud, no
Just be as you are
It doesn't matter if you become some star
Life is better when you open your heart
You don't always have to act so hard, no
Just be as you are (be as you are)
Be as you are, be as, be as you are
Be as you are
Be as you are, be as, be as you are
Be as you are
In "Be As You Are," Mike Posner takes a trip down memory lane to his teenage years when he felt lost and invisible. The first verse talks about how he felt unnoticed despite being surrounded by people, and the second verse highlights his journey to adulthood when he realizes that fame and success don't necessarily guarantee happiness. The lines "I thought I was all the way grown" and "I'm worried if I'm on the right path" show how uncertainty and insecurity can linger well into adulthood. The chorus serves as a reassuring reminder that it's okay to be imperfect and vulnerable, and that it's better to embrace who you are than to fake it.
The song's lyrics "There are moments when you fall to the ground but you are stronger than you feel you are now" are a reference to a quote from Posner's father who passed away in 2017. The line "life is not always a comfortable ride, everybody's got scars that they hide" was inspired by a comment Posner's mother made to him when he was feeling down.
The song was released as the lead single from Posner's second studio album "At Night, Alone." It peaked at #43 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was certified Gold in the US.
Posner wrote "Be As You Are" with Martin Terefe, who has also worked with artists like Train and Jason Mraz.
Posner shot the music video for "Be As You Are" in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan. It features Posner walking around the city and singing while different people hold up cards with messages such as "I'm a recovering addict" and "I have depression."
Posner performed "Be As You Are" on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2016.
The song has been used in several TV shows, including Stitchers and Famous in Love.
Posner wrote "Be As You Are" after struggling with depression and anxiety, and he has been open about his mental health struggles in interviews and on social media.
Posner's lyrics often center around his search for purpose and meaning in life. He has spoken about his interest in spirituality and meditation and even took a hiatus from music to travel and walk across the US on foot.
"Be As You Are" was Posner's first single to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100 since his hit song "Cooler Than Me" in 2010.
Chords: G, D, Em, C (Capo 3rd fret)
Line by Line Meaning
Virginia Woolf and poetry
I was feeling invisible and overlooked, like Virginia Woolf who wrote about experiences of women that weren't acknowledged, and poetry that sometimes goes unread.
No one seemed to notice me
I felt like I didn't matter and that no one took notice of me or my talents.
Being young was getting so old
Even though I was young, it felt like my struggles would never end, and that I was getting too old for my problems to still be present.
Cheap beer and cigarettes
I was living a life with temporary pleasures and substances that weren't really bringing me any true happiness or fulfillment.
Life was like a movie set
My life felt like it was being directed by someone else, like I was just an actor on a set following a script that I didn't write.
And I seemed to be given no role
I felt like I didn't have a purpose or a place, like the director forgot to give me a role to play on the set of my life.
But in times of trouble
During difficult moments in my life,
I can turn to my mother
I could always count on the love and guidance of my mother.
And I know that she gon' understand
I was confident that my mother would empathize and provide comforting words.
There are moments when you fall to the ground
There will be times where you will feel like you have hit rock bottom.
But you are stronger than you feel you are now
Despite the struggle, you have the resilience and inner strength to overcome it.
You don't always have to speak so loud, no
It's okay not to always demand attention or seek recognition from others.
Just be as you are
Be true to yourself and your authenticity, even if it means not conforming to society's expectations.
Life is not always a comfortable ride
Life can be challenging and it's not always easy.
Everybody's got scars that they hide
Everyone has their own internal struggles and baggage that they carry with them.
And everybody plays the fool sometimes, yeah
We all make mistakes and experience failures, it's a part of life.
It doesn't matter if you become some star
Success and fame are not the only things that matter in life.
Life is better when you open your heart
Happiness is found when you let go of your reservations and open yourself up to new possibilities and experiences.
You don't always have to act so hard, no
You don't always have to put on a tough exterior or facade.
If I'm speaking truthfully
If I'm being completely honest,
I'm not who I used to be
I've evolved and grown as a person since I was younger.
And I know some people might laugh
I understand that some people might find my changes or differences amusing or strange.
'Cause my music doesn't sound the same
My music has evolved and changed over time, and may not sound like it did when I first started making it.
And my head's no longer shaved
I've changed my appearance and no longer have a shaved head like I did before.
I'm worried if I'm on the right path
I struggle with self-doubt and uncertainty if I'm making the right decisions for my life.
Be as you are, be as, be as you are
Embrace yourself as you are, and let yourself be natural, pure and genuine.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ADAM FRIEDMAN, MIKE POSNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@danielsinache7164
Virginia Woolf and poetry
No one seemed to notice me
Being young was getting so old
Cheap beer and cigarettes
Life was like a movie set
And I seemed to be given no role
But in times of trouble
I can turn to my mother
And I know that she gon’ understand
So at age 18
I cried to my mother
And she told me, “young man”
“There are moments when you fall to the ground
But you are stronger than you feel you are now
You don’t always have to speak so loud, no
Just be as you are
Life is not always a comfortable ride
Everybody’s got scars that they hide
And everybody plays the fool sometimes, yeah
Just be as you are”
They played me on the radio
And everything was changing, so
I thought I was all the way grown
But I can still remember in that cold November
When I realized I’m all alone
But in times of trouble
I can turn to my mother
And I know that she gon’ understand
So at age 22
I cried to my mother
And she told me, “young man”
“There are moments when you fall to the ground
But you are stronger than you feel you are now
You don’t always have to speak so loud, no
Just be as you are
It doesn’t matter if you become some star
Life is better when you open your heart
You don’t always have to act so hard, no
Just be as you are”
If I’m speaking truthfully
I’m not who I used to be
And I know some people might laugh
‘Cause my music doesn’t sound the same
And my head’s no longer shaved
I’m worried if I’m on the right path
But in times of trouble
I can turn to my mother
And I know that she gon’ understand
So at age 26
I spoke to my mother
And she told me, “young man”
“There are moments when you fall to the ground
But you are stronger than you feel you are now
You don’t always have to speak so loud, no
Just be as you are
It doesn’t matter if you become some star
Life is better when you open your heart
You don’t always have to act so hard, no
Just be as you are”
Be as you are
@divyanshupathak2069
Lyrics
Virginia Woolf and poetry
No one seemed to notice me
Being young was getting so old
Cheap beer and cigarettes
Life was like a movie set
And I seemed to be given no role
But in times of trouble
I can turn to my mother
And I know that she gon' understand
So at age 18
I cried to my mother
And she told me, "young man"
"There are moments when you fall to the ground
But you are stronger than you feel you are now
You don't always have to speak so loud, no
Just be as you are
Life is not always a comfortable ride
Everybody's got scars that they hide
And everybody plays the fool sometimes, yeah
Just be as you are"
They played me on the radio
And everything was changing, so
I thought I was all the way grown
But I can still remember in that cold November
When I realized I'm all alone
But in times of trouble
I can turn to my mother
And I know that she gon' understand
So at age 22
I cried to my mother
And she told me, "young man"
"There are moments when you fall to the ground
But you are stronger than you feel you are now
You don't always have to speak so loud, no
Just be as you are
It doesn't matter if you become some star
Life is better when you open your heart
You don't always have to act so hard, no
Just be as you are"
"There are moments when you fall to the ground
But you are stronger than you feel you are now
You don't always have to speak so loud, no
Just be as you are
It doesn't matter if you become some star
Life is better when you open your heart
You don't always have to act so hard, no
Just be as you are"
@fridasalinas6433
Virginia Woolf and poetry
No one seemed to notice me
Being young was getting so old
Cheap beer and cigarettes
Life was like a movie set
And I seemed to be given no role
But in times of trouble
I can turn to my mother
And I know that she gon' understand
So at age 18
I cried to my mother
And she told me, "young man"
"There are moments when you fall to the ground
But you are stronger than you feel you are now
You don't always have to speak so loud, no
Just be as you are
Life is not always a comfortable ride
Everybody's got scars that they hide
And everybody plays the fool sometimes, yeah
Just be as you are"
They played me on the radio
And everything was changing, so
I thought I was all the way grown
But I can still remember in that cold November
When I realized I'm all alone
But in times of trouble
I can turn to my mother
And I know that she gon' understand
So at age 22
I cried to my mother
And she told me, "young man"
"There are moments when you fall to the ground
But you are stronger than you feel you are now
You don't always have to speak so loud, no
Just be as you are
It doesn't matter if you become some star
Life is better when you open your heart
You don't always have to act so hard, no
Just be as you are"
"There are moments when you fall to the ground
But you are stronger than you feel you are now
You don't always have to speak so loud, no
Just be as you are
It doesn't matter if you become some star
Life is better when you open your heart
You don't always have to act so hard, no
Just be as you are"
@crayons1584
Why don't they play the actual good, meaningful songs like this on the radio.
@Idiotman44
he doesnt spread the message that some people want the public to hear. i know i sound like a conspiracy theorist (which im not) but you really gotta wonder why radios only play songs about sex or drugs. let me love you by bieber is literally about rape. even mike posners i took a pill in ibiza, the original isnt about drugs but the remix has nulled people's ears and they only hear the catchy beat and not the meaningful lyrics. its clear that these songs that give people hope and make them feel happy isnt what people want.
@calvinprudhomme509
well they do play it on the radio now. And Alessia Cara's song Scars to your beautiful is another good one.
@glendaescobar4856
Dream Pop
@xxkarmaii0xx569
Dream Pop Noooooo BUTT
@lucreceanazar872
they do^... i came here because of that radio in our village^
@Vortexcreepy
99% of you will probably not read this but i hope you guys are all in a good mood and have a amazing day! :)
@bratislavljoljic4951
+Vortex i did:)
@vae6365
Thank u
@AS-im5gk
+Vortex people like you :) are the best :P