It could have been great, it should have been awesome

We played a big show in downtown Toronto

Our friends were all there, the sound was weird but OK

The guest list was full, I was excited to play

But then what should have been just a simple misunderstanding

Became an unnecessarily scarily harsh reprimanding

When a bouncer discovered a bottle of booze

Backstage with our bags and our clothes and our shoes

He said “according to bylaw B-174

I'm entitled to throw you all right out the door”

He got a bit rough, we got a bit defensive

Both sides found the other side’s behaviour offensive

Eventually the situation more or less worked out ok

We got on the stage, we played and got paid

But I felt pretty confused as I went to bed

And then this little refrain ran through my head:

I am what I am, you are what you are

A show is a show, a bar is a bar

It can't all be caviar and champagne fizz

Sometimes it just is what it is

I am what I am, you are what you are

And when you wish upon a star

Pray to Allah or Yahweh

There's no promises

Sometimes it just is what it is

I woke up the next morning still wearing my clothes

I brushed my teeth, I yawned, I tried touching my toes

I started packing the van, then thought “forget it, I’ll wait -

The world probably won't end if we're a little bit late

I tried to restrain my natural urge to turn molehills into mountains

To forget keeping score if it's just me that's counting

I've never been a Buddhist but I like their whole deal

About detachment and compassion and something about a wheel

It's like that old saying about bones stones and sticks

Pricks will be pricks, dicks will be dicks

But just like the water off a duck's back

I’m not going to worry about that

Let the actors handle the drama, the hype and the hoopla

Let out a low ‘ha-ha’ amidst the brouhaha

There are some things I can't control

And these are the things I love the most

You are what you are, I am what I am

They say the Great Dancer laughs while we’re making our plans

So swing with me grandma, sing with me kids

It is what it is what it is what it is

It is what it is, it'll be what it'll be

Que sera sera and hey, c'est la vie

Mais ecoutez-moi, monsieur et madame

You are what you are and I am what I am