I Don't Want To Be

Gavin DeGraw

I don't need to be anything other
Than a prison guard's son
I don't need to be anything other
Than a specialist's son
I don't have to be anyone other
Than the birth of two souls in one
Part of where I'm going is knowing where I'm coming from

I don't want to be
Anything other than what I've been trying to be lately
All I have to do is think of me and I have peace of mind
I'm tired of looking 'round rooms
Wondering what I've got to do
Or who I'm supposed to be
I don't want to be anything other than me

I'm surrounded by liars everywhere I turn
I'm surrounded by impostors everywhere I turn
I'm surrounded by identity crisis everywhere I turn
Am I the only one who's noticed?
I can't be the only one who's learned

I don't want to be
Anything other than what I've been trying to be lately
All I have to do is think of me and I have peace of mind
I'm tired of looking 'round rooms
Wondering what I've got to do
Or who I'm supposed to be
I don't want to be anything other than me, ah

Can I have everyone's attention please?
If you're not like this and that, you're gonna have to leave
I came from the mountain
The crust of creation
My whole situation made from clay to stone
And now I'm telling everybody

I don't want to be
Anything other than what I've been trying to be lately
All I have to do is think of me and I have peace of mind
I'm tired of looking 'round rooms
Wondering what I've got to do
Or who I'm supposed to be
I don't want to be anything other than me

I don't want to be, hey yeah, hey yeah
I don't want to be, oh
I don't want to be
I don't want to be, anything
Anything other than me

(Hey yeah yeah yeah) I don't want to be
(Hey yeah yeah)
(Hey yeah yeah yeah) I don't want to be
(Hey yeah yeah)
(Hey yeah yeah yeah) I don't want to be
(Hey yeah yeah)
(Hey yeah yeah yeah) I don't want to be


Lyrics submitted by BlueAndStarry

I Don't Want to Be Lyrics as written by Gavin Degraw

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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I Don't Want To Be song meanings
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51 Comments

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  • +2
    General CommentThis song is about being yourself, but it also is saying to remember your roots and where you came from. Where he says part of where Im going, is knowing where Im coming from, that is so true in life, because to go further or advance, we have to remember where we first were and that we need to be true to ourselves and others.
    eaglesfan81on May 01, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI think it's kind of funny that this song about being yourself is the theme to a tv show that promotes every high school stereotype in the book. Just an observation.
    tumblweed15on April 18, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI think the song is about being yourself, but I think it is written from a celebrity form of view. That you don't have to change who you are to become famous or touch people with your work. When he says I am surrounded by liars, imposters, and identity crisis....think about how many fake people are in showbiz. The song is saying be true to yourslef even if people try to change you.
    GavinDegrawfan12on April 28, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI believe this song is pretty self-explanitory (Though I've heard several people say that it's about being OCD??), I think it's about being yourself, and not what anyone else is telling you to be, of course!

    Love this song! :)
    Belarmino1on October 14, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI love this song... I found out about Gavin right before One Tree Hill used this song for their show, but i still love hearing it anyways.
    This is such a good song to sing to in the car- it's def. about being accepting of yourself. I love this song. I'm suprised no one has commented yet. I<3 Gavin
    kristen86on April 12, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis song is about being you for you and not changing for anyone. It is used on the tv show, One Tree Hill. I love that show. I started watching the show mainly because they used Gavin has the theme song. I figured if they are using Gavin as the theme song the show cant be bad. I was right. The show is great and Gavin is beyond amazing. I love him to death!!
    Jess0628on April 14, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI think it's funny that this song about staying true to yourself is the theme song to a show that promotes every teenage stereotype in the book. Just an observation.
    tumblweed15on April 18, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti heard this song for the first song on One Tree Hill too only i dont watch it the theme song just struck me, so i bought the album and it is great.
    Kaylee828on May 27, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti first heard this song in between 2 shows on the station The-n and i instantly fell in love with it, even though its kinda popish i like it its very empowering to the kids in school, such as myself, who are trying to find themselves but are being pressured into trying to be something they're not
    alternagirlon July 03, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Commentgood interpretation...GavinDegrawfan12. I never thought about that song from that point of view.
    diegorockusaon September 21, 2004   Link

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