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