| I Don't Want to Be Who I Am |
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I DON'T WANT TO BE WHO I AM FINAL LYRICS
Carlene Thissen and Barbara Meyers
VERSE 1
We were laughing through life together
Gonna stay best friends forever
'loved her red hair and her know-it-all grin
All our dreams were about to begin
Late one night, speeding along
Wind in our hair, we were singing our song
I saw a flash of light, slammed on the brake,
Her scream told me I'd hit it too late
CHORUS 1
Now I don't want to be who I am
I blew through a stoplight
Hit a truck broadside
And killed my best friend
I don't want to be who I am
VERSE 2
At her grave one day I sat and I cried
Then I met a man whose son had died
He said, "Death is something we can't change,
It's life we have to rearrange."
He made me see, I have to move on
Crying in the rain out here is just wrong
(I've) gotta square my shoulders, accept the blame
Step away from the guilt and shame
CHORUS 2
I have to be who I am
Though I blew through a stoplight
Hit a truck broadside
And lost my best friend
I have to be who I am
BRIDGE
Then the sun came out, and everything changed
He faded away, with a know-it-all grin
I'm still here, even though she's gone
I try to hear her voice when I'm singin' our song
CHORUS 3
I'll learn to be who I am
I know 'til the end
She'll be holding my hand
She's still my best friend
I'll learn to be who I am
I'll learn to be who I am.
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Lyrics Credits: Carlene Thissen, Barbara Meyers
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Music Credits: Carlene Thissen
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Producer Credits: Carlene Thissen
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Performance Credits: Susan Ford, Carlene Thissen
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Short Song Description:
The driver of a vehicle is out with her best friend. They are in an accident and the friend is killed. Song tells the story of coming back from that and the bond between the two friends that isn't severed by death.
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Long Song Description:
Two best friends on the verge of adulthood believe all their dreams are about to begin when one of them is killed in a car accident while the other is driving. The driver does not want to be the person she's become--someone responsible for her best friend's death. She has no choice but to learn to cope with the changes in her life. She meets a man at the cemetery who helps her to understand that she has to move on and live her life without her friend. As he leaves she notices similarities between him and her friend and believes he was sent to give her a message. She realizes her friend will always be with her and the guilt and pain is holding her back, but that's not what her friend would want for her. With the belief that her friend is always there with her, she begins to heal.
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Story Behind the Song:
The daughter of one of the lyricists lost control of her car at age sixteen, hit a tree and her best friend was killed. The title refers to how it feels to be the person driving when someone else is killed in an accident that is essentially your fault. Daughter escaped with minor physical injuries and was charged with reckless driving, then had to learn to deal with the aftermath of the accident in order to move forward and live her life. Part of that healing process is knowing that her friend is always with her and she makes choices so that her friend would be proud of whose she's become and what she's accomplished.
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Song Length: 3:37
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Primary Genre: Folk-Contemporary
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Secondary Genre: Pop-General
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Tempo: Medium Slow (91 - 110)
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Lead Vocal: Female Vocal
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Subject Matter 1: Life
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Subject Matter 2: Regret
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Mood 1: Poignant
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Mood 2: Moving
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Similar Artist 1: Adele
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Similar Artist 2: Sarah Mclachlan
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Era: 2000 and later
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