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 anything 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 imposters everywhere I turn
I'm surrounded by identity crisis everywhere I turn
Am I the only one who 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

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 situtaion-made from clay to stone
And now I'm telling everybody
I don't want to be
Anything other that 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, I don't want to be
I don't want to be, I don't want to be anything
Anything other than me



Lyrics submitted by BlueAndStarry

Track duration: 03:38

"I Dont Want to Be" as written by Gavin Degraw

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group

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I Don't Want To Be song meanings
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49 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:Is it just me, or is this song incredibly reminiscent of Orwell's classic book "Nineteen Eighty-Four"?

    "Part of where I'm going is knowing where I'm coming from" - Winston's fight against doublethink
    "Am I the only one who noticed? I can't be the only one who's learned!" - the search for the Brotherhood
    "All I have to do is think of me and I have peace of mind" - the idea that freedom of identity trumps physical rule
    "Tired of looking round rooms wondering what I've gotta do and who I'm supposed to be" - the act for the telescreens
    "I don't want to be anything other than me" - avoidance of the Party's conformity
    Flag davidspencer6174on June 27, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:the intro guitar is such a ripoff of Stone Temple Pilot's Vasoline

    seriously its the same...

    btw vasoline came out practically ten years before I dont want to be
    Flag happygenocideon August 02, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I 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! :)
    Flag Belarmino1on October 13, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I <3 Gavin Degraw!!! and this song!!!
    Flag kirajoon May 01, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this has always been one of my favorite songs, i actully just found out that this is my boyfriends cousin, which is realy cool.

    anyways i think this song is about just being true to yourself.
    people all around him are trying to change him but he doesnt wanna change, he wants to stay true to himself.
    no matter what image or style people want you to have you just need to be yourself.
    dont be anything they want you to be,
    just be your own person.
    simple as that.
    Flag untoldstoriesx3on October 19, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment: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 around rooms wondering what I gotta do
    Or who I’m supposed to be
    I don’t want to be anything other than me


    ....Really give me confidence that i'm right when I say I don't want to be anyone other than me. That we should try to be like no one but ourselves. Be individuals, and just be happy even if being ourselves sometimes doesnt always lead you down an easy path. Most of the time its easier to just follow the crowd.....but I think its more fun being a stand out...even when half the time you dont know what anythings about ....things are so much greater than you.
    Flag bttr2gthr55on September 30, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Sound like a classic OCD to me...
    Flag unexplained28on July 27, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I don’t have to be anyone other than the birth of two souls in one

    is he a twin?
    Flag frumstickon July 27, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I heard Chariot in a restaurant, just barely loud enough to hear on the radio. I loved it, and I just love the other songs I've heard by him.

    Of course, this song is sort of self-explanitory. With everyone following trends and being the same, he wants to be different than everyone.
    Flag *DeGraw*rocks*on April 08, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Isn't this about being schizophrenic?
    Flag unexplained28on February 25, 2007   Link

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