I couldn’t stay young forever

I couldn’t hide from knowledge

I couldn’t keep from aging on.

I can’t make as a wise man

I couldn’t be an epoch of faith

I don’t know all the answers

This is how I know who I am.

I couldn’t make it as a good man

I can’t cut it as an evil worker

I can’t even be just neutral now.

I don’t know what I’m to be

I don’t have all the answers

I can’t give all you want now

This is how I know who I am.

I don’t wanna be a rich man

I don’t wanna be a poor man

I can’t image bein’ blind and dumb

But I don’t think I know why.

I can’t make it as a writer

I couldn’t be what I’ve dreamed

I just want to be what I am.

I wanna try to be a good man

I wanna try and make it count

I wanna be what it is I dreamed.

I know that all I have can’t be

I know what I want is out of reach

I can’t imagine how my love works

This is how I know who I am.

I can’t live while I’m a dead man

I can’t dream while I’m still wakin’

I can’t see while my eyes are closed

But I see what I know you don’t!

I see what lies beyond myself here

I see why you treat me this way

I can’t be what it is you want me!

This is how I know who I am:

I live like I want to be and can

I do what I can to scrape by here

I live the way you don’t want me

I show you how you hate me

I dream while I’m sleeping now

I just wanna be what I am,

But why can’t you let me?