Who I Am – English Lyrics

• By: Alex Warren
• Album: You'll Be Alright, Kid

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the raw honesty of Alex Warren's "Who I Am," a poignant ballad that encourages listeners to explore themes of self-discovery and personal identity. Through its relatable lyrics and heartfelt emotion, this song offers a unique opportunity to connect with the English language in a deeply personal way, as Warren candidly shares his journey of understanding who he is.

[English]

I make the joke first so nobody can beat me to the punchline

Is it sad I like making people laugh so I don't cry?

Shapeshifter, tryna make it all work

Keep coming in last, putting everyone first

It's not enough, no matter what I do

So, tell me, tell me, tell me

Who I am to you

I try to be who you wanted me to

And if I change, would you still love me?

'Cause I think I'm still becoming

Who I am

And what if I'm, what if I'm somebody you never knew?

You miss a lot when you're way too busy making ends meet

You think I forgot who I was, but I haven't even met me

You know how much I love making you smile

Can't you see I haven't seen mine in a while?

It's not enough, no matter what I do

So, tell me, tell me, tell me

Who I am to you (Tell me, tell me)

I try to be who you wanted me to (Tell me, tell me)

And if I change, would you still love me?

'Cause I think I'm still becoming

Who I am

And what if I'm, what if I'm somebody you never knew?

I need to let somebody down, but I'm somebody

I'm somebody

I need to let somebody down, but I'm somebody

I'm somebody

I need to let somebody down, but I'm somebody

I'm somebody

I need to let somebody down

So, tell me, tell me, tell me

Who I am to you (Tell me, tell me)

I try to be who you wanted me to (Tell me, tell me)

And if I change, would you still love me?

'Cause I think I'm still becoming

Who I am

And what if I'm, what if I'm somebody you never knew?

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
joke /dʒoʊk/ A2	noun - something said or done to cause laughter verb - to make jokes
punchline /ˈpʌntʃ.laɪn/ B2	noun - the final phrase or sentence of a joke or story, providing the climax or a surprising or amusing twist
sad /sæd/ A1	adjective - feeling or showing sorrow; unhappy
laugh /læf/ A2	verb - to make the sounds and movements of the face and body that show that you are amused noun - the act or sound of laughing
cry /kraɪ/ A2	verb - to produce tears from your eyes, usually because you are unhappy or hurt noun - a sound made when crying; a shout or call
shapeshifter /ˈʃeɪpˌʃɪftər/ C1	noun - a mythological figure or folk character who can transform itself into different forms (in the lyrics, metaphorical for changing personality)
first /fɜːrst/ A1	adjective - coming before all others in time, order, or importance adverb - before anything else; for the first time
last /læst/ A1	adjective - coming after all others in time or order; final adverb - after all others; on the last occasion before now
enough /ɪˈnʌf/ A2	adjective - as much or as many as required noun - an adequate quantity or number
tell /tel/ A1	verb - to communicate information, a story, or a fact to someone
want /wɑːnt/ A1	verb - to desire or wish for (something) noun - a lack or deficiency of something
change /tʃeɪndʒ/ A2	verb - to make or become different noun - the act or process of making or becoming different
love /lʌv/ A1	verb - to feel a deep romantic or sexual attachment to (someone) noun - an intense feeling of deep affection
become /bɪˈkʌm/ A2	verb - to begin to be; to turn into
know /noʊ/ A1	verb - to have information or understanding about (something); to be familiar with
miss /mɪs/ A2	verb - to fail to hit, reach, or catch (something); to feel the absence or loss of (someone or something)
busy /ˈbɪzi/ A2	adjective - occupied with work or activity
meet /miːt/ A1	verb - to come into the presence or company of (someone); to come into contact with (something); to satisfy (a requirement or condition)
smile /smaɪl/ A2	verb - to form one's features into a pleased, kind, or amused expression noun - a pleased, kind, or amused facial expression
make /meɪk/ A1	verb - to form something by putting parts together or combining substances; to cause to exist or happen

Key Grammar Structures

• Is it sad I like making people laugh so I don't cry?

  ➔ Purpose Clause with 'so'

  ➔ The clause "so I don't cry" indicates the purpose or result of the action (making people laugh). "So" is often followed by a subject + modal verb (can/could, may/might, will/would) or a simple present/past tense to express purpose.

• Keep coming in last, putting everyone first

  ➔ Phrasal Verb 'Keep + Gerund'

  ➔ The structure "keep + gerund" ("coming") means to continue doing an action. It emphasizes the continuous nature of the activity.

• It's not enough, no matter what I do

  ➔ Concessive Clause with 'no matter what'

  ➔ "No matter what" introduces a concessive clause, meaning "regardless of what" or "even if it is the case that". It expresses that something is true or happens despite any circumstance.

• Who I am to you

  ➔ Noun Clause (Indirect Question)

  ➔ "Who I am" is a noun clause functioning as the object of an implied verb (e.g., "tell me"). It's an indirect question where the subject-verb order is not inverted (unlike a direct question "Who am I?").

• I try to be who you wanted me to

  ➔ Implied Verb (Ellipsis)

  ➔ In "who you wanted me to", the verb "be" is implied after "to", avoiding repetition of "who you wanted me to be". This is common with verbs like "want", "ask", "tell", followed by "to + (implied verb)".

• And if I change, would you still love me?

  ➔ First Conditional

  ➔ This is a Type 1 conditional sentence. The "if" clause ("if I change") uses the present simple, and the main clause ("would you still love me?") uses "will/would" + base verb to talk about a real or very likely future situation and its consequence.

• 'Cause I think I'm still becoming

  ➔ Present Continuous for Ongoing Process

  ➔ The present continuous tense ("I'm still becoming") is used to describe an action or state that is in progress or developing at the time of speaking, emphasizing its ongoing and incomplete nature.

• And what if I'm, what if I'm somebody you never knew?

  ➔ 'What if...' (Hypothetical Situation)

  ➔ The phrase "what if" introduces a hypothetical question or suggestion about a possible future or imaginary situation. It asks about the consequences of that situation.

• I need to let somebody down

  ➔ Phrasal Verb 'let down'

  ➔ "Let down" is a phrasal verb meaning to disappoint someone or fail to provide support or help to them. Phrasal verbs combine a verb with a preposition or an adverb (or both) to create a new meaning.