The Way I am

The second single from Eminem’s The Marshall Mathers LP, also featured on his 2005 album Curtain Call: The Hits In the tradition of most of Eminem’s follow-up singles, “The Way I Am” features a much darker and emotionally driven sound than the album’s lead single, “The Real Slim Shady”. However, “The Way I Am” was actually recorded before “The Real Slim Shady”, as a direct result of the record company putting pressure on Em to create a poppy first single for the album. The song has also been remixed by Danny Lohner featuring Marilyn Manson, who has performed the song with Eminem live on stage. It’s worth noting somewhere that this is one of the only rap songs to rely heavily on anapestic tetrameter— four anapestic feet (da da DUM) per line. In fact, the entire track except the hook uses this meter. Anapestic tetrameter is more familiar from comic poetry, as in Twas the night before Christmas, Yertle the Turtle, and other Doctor Seuss stories–meaning that this form is not suited for the anger Em expresses in this rap, but being controversial is what he does best.

[Segue from "Steve Berman (Skit)"] ...Man, whatever [Intro] Dre, just let it run Ayo, turn the beat up a little bit Ayo This song is for anyone... Fuck it, just shut up and listen Ayo [Verse 1] I sit back with this pack of Zig-Zag's and this bag Of this weed, it gives me the shit needed to be The most meanest MC on this... on this Earth And since birth I've been cursed with this curse to just curse And just blurt this berserk and bizarre shit that works And it sells and it helps in itself to relieve All this tension, dispensin' these sentences Gettin' this stress that's been eatin' me recently off Of this chest and I rest again peacefully (Peacefully) But at least have the decency in you To leave me alone, when you freaks see me out In the streets when I'm eatin' or feedin' my daughter To not come and speak to me (Speak to me), I don't know you And no, I don't owe you a motherfuckin' thing I'm not Mr. N'Sync, I'm not what your friends think I'm not Mr. Friendly, I can be a prick If you tempt me, my tank is on empty (Is on empty) No patience is in me and if you offend me I'm liftin' you ten feet (Liftin' you ten feet) in the air I don't care who was there and who saw me just jaw you Go call you a lawyer, file you a lawsuit I'll smile in the courtroom and buy you a wardrobe I'm tired of all you (Of all you), I don't mean to be mean But that's all I can be, it's just me [Chorus] And I am whatever you say I am If I wasn't, then why would I say I am? In the paper, the news, every day I am Radio won't even play my jam 'Cause I am whatever you say I am If I wasn't, then why would I say I am? In the paper, the news, every day I am I don't know, that's just the way I am [Verse 2] Sometimes I just feel like my father, I hate to be bothered With all of this nonsense, it's constant And, "Oh, it's his lyrical content The song 'Guilty Conscience' has gotten such rotten responses." And all of this controversy circles me And it seems like the media immediately Points a finger at me (Finger at me) So I point one back at 'em, but not the index or pinkie Or the ring or the thumb, it's the one you put up When you don't give a fuck, when you won't just put up With the bullshit they pull, 'cause they full of shit too When a dude's gettin' bullied and shoots up his school And they blame it on Marilyn (On Marilyn) and the heroin Where were the parents at? And look where it's at! Middle America, now it's a tragedy Now it's so sad to see, an upper-class city Havin' this happenin' (This happenin') then attack Eminem 'cause I rap this way (Rap this way) but I'm glad 'Cause they feed me the fuel that I need for the fire to burn And it's burnin', and I have returned [Chorus] And I am whatever you say I am If I wasn't, then why would I say I am? In the paper, the news, every day I am Radio won't even play my jam 'Cause I am whatever you say I am If I wasn't, then why would I say I am? In the paper, the news, every day I am I don't know, that's just the way I am [Verse 3] I'm so sick and tired of bein' admired That I wish that I would just die or get fired And dropped from my label, let's stop with the fables I'm not gonna be able to top a "My Name Is" And pigeon-holed into some poppy sensation To cop me rotation at rock 'n' roll stations And I just do not got the patience (Got the patience) To deal with these cocky Caucasians Who think I'm some wigger who just tries to be black 'cause I talk With an accent and grab on my balls so they always Keep askin' the same fuckin' questions (Fuckin' questions) What school did I go to, what hood I grew up in The why, the who, what, when, the where and the how 'Til I'm grabbin' my hair and I'm tearin' it out 'Cause they drivin' me crazy (Drivin' me crazy), I can't take it I'm racin', I'm pacin', I stand and I sit And I'm thankful for every fan that I get But I can't take a shit in the bathroom without Someone standin' by it! (Standin' by it) No, I won't sign your autograph You can call me an asshole, I'm glad [Chorus] 'Cause I am whatever you say I am If I wasn't, then why would I say I am? In the paper, the news, every day I am Radio won't even play my jam 'Cause I am whatever you say I am If I wasn't, then why would I say I am? In the paper, the news, every day I am I don't know, that's just the way I am [Produced by Eminem]