I Am What I Am is the sixty-second studio album by American country music artist Merle Haggard. It was released on April 20, 2010 by Vanguard Records. The album peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
The final song, “It's Gonna Be Me,” was only released on Amazon.com, despite having received positive review as a song which stands out with a heavy bass line and social-critical lyrics.Best Music Writing 2010 p240 "One tune, called “It's Gonna Be Me,” stands out with its heavy bass line and lyrics that stake Haggard's claim to singing about what's wrong with the country today. “Who's gonna say the people's mad?” he growls. “Who's gonna say the music's .."
Track listing All songs written by Merle Haggard except where noted. "I've Seen It Go Away" – 3:00 "Pretty When It's New" – 3:12 "Oil Tanker Train" – 3:02 "Live and Love Always" – 2:30 "The Road to My Heart" (Freddy Powers) – 2:50 "How Did You Find Me Here" (M. Haggard, Theresa Lane Haggard) – 3:55 "We're Falling in Love Again" – 3:31 "Bad Actor" (Doug Colosio, M. Haggard, Scott Joss) – 3:28 "Down at the End of the Road" – 3:10 "Stranger in the City" – 2:09 "Mexican Bands" – 3:27 "I Am What I Am" – 2:38 "It's Gonna Be Me" – 3:27 (Amazon exclusive)
Personnel Merle Haggard - fiddle, guitar, lead vocals, background vocals Norm Hamlet - steel guitar Biff Adam - bass guitar, drums Don Markham - trumpet Gary Church - trombone Red Lane - guitar Doug Colosio - piano Ben Haggard - drums, guitar, soloist, background vocals Theresa Lane Haggard - lead and background vocals Tim Howard - guitar, soloist Rob Ickes - Dobro Scott Joss - fiddle, guitar, background vocals George Receli - drums, percussion, background vocals Reggie Young - guitar
Chart performance Chart (2010) Peakposition
References