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Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
Gil Scott-Heron
Vocals
Brian Jackson
Electric Piano
Bernard Purdie
Drums
Burt Jones
Electric Guitar
Hubert Laws
Saxophone
Johnny Pate
Conductor
Ron Carter
Bass
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Gil Scott-Heron
Composer
Brian Jackson
Composer
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Bob Simpson
Mixing Engineer
Bob Thiel
Producer
Hall Ray
Mixing Engineer
Lillian Seyfert
Assistant Producer
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
You always go out of your way to impress me
Don't you know by now
Ain't no need to impress me
I'm impressed every time you smile
When I feel like you mean to smile
'Cause you can be so very beautiful
When you are who you are
[Verse 2]
Every morning when you wake up
You put on a new disguise
How long did you think it would take me to realize?
Girl, the things you were ain't real
You never tell me just how you feel
Girl, you could be so very beautiful
When you are who you are
[Verse 3]
People never seem to want to be themselves
So they end up running in circles, confused
Yes, confused
Just like everyone else
[Verse 4]
Come on, Alberto
[Verse 5]
Every morning when you wake up
You put on a new disguise
Just how long did you think it would take me to realize?
That the things you were ain't real
You never tell me just how you feel
When you could be so very beautiful
When you are who you are, yeah
When you are who you are, yeah
Oh, when you are who you are, yeah
Oh, when you are who you are, yeah
When you are who you are
Get it, get it, get it, get it
Get it, get it, get it
[Verse 6]
Oh, when you are who you are, yeah
Oh, when you are who you are, yeah
Oh, when you are who you are, yeah
Oh, when you are who you are
Written by: Brian Jackson, Gil Scott-Heron