Realists

It could have been great, it should have been awesome We played a big show in downtown Toronto Our friends were all there, the sound was weird but OK, The guest list was full, I was excited to play But then what should have been just a simple misunderstanding Became an unnecessarily scarily harsh reprimanding When a bouncer discovered a bottle of booze Backstage with our bags and our clothes and our shoes He said "according to bylaw B-174, I'm entitled to throw you all right out the door" He got a bit rough, we got a bit defensive, Both sides found the other side's behaviour offensive Eventually the situation more or less worked out ok We got on the stage, we played and got paid But I felt pretty confused as I went to bed And then this little refrain ran through my head: I am what I am, you are what you are A show is a show, a bar is a bar It can't all be caviar and champagne fizz Sometimes it just is what it is I am what I am, you are what you are And when you wish upon a star, Pray to Allah or Yahweh There's no promises Sometimes it just is what it is I woke up the next morning still wearing my clothes I brushed my teeth, I yawned, I tried touching my toes I started packing the van, then thought "forget it, I'll wait - The world probably won't end if we're a little bit late I tried to restrain my natural urge to turn molehills into mountains To forget keeping score if it's just me that's counting I've never been a Buddhist but I like their whole deal About detachment and compassion and something about a wheel It's like that old saying about bones stones and sticks Pricks will be pricks, dicks will be dicks But just like the water off a duck's back I'm not going to worry about that Let the actors handle the drama, the hype and the hoopla Let out a low 'ha-ha' amidst the brouhaha There are some things I can't control And these are the things I love the most You are what you are, I am what I am They say the Great Dancer laughs while we're making our plans So swing with me grandma, sing with me kids, It is what it is what it is what it is It is what it is, it'll be what it'll be Que sera sera and hey, c'est la vie Mais ecoutez-moi, monsieur et madame You are what you are and I am what I am