Davis Jr., Sammy - I've Gotta Be Me Lyrics






Whether I'm right or whether I'm wrong
Whether I find a place in this world or never belong
I gotta be me, I've gotta be me
What else can I be but what I am

I want to live, not merely survive
And I won't give up this dream
Of life that keeps me alive
I gotta be me, I gotta be me
The dream that I see makes me what I am

That far-away prize, a world of success
Is waiting for me if I heed the call
I won't settle down, won't settle for less
As long as there's a chance that I can have it all

I'll go it alone, that's how it must be
I can't be right for somebody else
If I'm not right for me
I gotta be free, I've gotta be free
Daring to try, to do it or die
I've gotta be me

I'll go it alone, that's how it must be
I can't be right for somebody else
If I'm not right for me
I gotta be free, I just gotta be free
Daring to try, to do it or die
I gotta be me





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Davis Jr., Sammy I've Gotta Be Me Comments
  1. D.... M....

    Hey. That's Mount Rainier in the back. I live in its shadow. Great background photo for this song!

  2. A.... ....

    Great Just great ! the Ab end note is amazing, I have been getting some songs together to do a ratpack tribute, and this is so good, I can not leave it out but man !!!!! its gonna be hard ¬!

  3. R.... I....

    I agree with Sammy

  4. F.... G....

    The Sammy Davis Jr equivalent of "My Way" from Frank Sinatra! Awesome!

  5. o.... ....

    I heard he was fingered

  6. S.... S....

    I shave better now !

  7. G.... T....

    that was amazing.

  8. ..... ....

    An old SCTV episode brought me. Solid gold.

  9. D.... S....

    "Me got to be blue!"

  10. S.... L....

    The anthem

  11. p.... ....

    Great song, spine tingling lyrics, wonderful melody capped off with that incredible voice. Brings back childhood memories as Sammy was my Dad's favourite. RIP Dad and Sammy. Thank you for posting

  12. C.... B....

    Just a great song..

  13. J.... A....

    I was brought here by one of Bobby Fischer’s anti semetic rants

  14. B.... M....

    What a talent he was ! RIP Sammy

  15. K.... M....

    oh yeah ? well i gotta take a shit .. checkmate Sammy

  16. �.... �....

    "I love it when everything just falls into place"

  17. c.... 8....

    One of the great old standards....Don't hear a big finish like this anymore....

  18. g.... j....

    Sammy & Nixon became friends. Sammy was loyal. Nixon, behind Sammy’s back called him the N word and was otherwise disrespectful. Many of Sammy’s followers labled him an Uncle Tom for supporting a Republican, racist, etc. On the other side of the coin, whenever Dr. MLK was jailed, it was Sammy who bailed him out. THIS SONG personified the man. An honorable man.

  19. R.... L....

    It is an AMAZING performance of a beautiful song.. Such an AWESOME BI-III-I-G -voice from a short in stature man. I always play "Guess the singer" with my family or myself while listening to the radio., and last time I guessed wrongly for SDJ. But this time I got it right. SAMMY ,YOU BEAUT!!!

  20. t.... s....

    Cring worthy lyrics. Not bad for a jazz croner. Not good either. Tony Bennett is the only one.

  21. S.... C....

    THE BEST VIDEO ON YOU TUBE

  22. M.... ....

    Look daddy I’m a farmer

  23. c.... ....

    I've known this song my whole life it dates b4 my birth but there is NO SONG more inspirational (and fun to sing in the shower) than this such a beautiful well done song. Loving it from when I was a lil girl to now a woman in my 30s thank u Sammy Davis. #Respect

  24. B.... D....

    tony clifton brought me here

  25. L.... H....

    Right on. Fuckin a.

  26. P.... B....

    The greatest all around entertainer who ever and will ever live!!

  27. W.... a....

    what a GREAT version :) tx

  28. S.... B....

    2:17: My favorite line: "I can't be right for somebody else if I'm not right for me."

    S.... B....

    So true Stephen , It says a whole lot

  29. T.... D....

    Sammy Davis Jr was one of the truly great talents. He was a terrific mimic and his impressions of other singers were so good that it’s hard, when hearing him take them off, that you’re not listening to the person he’s imitating. But his real personal voice is up there with the very best. Sammy had such a range to his voice, both with high and the low notes. This song was very much a showcase for his voice. The lyrics are a bit twee and I sometimes wonder if they’re right for him? But no one can sing this song as well as Sammy can.

    To this day I miss his humour and his slapstick style. He died much too young and we should all be grateful that we have the chance to hear him through his recordings. RIP Sammy. From one of your millions of adoring fans. 👍

  30. M.... A....

    Love it

  31. R.... A....

    I love Sammy! He's a wonderful Jewish man!

  32. C.... J....

    IMA SEXY BOY! DING DONG!!

  33. C.... W....

    Fan bloody tastic.

  34. F.... A....

    I was 15 years old 1968 when this great inspirational song came out thanks for posting this song:-)

    F.... A....

    Thank you never give up on your dreams

  35. A.... B....

    American Masters on PBS

  36. K.... B....

    I missed all of this, way before my time. I know the Rat Pack from movies, my favorites that had them in it were athe Cannonball Run movies. Dean and Sammy were so funny in those. Just watch a video in which Sammy, Frank and Dean sang with Johnny Carson. I didn't know Johnny could sing, damn he was good.

  37. A.... S....

    Awesome 👍 Dam good ,this song would do good in a Western movie

  38. J.... S....

    You are free. Judy

  39. M.... W....

    My first favorite song as kid playing from the radio on top of our refrigerstor in the mid-60's.

  40. B.... D....

    freddy got fingered brought me here : P

  41. W.... M....

    Devin The Dude brought me here.

  42. S.... B....

    No one sings this song better than Sammy 💗

  43. P.... ....

    A song that touches my soul, it's as if he only sang it for me, thanks Sammy, love you!

  44. L.... P....

    The background looks like a bob ross painting ahah

  45. B.... Y....

    Sammy Davis was truly an original. Love him!

  46. O.... ....

    Magnifique merci du partage

  47. M.... M....

    This is so damn good... I have not heard it in a long time, and could not believe how good that song is... What a tremendous talent he had!!! The background orchestra is awesome as well... Thank you for posting this!!!

  48. F.... B....

    before MJ there was the one and only world's greatest entertainer

  49. O.... C....

    "The Black Godfather" brought me here.👊

    O.... C....

    Yes!!!!

  50. d.... ....

    I honestly thought it was Robert Goulet when I first heard this song.

  51. e.... h....

    Oh so so wonderful!! I loved it when I first heard it back in the 60's!! He rawks! <3

  52. G.... B....

    Make your daddy proud, Gord

  53. S.... K....

    BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL SAMMY LOVE UR VOICE+THIS SONG IT BRINGS JOY TO MY HEART,LOVE LOVE THIS SONG🙌🙌🙌👌👌👌✌✌✌☝☝👏👏👏👏🐦🐦🐦☀😇😇🙌🌼🌞🌝👍👍👍

  54. J.... C....

    Wonderful singer.

  55. J.... R....

    Gives this one his all ! Just outstanding!

  56. M.... S....

    Puts the whole rat pack in the shade! He never got the acclaim of Martin or Sinatra and he deserved it!

  57. D.... N....

    Money pit contractors music 🎶

  58. s.... ....

    The greatest show-stopper of all time.

  59. M.... P....

    It is so sad no entertainer these days give us these melody no more.

  60. E.... B....

    I'm so happy I'm not the only the one that thought Frank Sinatra sang this. LOL 😂 here bc of dolla shave commercial

    E.... B....

    You oughta be a fucking idiot to think Frank sang this
    Frank and Sam sound nothing alike

  61. S.... W....

    The commercial sent me here too but I thought I was gonna see a white guy. No wonder why they loved him lol.

  62. C.... K....

    Freddy got fingered brought me here

  63. p.... ....

    Mobits!

  64. R.... ....

    I thought Frank sang this...I forgot Sammy was a great vocalist too.

  65. N.... J....

    This one is for Jon Klause!!!!!!!!

  66. E.... D....

    My favorite Sammy Davis song, he was so on it.
    Kudos to the drummer for keeping the pace steady and dead on.

  67. E.... C....

    Me 2 Edgar cruz lol I thought it was a white man at 1st then learned about Sammy:)

  68. R.... ....

    Candy Man Can

  69. A.... T....

    My mantra...play this at my funeral along with Frank Sinatra’s “I Did It My Way”

    A.... T....

    YAH YAH 🎶😄💕

  70. B.... D....

    And that is a great Dolly we're not talking about Carol Channing we're talking about Barbra Streisand now yep I'm going for Evergreen goodbye y'all

  71. B.... D....

    Where is Dolly Parton I'm going to go to Dollywood

  72. B.... D....

    Well this is become my chat room right now does anybody know what happened to Sandy chin who lives in Richmond it Chen thank you

  73. B.... D....

    Where's the Captain and tennille

  74. B.... D....

    Where's Jessica?

  75. B.... D....

    You see sometimes when I laugh I have Melinda gervais laugh and I have to find that woman

  76. B.... D....

    Linda Yervis where in the hell are you

  77. B.... D....

    Cars calling all cars be aware I'm looking for Mindy ervis know she was with Brent I mean bent did I say mint tea shut up damn it

  78. L.... ....

    The Money Pit sent me here. 🤘

  79. B.... F....

    I gotta be me.

  80. l.... ....

    Ghuhimtoroeue Xrsonriege nimtil mimto HTml .yororie einroeoeoe nintoeo pinomtoto espnroepeos ctdlbek ryeieiei Suslbd*8/✓√¶=¶ ADSESRA NINIKEI JOMIMROE NINRIR NINTIF P A I D ..NIMTOE 💶💸💵🈹💷🗓️💷㊗️💶™️㊗️

  81. S.... S....

    GO SAMMY , GO SAMMY , GO SAMMY WE LOVE YOU MAN !!!!!!!!!

  82. D.... T....

    The rat pack baby 👍

  83. J.... N....

    Didn't he die the same day as Jim Henson?

    J.... N....

    yes he did. They both died on 16 May 1990

  84. j.... c....

    I thought Steve Lawrence did a great job with this song, but Sammy really nailed it !

    j.... c....

    Steve did do a great job , Sammy just takes this to another level ! LOVE IT !

  85. J.... H....

    Wow Sammy, we miss you. Wherever you are I know you're you! So freaking special!

  86. C.... C....

    Wow. I am blown away by this man's talent. Sammy Davis Jr 🔥

  87. J.... A....

    BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  88. D.... H....

    Play this at my funeral.

    D.... H....

    I want it at mine too. I'm picking my music before I die, and I'll come back and haunt my family if they don't play it! The song at the end when the curtains close on my coffin going into the furnace is going to be Bring me Sunshine by Morecambe and Wise.

  89. A.... M....

    People thanking a commercial for using magnificent art to sell cheap razors.

  90. F.... H....

    i am finally here!

  91. A.... R....

    Very Sinatra-esque in the lower notes, but the strong finish leaves Sinatra far behind. One of Sammy Davis Jr's best renditions.

    A.... R....

    Andy Ross look up the Rat Pack. They were in a group together and the best of buds

    A.... R....

    To bring Sinatra in this discussion is ridiculous. They were two different singers. Sammy shined in live performance not as much in recording. Frank shined in both. Frank was Sammy's idol. However on stage, Sammy, along with Elvis were #1

  92. N.... M....

    Great song

  93. W.... H....

    Classical

  94. A.... L....

    Bravo Sammy

  95. D.... M....

    Best ever. Well done Sammy!!!!

  96. l.... ....

    CEAONEIA ARSONA NINTID INS *ON 8:+(40(:7 .. I AM AND PM IS Comroeoeoe Atsoneos m.*on 0:)㊗️🈂️💴🚾5️⃣🈚🆖🈳5️⃣💵💸💸💸

  97. d.... r....

    Thank you dollar shave

  98. D.... M....

    Dolla shave club commercial