When I was in the fourth grade and all the other girls
were worrying about their weight
and straightening their curls
I was busy insect hunting with pockets full of dirt
wearing a leotard underneath my hand made skirt
A group of girls confronted me how could I act this way
with a rolly polly in each hand I could only shrug and say

"It's just the way that I am, just the way that I am."
And I say "Love it or leave it you better believe it,
It's just the way that I am, just the way that I am."

Later on I had this horrible experience they call Junior High
The kids all act like assholes and I just couldn't figure out why.
They used to call me fat although I was just a little chunky.
They called me Monkey Girl, just for dancing like a little monkey.
Well I stuck my thumbs in my ears wiggled fingers to the sky.
I didn't hear what they said next because I said
"Well I am just the way that I am, don't you know that I'm just the way that I am."

And I told them "Love it or leave it you better believe it,
I'm just the way that I am, just the way that I am."

You know the only reason that I can be like me,
Is that all of the people that I love, well they like me,
just the way that I am, they like me just the way that I am.

Don't you know in my adult life,
well it can still get in the way,
like when I practice fearsome faces in the windows of the MTA,
or when I show up to work with my pet rat Mr. Cheddar,
or simply enjoy my life because I strive each day to make it better.
When my weirdness starts to cause all the normals consternation
When my weirdness starts to cause all the normals consternation
I say less as an excuse than as an explanation,

"I'm just the way that I am, don't you know that I'm just the way that I am."
And I say "Love it or leave it you better believe it,
I'm just the way that I am, just the way that I am."