I Take a Lot Of Pride In What I Am - Merle Haggard

Things I learned in hobo jungle were things they never taught me in a class room

Like where to find a hand out while bummin' through Chicago in the afternoon

Now I’m not braggin' or complainin' I’m just talkin' to myself man to man

This ol' mental fat I’m chewin' didn’t take a lotta doin'

But I take a lot of pride in what I am

I guess I grew up a loner I don’t remember ever havin' any folks around

But I keep thumbin' through the phone books

And looking for my daddy’s name in every town

And I meet lots of friendly people but I’ll always line up leavin' on the lam

Hey where I’ve been or where I’m goin' didn’t take a lotta knowin'

But I take a lot of pride in what I am

I never travel in a hurry cause I’ve got nobody waitin' for me anywhere

Home is anywhere I’m livin' if it’s sleepin' on some vacant bench in City Square

Or if I’m workin' on some road gang or just livin' off the fat of our great land

I’ve never been nobody’s idol but at least I got a title

And I take a lot of pride in what I am

I’ve never been nobody’s idol but at least I got a title

And I take a lot of pride in what I am I take a lot of pride in what I am