Who I Was Born To Be

Album: I Dreamed A Dream (2009)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is the one original composition on the I Dreamed a Dream album.
  • Boyle said of this song: "Ambition, fate, call it what you will, but who was I born to be? Mum must have picked this for me."
  • The song features the gospel group The LJ Singers led by Lawrence Johnson on the final verse.
  • This piano ballad was written by Oklahoma singer/songwriter Audra Mae. Until she got this song placed on I Dreamed a Dream, her biggest claim to fame was being the grandniece of famed Hollywood icon Judy Garland. For this track she hooked up with Swedish production/songwriter trio Play Production who sent her the chords and melody for a song they said was intended for Boyle's album. She told MTV News how she achieved her big break: "I knew it needed to be a song that made sense for her to sing, so I went online and researched her and her life and found out how she got to be where she is, and it came from that. I knew it needed to be something that she could be proud to sing. Almost like a mantra - and I'm thrilled that she liked it enough to put it on the album. The cool thing is that she symbolizes real talent above anything else, above a show with pyrotechnics, a hot body... she's f---ing talented and it's really awesome to be a part of that."

Comments: 2

  • Catherine A from Oshawa On CanadaI've played this song numerous times and I love it more and more. Susan Boyle is a true hidden gem that deserves all of Who She Was Meant To Be!!
  • Jessica from Bangor, Mei must say that she is not the best looking woman but she has an amazing voice and talent and i definetly respect her for this.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Edie Brickell

Edie BrickellSongwriter Interviews

Edie Brickell on her collaborations with Paul Simon, Steve Martin and Willie Nelson, and her 2021 album with the New Bohemians.

Rick Springfield

Rick SpringfieldSongwriter Interviews

Rick has a surprising dark side, a strong feminine side and, in a certain TV show, a naked backside. But he still hasn't found Jessie's Girl.

Pam Tillis

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

90s Music Quiz 1

90s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

First question: Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson appeared in videos for what artist?

Colin Hay

Colin HaySongwriter Interviews

Established as a redoubtable singer-songwriter, the Men At Work frontman explains how religion, sobriety and Jack Nicholson play into his songwriting.

They Might Be Giants

They Might Be GiantsSongwriter Interviews

Who writes a song about a name they found in a phone book? That's just one of the everyday things these guys find to sing about. Anything in their field of vision or general scope of knowledge is fair game. If you cross paths with them, so are you.