I Don't Want to Be

"I Don't Want to Be" is a song by Gavin DeGraw appearing on his 2003 debut album Chariot. It was released as a single in Australia in 2004, and in the UK in 2005.

The single became Gavin DeGraw's biggest hit to date, mainly due to the premiere of One Tree Hill, of which the song is the opening theme. peaking at number ten in the U.S. in early-2005, and was certified Double Platinum, having sold over 2,000,000 paid downloads. It is also DeGraw's only single to break the UK Top 40.

Trivia

Shiri Appleby was featured in the 2004 music video, opposite Scott Mechlowicz. According to DeGraw, this song got him out of college debt.

Track listing

1. "I Don't Want to Be" (Album version)
2. "I Don't Want to Be" (Stripped version)
3. "Just Friends" (Album version)
4. "I Don't Want to Be" (Video)

Chart positions

Use in media

• The song appears in the game, Karaoke Revolution Party, and is available as part of the downloadable content in the game Karaoke Revolution: American Idol Encore.
• DeGraw performs the song on a Season 1 episode of One Tree Hill. He returned for the season 5 finale to perform the song with Jackson Brundage, who portrays James Lucas Scott on the show.
• Many American Idol contestants have sung "I Don't Want to Be" on the show, including Matt Giraud and Michael Sarver (both from Season 8), Chris Richardson (from Season 6) , Elliott Yamin (from Season 5), Bo Bice (from season 4), and Casey James (from season 9).
• In the most recent season of One Tree Hill, several artists are covering it for this season's theme music, including Spinnerette, Against Me!, Kate Voegele, Susie Suh and Patrick Stump.