 The music and lyrics for the musical were composed and written by Walter Marks in 1967; the production featured a book by Ernest Kinoy.This song was listed in the musical as "I've Got to Be Me", and it was sung by Lawrence's character Larry Davis at the end of the first act.Lawrence released the song as a single in 1967, and the following year it hit number six on the "Billboard" Easy Listening chart, with little or no support from traditional Top 40 radio.