"The Man I Want to Be" is a song written by Brett James and Tim Nichols, and recorded by American country music artist Chris Young. It was released in November 2009 as the third single and title track from his album The Man I Want to Be (2009). The song is about the singer wanting to change who he is to make amends to a former lover. The accompanying music video for the song was directed by Chris Hicky. The video features Young at a bus stop making a call to God through a phone booth to help him find his former girlfriend.