"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.

The song received positive reviews from critics who praised Young's vocal performance and James Stroud's production for saving the bland lyrics.

An accompanying music video for the song, directed by Chris Hicky, features Young at a bus stop making a call to God through a phone booth to help him find his former girlfriend.

Juli Thanki of Engine 145 gave the song a "thumbs up," saying that while "some lyrics are a little too bland to be particularly moving," that "Young sells it, truly sounding as though he’s at the end of his rope and praying to anyone who’ll listen."

Thanki also described Young's vocal performance as "slightly reminiscent" of Keith Whitley and "the best voice to hit commercial country since Josh Turner.