My friend Samantha is a transgender lady. She mused that she didn't know a song with her name in it. "I could try and write one for you," I said. "Tell me me about your name." This is what she told me:
VS I
In Glennfield, the first female cop was my mom
Conservative-tough to dad’s liberal-calm
Before I was born, mom and dad thought they’d call me Samantha
Then when I got home the certificate came
With my suitable masculine biblical name
Though I try to explain, they do not seem to hear
I’m Samantha
CH I
I am Samantha. I am Samantha. I am Samantha.
VS II
I marry and move to New York, study writing
We never have sex and we’re constantly fighting
I go to the church, filled with shame, and explain I’m Samantha
And that I keep my legs shaved in case there’s a day
I can go out at last as myself
And they tell me to pray
And they send me to counseling to kill off Samantha
CH II
But I am Samantha. I am Samantha. I am Samantha
BRIDGE
I can no longer feel. I can no long write
I leave a note. But I’m found alive
And taken to Harlem, blue flickering light
Oh Samantha, oh Samantha
VS III
I go back to Glennfield, and say what till now was unsaid to them
Mom breaks down crying and hugs me, and Dad says I’m dead to him
I’ve lost a lot to have made it this far
I am not broken or bad or bizarre
When you have kids you can’t choose who they are
I’m Samantha, always Samantha
Chorus III
I am Samantha. I am Samantha. I am Samantha. I am Samantha
Tag
I sign the paper, the beautiful paper, Samantha Samantha
It says I’m Samantha
I am Samantha
*****************
Written and performed by Benjamin Scheuer
Audio engineered & mixed by Robin Baynton
Director: Alex Stenhouse http://www.alexstenhouse.com
Director of Photography: Ben Davies - https://bristoldp.co.uk/
2nd AC: Tom Crane
Edit/Colour: Alex Stenhouse
Scheuer's album Songs From THE LION can be heard here:
iTunes: http://smarturl.it/SongsFromTHELION_IT
Spotify: http://smarturl.it/SongsFromTHELION_SP
Amazon: http://smarturl.it/SongsFromTHELION_AZ
Follow Benjamin Scheuer
http://www.BenjaminScheuer.com
Twitter: http://smarturl.it/BenjaminScheuerTw
Instagram: http://smarturl.it/BenjaminScheuerIn
Facebook: http://smarturl.it/BenjaminScheuerFB
Benjamin Scheuer is on Tour: http://smarturl.it/BenjaminScheuerTour
#Pride #lgbt #Ltbtq #Ltbtqia #Trans #transgender #queer
Comments