Celebrating Gender Diversity in Song - Part One - Lyrics
He’d Rather Be A Girl (1954) by Ruth Wallis
Verse 1
Always thought when I got married
That my life would be a whirl
Then, I discovered I'd married a boy
Who would rather be a girl
Verse 2
I met him one night in Miami
And I wed him one night in Miami
His name was Tommy, but he said, "Call me Tammy"
'Twas then I knew he'd rather be a girl
Verse 3
Oh, I recall when we tied the knot
He said, "I do," but he didn't say what
And I noticed he danced with the best man a lot
The best man's name was Pearl
Verse 4
Oh, why did I wed a gay pretender
Who doesn't do what is on the grooves of gender?
How in the world can I surrender
To a boy who wears my négligée?
Verse 5
He cooks for me and he sews for me
He even mends my hose for me
But he never curls my toes for me
Like a boy should do a girl
Verse 6
You should see the queer things that he does
Now, he's modelling my jewels and my furs
And our towels are all marked Hers & Hers
And I'm gettin' real confused
Verse 7
He looks like a boy and he acts like a boy
He's positively stacked like a boy
But in the boudoir, he don't attack like a boy
He'd rather do his hair
Verse 8
Oh, it hurts me down deep inside
'Cause I don't really feel like I'm a bride
And the zipper on his pants is on the side
Now, don't that prove he'd rather be a girl?
Verse 9
Oh, I have offered him my everything
My jewels and my furs and my diamond ring
I said, "Do right by me, you can be a king"
But he'd rather be a queen
Verse 10
Now, honestly, I'm very broad-minded
And I take my love where I can find it
But all he does is pantomime it
And this, I can't enjoy
Verse 11
This is really a catastrophe
His capon's no good for a chick like me
I guess that I just have to set him free
For what else can I do?
Verse 12
Now, maybe folks cannot observe this
But a gal isn't getting service
Starts walking 'round mighty nervous
Gotta get him out of my life
Verse 13
I'll find some place where I can send him
I'll even go as far as to recommend him
He'll make some boy a darn good wife
(Spoken) He'll make some boy
Written by: Ruth Wallis
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I’m A Boy (1966) by The Who
One girl was called Jean Marie
Another little girl was called Felicity
Another little girl was Sally Joy
The other was me, and I'm a boy
My name is Bill and I'm a headcase
They practice making up on my face
Yeah, I feel lucky if I get trousers to wear
Spend evenings taking hairpins from my hair
I'm a boy, I'm a boy
But my ma won't admit it
I'm a boy, I'm a boy
But if I say I am I get it
Get your frock on, Jean Marie
Plait your hair, Felicity
Paint your nails, little Sally Joy
Put this wig on, little boy
I'm a boy, I'm a boy
But my ma won't admit it
I'm a boy, I'm a boy
But if I say I am I get it
Help me wash up, Jean Marie
You can dry, Felicity
Stack the dishes, Sally Joy
Behind them struggles, I'm a boy
I'm a boy, I'm a boy
But my ma won't admit it
I'm a boy, I'm a boy
But if I say I am I get it
I wanna play cricket on the green
Ride my bike across the stream
Cut myself and see my blood
I wanna come home all covered in mud
I'm a boy, I'm a boy
But my ma won't admit it
I'm a boy, I'm a boy, I'm a boy
I'm a boy, I'm a boy, I'm a boy, I'm a boy
I'm a boy, I'm a boy, I'm a boy
Written by: Pete Townshend
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lady Godiva’s Operation (1968) by The Velvet Underground
Verse 1
Lady Godiva, dressed so demurely
Pats the head of another curly haired boy
Just another toy
Sick with silence, she weeps sincerely
Saying words that have, oh, so clearly been said
So long ago
Verse 2
Draperies wrapped gently 'round her shoulder
Life has made her that much bolder now
That she's found out how
Verse 3
Dressed in silk, latin lace and envy
Pride and joy of the latest penny fare
Pretty passing care
Hair today now dipped in the water
Making love to every poor daughter's son
Isn't it fun?
Verse 4
Now, today, propping grace with envy
Lady Godiva peers to see if anyone's there
And hasn't a care
Verse 5
Doctor is coming the nurse thinks sweetly!
Turning on the machines that neatly pump air!
The body lies bare
Shaved and hairless what once was screaming!
Now lies silent and almost sleeping
The brain must have gone away
Strapped securely to the white table
Ether caused the body to wither and writhe
Underneath the white light
Doctor arrives with knife and baggage
Sees the growth as just so much cabbage
That must now be cut away
Now come the moment of Great! Great! Decision!
The doctor is making his first incision
Verse 6
One goes here
One goes there
"The ether tube's leaking," says someone who's sloppy
The patient, it seems, is not so well sleeping
The screams echo up the hall
Don't panic, someone give him pentothol instantly
Doctor removes his blade
Cagily slow from the brain
By my count of ten
The head won't move
Written by: Lou Reed
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Candy Says (1969) by The Velvet Underground
Candy says, I've come to hate my body
And all that it requires in this world
Candy says, I'd like to know completely
What others so discreetly talk about
I'm gonna watch the bluebirds fly
Over my shoulder
I'm gonna watch them pass me by
Maybe when I'm older
What do you think I'd see
If I could walk away from me?
Candy says, I hate the quiet places
That cause the smallest taste of what will be
Candy says, I hate the big decisions
That cause endless revisions in my mind
I'm gonna watch the bluebirds fly
Over my shoulder
I'm gonna watch them pass me by
Maybe when I'm older
What do you think I'd see
If I could walk away from me?
Doo, doo, wah
Doo, doo, doo, wah
Doo, doo, doo, wah
Doo, doo, doo, wah
Doo, doo, doo, wah
Doo
Written by: Lou Reed
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Queen Bitch (1971) by David Bowie
Verse 1
I'm up on the eleventh floor
And I'm watching the cruisers below
He's down on the street
And he's trying hard to pull sister Flo
Verse 2
Oh, my heart's in the basement
My weekend's at an all time low
'Cause she's hoping to score
So I can't see her letting him go
Chorus
Walk out of her heart
Walk out of her mind
Oh, not her
She's so swishy in her satin and tat
In her frock coat and bipperty-bopperty hat
Oh, God, I could do better than that
Oh, yeah
Verse 4
She's an old-time ambassador
Of sweet talking, night walking games
Oh, and she's known in the darkest clubs
For pushing ahead of the dames
Verse 5
If she says she can do it
Then she can do it, she don't make false claims
But she's a queen, and such are queens
That your laughter is sucked in their brains
Verse 6
Now she's leading him on
And she'll lay him right down
Yes, she's leading him on
And she'll lay him right down
Chorus
But it could have been me
Yes, it could have been me
Why didn't I say, why didn't I say
No, no, no?
She's so swishy in her satin and tat
In her frock coat and bipperty-bopperty hat
Oh God, I could do better than that
Verse 7
So I lay down a while
And I gaze at my hotel wall
Oh, the cot is so cold
It don't feel like no bed at all
Verse 8
Yeah, I lay down a while
And I look at my hotel wall
And he's down on the street
So I throw both his bags down the hall
Verse 9
And I'm phoning a cab
'Cause my stomach feels small
There's a taste in my mouth
And it's no taste at all
Chorus
It could have been me
Oh, yeah, it could have been me
Why didn't I say, why didn't I say
No, no, no?
She's so swishy in her satin and tat
In her frock coat and bipperty-bopperty hat
Oh, God, I could do better than that
Outro
You betcha
Oh, yeah
Uh-huh
Mmm
Written by: David Bowie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lady Stardust (1972) by David Bowie
Verse 1
People stared at the makeup on his face
Laughed at his long black hair, his animal grace
The boy in the bright blue jeans
Jumped up on the stage
Lady Stardust sang his songs
Of darkness and disgrace
Chorus
And he was all right, the band was all together
Yes, he was all right, the song went on forever
Yes, he was awful nice
Really quite out of sight
And he sang all night long
Verse 2
Femme fatales emerged from shadows
To watch this creature fare
Boys stood up on their chairs
To make their point of view
I smiled sadly for a love I could not obey
Lady Stardust sang his songs
Of darkness and dismay
Chorus
And he was all right, the band was all together
Yes, he was all right, the song went on forever
And he was awful nice
Really quite paradise
And he sang all night, all night long (All night long)
Bridge
Oh, how I sighed when they asked if I knew his name
Chorus
Oh, it was all right, the band was all together
Yes, he was all right, and the song went on forever (All right)
He was awful nice
Really quite paradise
He sang all night long, all night long
Outro
C'mon, move closely now or Get some pussy now (Shazam)
Written by: David Bowie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Walk on the Wilde Side (1972) By Lou Reed
Holly came from Miami, FLA
Hitch-hiked her way across the USA
Plucked her eyebrows on the way
Shaved her legs, and then he was a she
She says, "Hey, babe, take a walk on the wild side"
Said, "Hey, honey, take a walk on the wild side"
Candy came from out on the Island
In the back room she was everybody's darling
But she never lost her head
Even when she was giving head
She says, "Hey, babe, take a walk on the wild side"
Said, "Hey, babe, take a walk on the wild side"
And the colored girls go
Do-do-do, do-do, do, do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do, do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do, do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do, do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do, do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do, do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do, do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do, do-do, do
Little Joe never once gave it away
Everybody had to pay and pay
A hustle here, and a hustle there
New York City's the place where
They said, "Hey, babe, take a walk on the wild side"
I said, "Hey, Joe, take a walk on the wild side"
Sugar Plum Fairy came and hit the streets
Looking for soul food and a place to eat
Went to the Apollo
You should've seen him go, go, go
They said, "Hey, sugar, take a walk on the wild side"
I said, "Hey, babe, take a walk on the wild side"
All right
Huh
Jackie is just speeding away
Thought she was James Dean for a day
Then I guess she had to crash
Valium would've helped that bash
She said, "Hey, babe, take a walk on the wild side"
I said, "Hey, honey, take a walk on the wild side"
And the colored girls say
Do, do-do, do-do, do, do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do, do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do, do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do, do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do, do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do, do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do, do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do, do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do, do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do, do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do, do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do, do-do, do
Written by: Lou Reed
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sweet Transvestite (1973) by Richard O'Brien
Verse 1
How do you do, I
See you've met my
Faithful handyman
He's just a little brought down because
When you knocked
He thought you were the candyman
Verse 2
Don't get strung up by the way I look
Don't judge a book by its cover
I'm not much of a man by the light of day
But by night I'm one hell of a lover
Chorus
I'm just a sweet transvestite
From Transsexual, Transylvania, ha, ha
Verse 3
Let me show you around, maybe play you a sound
You look like you're both pretty groovy
Or if you want something visual, that's not too abysmal
We could take in an old Steve Reeves movie
Brad
I'm glad we caught you at home, could we use your phone?
We're both in a bit of a hurry
Right
We'll just say where we are, then go back to the car
We don't want to be any worry
Verse 4
Well, you got caught with a flat, well, how 'bout that?
Well, babies, don't you panic
By the light of the night, it'll all seem alright
I'll get you a satanic mechanic
Chorus
I'm just a sweet transvestite
From Transsexual, Transylvania, ha, ha
Verse 5
Why don't you stay for the night?
Night
Or maybe a bite?
Bite
I could show you my favourite obsession
I've been making a man, with blonde hair and a tan
And he's good for relieving my tension
Chorus
I'm just a sweet transvestite
From Transsexual, Transylvania, ha, ha
Hit it, hey, I'm just a sweet transvestite (Sweet transvestite)
From Transsexual, Transylvania, ha, ha (Transylvania, ha, ha)
Outro
So, come up to the lab, and see what's on the slab
I see you shiver with antici-pation
But maybe the rain
Isn't really to blame
So, I'll remove the cause
Mmm, mm-hmm-hmm-hmm-hmm
But not the symptom
Written by: Richard O'Brien
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rebel Rebel (1974) by David Bowie
Verse 1
You've got your mother in a whirl
She's not sure if you're a boy or a girl
Hey babe, your hair's alright
Hey babe, let's go out tonight
You like me, and I like it all
We like dancing and we look divine
You love bands when they play it hard
You want more and you want it fast
Pre Chorus
They put you down, they say I'm wrong
You tacky thing, you put them on
Chorus
Rebel, rebel, you've torn your dress
Rebel, rebel, your face is a mess
Rebel, rebel, how could they know?
Hot tramp, I love you so
Don't you?
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do
Verse 2
You've got your mother in a whirl
'Cause she's not sure if you're a boy or a girl
Hey babe, your hair's alright
Hey babe, let's stay out tonight
You like me, and I like it all
We like dancing and we look divine
You love bands when they play it hard
You want more and you want it fast
Pre Chorus
They put you down, they say I'm wrong
You tacky thing, you put them on
Chorus
Rebel, rebel, you've torn your dress
Rebel, rebel, your face is a mess
Rebel, rebel, how could they know?
Hot tramp, I love you so
Don't ya?
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do
Do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do
Chorus
Rebel, rebel, you've torn your dress
Rebel, rebel, your face is a mess
Rebel, rebel, how could they know?
Hot tramp, I love you so
Don't you?
Verse 3
You've torn your dress, your face is a mess
You can't get enough, but enough ain't the test
You've got your transmission and your live wire
You got your cue line and a handful of ludes
You wanna be there when they count up the dudes
Verse 4
Said, I love your dress
You're a juvenile success
Because your face is a mess
So how could they know?
I said, how could they know?
So, what you wanna know?
Calamity's child
Where'd you wanna go?
What can I do for you?
Looks like you've been there too
Verse 5
'Cause you've torn your dress
And your face is a mess
Ooh, your face is a mess
Ooh, ooh, so how could they know?
How could they know?
Written by: David Bowie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I Want To Break Free (1984) by Queen
Verse 1
I want to break free
I want to break free
I want to break free from your lies
You're so self satisfied, I don't need you
I've got to break free
God knows, God knows I want to break free
Verse 2
I've fallen in love
I've fallen in love for the first time
And this time I know it's for real
I've fallen in love, yeah
God knows, God knows I've fallen in love
Chorus
It's strange, but it's true
Hey, I can't get over the way you love me like you do
But I have to be sure when I walk out that door
Oh, how I want to be free, baby
Oh, how I want to be free
Oh, how I want to break free
Verse 3
But life still goes on
I can't get used to living without
Living without
Living without you by my side
I don't want to live alone, hey
God knows, got to make it on my own
So, baby, can't you see
I've got to break free
Outro
I've got to break free
I want to break free, yeah
I want, I want, I want, I want to break free
Written by: John Deacon
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Androgynous (1984) by The Replacements
Verse 1
Here comes Dick, he's wearing a skirt
Here comes Jane, ya know she's sporting a chain
Same hair, revolution
Same build, evolution
Tomorrow who's gonna fuss?
Chorus
And they love each other so
Androgynous
Closer than you know, love each other so
Androgynous
Verse 2
Don't get him wrong and don't get him mad
He might be a father, but he sure ain't a dad
And she don't need advice that'll centre her
She's happy the way she looks
She's happy with her gender
Chorus
And they love each other so
Androgynous
Closer than you know, love each other so
Androgynous
Bridge
Mirror image, see no damage
See no evil at all
Kewpie dolls and urine stalls will be laughed at
The way you're laughed at now
Verse 3
Now, something meets boy
And something meets girl
They both look the same
They're overjoyed in this world
Same hair, revolution
Unisex, evolution
Tomorrow who's gonna fuss?
Verse 4
And tomorrow Dick is wearing pants, tomorrow Janie's wearing a dress
Future outcasts and they don't last
And today the people dress the way that they please
The way they tried to do in the last centuries
Chorus
And they love each other so
Androgynous
Closer than you know, love each other so
Androgynous
Written by: Paul Westerberg
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As Girls Go (1992) by Suzanne Vega
Verse 1
Two, three
You make a really good girl
As girls go
Still kind of look like a guy
I never thought to wonder why
If I could pull this off
Would I know for certain
The real situation
Behind the curtain?
Verse 2
So beautiful
Damsel in distress
Not exactly natural
Stunning nonetheless
What happened to you
To make you more girl than girls are?
Would you ever show or tell?
'Cause you're so good so far
Chorus
You make a really good girl
As girls go
As girls go
As girls go
As girls go
As girls go
Verse 3
Let's chronicle
The dark side of the life
Did you ever keep the date
With the steel side of the knife?
Doesn't matter to me
Which side of the line
You happen to be
At any given time
Chorus
You make a really good girl
As girls go
You make a really good girl
As girls go
As girls go
As girls go
As girls go
Written by: Suzanne Vega
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mr. Lady (1997) by The Lunachicks
Versie 1
My brown eye's blue from so much lovin'
I'm getting another lovin' oven
One that makes me feel more like
The woman trapped so long inside
Versie 2
My body hair has been removed
But I sure have some muscly thighs
The hormones soften up my voice
Goin' all the way, I've made the choice
Versie 3
Kick off my boots, put on some heels, now I'm truly me
Power my nose, pull on some hose, I'm feelin' free
My lipstick's on, brows penciled on, I am so pretty
And even though I'll never bleed that's o.k. with me
Versie 4
I'm more than a woman, more than a man
I feel larger than life you must understand
When I was a little boy Malibu Barbie was my favorite toy
Now there is just no mistaking I'm a woman just awaking
I feel alive, a new rebirth, it cost a lot but I think it's worth it
Versie 5
Took many years to have this done, now once a day
I touch my breast, put on a bra, daytime lingerie
Walk down the street in summer's heat, strutting to and fro
I'm in a dress, no need to tuck, I'm finally free
Versie 6
I strut my stuff all down the street, now I'm truly me
I whistle as the boys go by, I'm feelin' free
I check my face I grip my mace, they won't dare hurt me
I'm feelin' right go out tonight, and that's okay with me
Mr. Lady...
Written by: Chip McCloskey, Gina Volpe, Sindi Benezra Hochstein, Sydney Silver, Theo Kogan
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King for a Day (1997) by Green Day
Verse 1
Started at the age of four
My mother went to the grocery store
Went sneaking through her bedroom door
To find something in a size four
Verse 2
Sugar and spice and everything nice wasn't made for only girls
GI Joe in panty hose
Is making room for the one and only
Verse 3
King for a day, princess by dawn
King for a day in a leather thong
King for a day, princess by dawn
Just wait 'til all the guys get a load of me
Verse 4
My daddy threw me in therapy
He thinks I'm not a real man
Who put the drag in the drag queen?
Don't knock it until you've tried it
Verse 5
Sugar and spice and everything nice wasn't made for only girls
GI Joe in panty hose
Is making room for the one and only
Verse 6
King for a day, princess by dawn
King for a day in a leather thong
King for a day, princess by dawn
Just wait 'til all the guys get a load of me
Verse 7
Sugar and spice and everything nice wasn't made for only girls
GI Joe in panty hose
Is making room for the one and only
Verse 8
King for a day, princess by dawn
King for a day in a leather thong
King for a day, princess by dawn
King for a day in a leather thong
King for a day, princess by dawn
King for a day in a leather thong
King for a day, princess by dawn
Just wait 'til all the guys
Just wait 'til all the guys
Just wait 'til all the guys get a load of me
Written by: Billie Joe Armstrong
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Born A Girl (1998) by Manic Street Preachers
Verse 1
Do I look good for you tonight?
Will you accuse me as I hide
Behind these layers of disguise,
And the mirrors of my own happiness?
Verse 2
I've loved the freedom of being inside
Need a new start and a different time
Something grows in the space between me,
And it's twisting and changing this fragile body
Chorus
And I wish I had been born a girl
Instead of what I am
Yes I wish, I had been born a girl
And not this mess of a man
Not this mess of a man
And not this mess of a man
Verse 3
The censorship of my skin
Is screaming inside and from within
There's no room in this world for a girl like me,
No place around there where I fit in
Chorus
And I wish I had been born a girl
Instead of what I am
Yes I wish, I had been born a girl
And not this mess of a man
And not this mess of a man
And not this mess of a man
And not this mess of a man
And not this mess of a man
Outro
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Written by: James Dean Bradfield, Nick Jones, Sean Moore
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Josephine (1998) by Terrorvision
Verse 1
I had a friend called Joe
When friends were hard to find
He had a restless soul
With something on his mind
One day I went away
And when returned to the scene
Not to find restless Joe, no
But to find Josephine
Chorus
I asked her what her game was
She said Joe had left the scene
I asked her what her name was
She said, they call me Josephine
Josephine
Josephine
Verse 2
It took a while to click
But then I got the gist
The girl by my side
By my side
Was the guy I'd missed
Was the guy I'd missed
Verse 3
I took her for a beer
To talk about old times
Just to find the beer, dear
Was now a sweet white wine
Chorus
I asked her what her game was
She said Joe had left the scene
I asked her what her name was
She said they call me, Josephine
Josephine
Josephine
Josephine
Verse 4
So we talked all night
And we just can't pretend
Although I lost old Joe
yo
I've got a new girlfriend
I've got a new girlfriend
Chorus
I asked her what her game was
I've got a new girlfriend (low down in the mix)
She said Joe had left the scene
I've got a new girlfriend (low down in the mix)
I asked her what her name was
I've got a new girlfriend (low down in the mix)
She said they call me Josephine
I asked her what her game was
She said Joe had left the scene
I asked her what her name was
She said they call me, Josephine
Josephine
Josephine
Josephine
Written by: Anthony Wright, Ian Shuttleworth, Leigh Marklew, Mark Yates
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reflection (1999) by Christina Aguilera
Verse 1
Look at me
You may think you see who I really am
But you'll never know me
Every day
It's as if I play a part
Verse 2
Now I see
If I wear a mask, I can fool the world
But I cannot fool my heart
Chorus
Who is that girl I see
Staring straight back at me?
When will my reflection show who I am inside?
Verse 3
I am now
In a world where I have to hide my heart
And what I believe in
Verse 4
But somehow
I will show the world what's inside my heart
And be loved for who I am
Chorus
Who is that girl I see
Staring straight back at me?
Why is my reflection someone I don't know?
Verse 5
Must I pretend that I'm
Someone else for all time?
When will my reflection show who I am inside?
Bridge
There's a heart that must be free to fly
That burns with a need to know the reason why
Chorus
Why must we all conceal
What we think and how we feel?
Must there be a secret me I'm forced to hide?
proofread
Chorus
I won't pretend that I'm
Someone else for all time
When will my reflection show who I am inside?
Outro
When will my reflection show who I am inside?
proofread
Written by: David Zippel, Matthew Wilder