I Am Samantha

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 tried to explain, they did not seem to hear

I'm Samantha

I am Samantha

I am Samantha

I am Samantha

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

But I am Samantha

I am Samantha

I am Samantha

I can no longer feel

I can no longer write

I leave a note, but I'm found alive

And taken to Harlem, blue flickering lights

Oh, Samantha

Oh, Samantha

I go back to Glennfield and say

What 'til 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

I am Samantha

I am Samantha

I am Samantha

I am Samantha

I sign the paper, the beautiful paper

Samantha, Samantha

It says I'm Samantha

I am Samantha