What Makes a Man

Broadway production (2015) "What makes a man" is a song from the musical 'allegiance' performed by telly leung (sammy). Don't fight the storm he said And now look where we are Bending and cowering Can only get you so far He tells me to make myself useful And do our family proud Well how the hell am i supposed to be useful When being myself's not alllowed He clings to tradition Afraid to try something new "We don't call attention We think" but we never do He wants me to follow blindly He wants me to keep my mouth shut But i swear from this day forward I am going with my gut What makes a man is his clarity When he listens to his heart What makes a man is his bravery When he plays a bigger part What makes a man is what he makes of himself When he's giving it all he can I must be my own man It's time we took action And found a way out of this place I'll set an example Help others to see beyond race And though my face resembles Our enemies in war I am still american Nothing less and nothing more I'll never be a scholar Much as pop wants me to be And i'm not some nameless body in a crowd If pop would only see The soldier i could be I'll finally find a way to make him proud I'll finally find a way to make me proud What makes a man is his dignity When he stands for what is right What makes a man is his loyalty When he fight's his nation's fight What makes a man is what he makes of himself When he's giving it all he can For all our sakes I'll do what it takes I must be my own man