Why Am I Me?

I’ve heard this song a few times now on the Sirius XM “On Broadway” channel, and I love it. It’s from the 1975 musical Shenandoah (which was based on the 1965 film of the same name). It’s a duet between two young boys of different backgrounds. Music by Gary Geld, lyrics by Peter Udell.

Why Am I Me?

Tell you what I’m thinkin’
Honestly and true…
How come I come to life as me
And not to life as you.

Lord, I know the feeling
‘Cause when I’m by myself
I wonder why
I’m who I am
And not somebody else

‘Way down underneath it all
Where no one gets to see
I’ll bet it feels no different
Bein’ you or bein’ me.

Why was I born
When I was born
Who I was born to be
Why was I given
The body I’m livin’ in?

Why am I Gabriel?
Why am I Anderson?
Why am I me, why am I me…

Why am I here
Why am I now
Why am I who you see
Why was I handed
The body I landed in

Why am I Gabriel? (So how come we’re all slaves…)
Why am I Anderson? (And how come we’re all free…)
Why am I me, why am I me, why am I me?

I figured
Somebody puts the “who” into folks,
Like dropping a stone in a lake
So maybe I’m thinkin’
I’m Abraham Lincoln
And somebody made a mistake?

If I were born
Somebody else
Betcha I still would be me
So many beings I know I could be me in.
Why must I be in the being you see me in?

(So how come we’re all slaves
And how come we’re all free)

Why am I me?

Author

  • Arlene Wszalek

    Arlene Wszalek is a strategist, advisor, speaker, and cultural observer. Until recently, she served as Executive Vice President of Strategy & Innovation at Allied Global Marketing, a global agency known for performance-based, idea-driven campaigns that shape culture and drive results. Arlene has lived and worked in both the U.S. and the U.K., and her experience spans media, entertainment, technology, travel, and the arts. She holds a BA from Smith College and is a member of the Television Academy (ATAS), the Recording Academy (NARAS) and the Producers Guild of America..

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