so i’ve been asking transguys for music that has been important to them re:their transition and gender identity. i’ve loved all the responses, and i thought i’d take the time to make you all a mix of some songs i think can really speak to us. they, at least, really speak to me.

click to download

tracklisting and ridiculously thorough descriptions after the break.

01. RuPaul - Never Go Home Again

(A song about finding family/home in your community when your own home isn’t safe for you.)

Babies take flight, never say never
There’s a home for you here
Where love is unconditional
Go to the light, never say never
Make the family you want
With the ones who really love you

02. Wicked Cast - Defying Gravity

(A few guys from the men’s room recommended this and I’m glad I looked into it. It’s like THE queer anthem and it’s from a musical, making it all the more appropriate)

Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I’m through with playing by the rules
Of someone else’s game
Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It’s time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes: and leap!
It’s time to try
Defying gravity
I think I’ll try
Defying gravity
And you can’t pull me down!

I’m through accepting limits
‘Cuz someone says they’re so
Some things I cannot change
But till I try, I’ll never know!

So if you care to find me
Look to the western sky!
As someone told me lately:
“Ev’ryone deserves the chance to fly!”
And if I’m flying solo
At least I’m flying free

03. Avett Brothers - Head Full of Doubt / Road Full of Promise

(This one, to me, speaks to recognizing who you are and having the courage to move forward with your life as a man.)

There’s a darkness upon me that’s flooded in light
In the fine print they tell me what’s wrong and what’s right
And it comes in black and it comes in white
And I’m frightened by those who don’t see it

When nothing is owed, deserved or expected
And your life doesn’t change by the man that’s elected
If you’re loved by someone you’re never rejected
Decide what to be and go be it.

There was a dream
And One day I could see it
Like a bird in a cage I broke in and demanded that somebody free it
And there was a kid, with a head full of doubt
So I scream til I die or the last of those bad thoughts are finally out

04. Linda Lyndell - What a Man

(speaks for itself.)

05. Dar Williams - Your Fire Your Soul

(This is about saying ‘fuck it’ to those - specifically family - who tell you to be something you’re not.)

First thing they’ll say’s take off your shoes, 
And they’ll say they want your story, but they get confused 
By all those words you use

06. Johnny Cash - I Won’t Back Down

Well I know what’s right, I got just one life
in a world that keeps on pushin’ me around
but I’ll stand my ground and I won’t back down

07. Feist & Ben Gibbard - Train Song

(makes me think of the long journey of our life that ultimately takes us to this new version of ourselves.)

It’s so many miles and so long since I’ve left you
Don’t even know what I’ll find when I get to you
But suddenly now, I know where I belong
It’s many hundred miles and it won’t be long

08. Dar Williams - Farewell to the Old Me

Farewell to the old me 
My life is getting better now 
But always changing anyhow

09. Antony & The Johnsons - My Lady Story

My lady story
Is one of annihilation
My lady story
Is one of breast amputation

10. The Sarcastic Dharma Society - First Day of My Life

(To a certain degree, my life feels like it started this fall.)

11. The Arcade Fire - Wake Up

(This one was a suggestion from Micah and if I were making a soundtrack to some tranny boy film, this would be playing as we watch a pre-op transman getting dressed - binding, packing, etc etc. And the chorus would hit right as he finishes and looks up at himself in the mirror.)

12. Gossip - Pop Goes The World

(First of all, I am in love with Beth Ditto. And this is her/Gossip’s queer call to arms.)

For once
We’ll do what comes naturally
We’ll approach it casually
With no apology

For once
We can have the final say
Goodbye to yesterday
‘Cause we know we’re here to stay

13. TV on the Radio - Wolf Like Me

(This is my song for T. It’s all about a transformation.)

My mind has changed my body’s frame but god I like it
My heart’s aflame my body’s strained but god I like it

14. Avett Brothers - I and Love and You

(This is another song about a journey. It’s about moving forward full steam ahead, even though it’s fucking hard sometimes. And I think it’s about learning to love yourself, too.)

one foot in and one foot back
but it don’t work to live like that
so i cut the ties and i jumped the tracks
for never to return

15. Hot Chip - Brothers

(Azad introduced me to this and fuck if I don’t still get emotional when I hear it. Here’s to my t-brothers.)

Brothers, I can take it if I know I’ll see my brothers
And just step back when I’m dancing with my brother is dancing with me
Brothers, I would give my life for my brothers
When we’re driving and its late with my brother sat next to me

16. M83 - We Own The Sky

(If we’re going back to this being a soundtrack for a tranny boy movie, this is the main character claiming control of his future.)

17. Frank Sinatra - My Way

(I play this when I need motivation to go out into the world. Like fuck yeah, I’m doing this my way, and I’m proud of myself.)

Yes, there were times, I’m sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew.
But through it all, when there was doubt,
I ate it up and spit it out.
I faced it all and I stood tall;
And did it my way.

I’ve loved, I’ve laughed and cried.
I’ve had my fill; my share of losing.
And now, as tears subside,
I find it all so amusing.

To think I did all that;
And may I say - not in a shy way,
“No, oh no not me,
I did it my way”.

For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught.
To say the things he truly feels;
And not the words of one who kneels.
THE RECORD SHOWS - I TOOK THE BLOWS
AND DID IT MY WAY

18. Dar Williams - Better Things

(ending on a happy note. by the way, the kinks original version of this is really awesome, too, but I’m celebrating the vagina-rock of my past.)

Here’s hoping that the days ahead 
Won’t be as bitter as the ones behind you 
Be an optimist instead 
And somehow happiness will find you 
Forget what happened yesterday 
I know that better things are on their way 

It’s really good to see you rocking out 
And having fun 
Living like you’ve just begun 
Accept your life and what it brings 
I hope tomorrow you find better things 
I know tomorrow you’ll find better things

Here’s wishing you the bluest sky 
And hoping something better comes tomorrow 
Hoping all the verses rhyme 
And the very best of choruses to 
Follow all the drudge and sadness 
I know that better things are on the way 

I know you’ve got a lot of good things happening up ahead 
The past is gone, it’s all been said 
So here’s to what the future brings 
I know tomorrow you’ll find better things 
I know tomorrow you’ll find better things

Posted 3 years ago with 19 notes
Tags: community  repost  designated   // Comments