Being Who You Are

Cover art by Olga Bolotova
(a.k.a. HelgaLin) Licensed by Shutterstock

A lighthearted romp affirming individual differences (with a touch of Shakespeare)

Commissioned by Waunakee Middle School

Winner of the KidSing Composer's Competition

Honorable Mention in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest

Poet/Lyricist:

Elizabeth Alexander

This title is part of Seafarer Press' "END OF INVENTORY" sale! Choir directors, add the sale item below to your shopping cart and make me an offer in the COMMENT FIELD! (Or just send an email.) Learn more about this sale

A lively affirmation of individual differences, this song includes such unlikely compadres as the Ugly Duckling, Rudolph the Reindeer, Susan B. Anthony, the Wright Brothers and Shakespeare.

The chorus of this song includes brief cameo appearances by a number of small percussion instruments. The score suggests jingle bells, slide whistle, duck call, ratchet, claves and guiro, but creative performers may substitute other instruments they have around - or wish to create!

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Being Who You Are

Lyrics by Elizabeth Alexander, with students at Waunakee Elementary School

Rudolph the reindeer took a lot of flak
'Cause his nose was different from the rest.
The ugly duckling had a scrawny neck
So the others kicked him from the nest.
These two, to name a few, did what they had to do.
Like you, this they knew: "To thine own self be true!"
Rudolph was a great phenomenon,
Soon that duckling turned into a swan,
You'll do fine if you just keep on being who you are.

Susan B. Anthony fought for women's rights
Even though folks said she shouldn't try.
And no one would believe the brothers Wright
When they said that they were going to fly.
These two, to name a few, did what they had to do.
Like you, this they knew: "To thine own self be true."
Susan B., stand up and take a bow,
Airplanes are a dime a dozen now,
When you try, you'll succeed (and how!), being who you are.

So if you wear glasses on your nose,
If you're bald or have eleven toes,
You will find that your best side shows,
(There's no reason to strike a pose!)
You'll do fine, everybody knows, being who you are.

Composer's Note:

I composed Being Who You Are with students from Waunakee Elementary School. They came up with the idea that the different percussion instruments were like individual people, a metaphor which I still find moving.

Program Notes / Performance Notes: