Andi won't dance
Andi won't sing
Andi won't play
She sits in her room, hiding away, hiding away
She hasn't a friend
They think she's a boy, they leave her alone
But what they don't know
Andi has dreams, all of her own
Yea, she wants to be a lady
Can anyone see?
That's she's trapped inside a little boy's body
She's waiting
For the dream of her life
To be a lady
That's all she wants to be
(Chorus)
Andi you're not just anyone
Don't be ashamed
Open the door, don't hide away
Your dreams will awaken
Andi you're not just anyone
Don't take the blame
Though you're scared and all alone
You'll be there someday
Oh Andi, you're old enough to know
Don't ask me why
The leaves they fall down from the trees
But in the spring, they come again
Yes, they come again
Oh Andi, don't be afraid
Oh Andi
Andi can you hear me?
Will you come out on your own?
Oh the voice in the distance
Saying don't be afraid, Andi
I will make you somebody
I will make you a lady
The dream of your life
A lady, is what you will be
(Chorus)
Andi won't sing
Andi won't play
She sits in her room, hiding away, hiding away
They think she's a boy, they leave her alone
But what they don't know
Andi has dreams, all of her own
Can anyone see?
That's she's trapped inside a little boy's body
She's waiting
For the dream of her life
To be a lady
That's all she wants to be
Andi you're not just anyone
Don't be ashamed
Open the door, don't hide away
Your dreams will awaken
Don't take the blame
Though you're scared and all alone
You'll be there someday
Oh Andi, you're old enough to know
Don't ask me why
The leaves they fall down from the trees
But in the spring, they come again
Yes, they come again
Oh Andi, don't be afraid
Oh Andi
Will you come out on your own?
Saying don't be afraid, Andi
I will make you somebody
I will make you a lady
The dream of your life
A lady, is what you will be
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This song is definitely NOT about a transsexual. Notice that Andi is spelled with an "i" for a girl's name and not a "y" for a boy's name. This song was written by one time Kansas lead man John Elefante, a very religious person. Andi is a young girl that has not yet developed the physical characteristics that will set her apart from young boys. Andi has all of the fears of any typical young girl along with "the dream of her life" to become a "lady"
It's pretty rare that even a prepubescent girl would be consistently mistaken for a boy, though.
It's pretty rare that even a prepubescent girl would be consistently mistaken for a boy, though.
And I could just as well say: Andi is a young girl that has not yet developed the physical characteristics that will set her apart from young boys, and barring medical intervention, won't, because her body has the equipment to produce the usual male levels of hormones, rather than female ones.
And I could just as well say: Andi is a young girl that has not yet developed the physical characteristics that will set her apart from young boys, and barring medical intervention, won't, because her body has the equipment to produce the usual male levels of hormones, rather than female ones.
So nonetheless, I stand by what I wrote. The song is written in broad enough terms that yours is the obvious interpretation, and not necessarily a bad one. But I think...
So nonetheless, I stand by what I wrote. The song is written in broad enough terms that yours is the obvious interpretation, and not necessarily a bad one. But I think mine fits a little better.
When you want the truth, always go to the source. I e-mailed John Elefante about this. This was his response:
When you want the truth, always go to the source. I e-mailed John Elefante about this. This was his response:
Thanks for sharing! I did check that out and your comment on the song is correct. The transsexual comment is extremely incorrect.. Thanks...
Thanks for sharing! I did check that out and your comment on the song is correct. The transsexual comment is extremely incorrect.. Thanks...
Believe it or not.
Believe it or not.
Perhaps "Andi" was more of a tomboy and was at that critical prepubescent stage where boys no longer accept her as "same" and girls do not either.
Perhaps "Andi" was more of a tomboy and was at that critical prepubescent stage where boys no longer accept her as "same" and girls do not either.
"The leaves fall down from the trees but in the spring they come again."
"The leaves fall down from the trees but in the spring they come again."
This suggest she is about to blossom and must accept that she is not in the likeness of a boy, but will blossom into a young lady. Her body will become more like the girls with whom she will be forced to identify with and will separate her from being seen as "one...
This suggest she is about to blossom and must accept that she is not in the likeness of a boy, but will blossom into a young lady. Her body will become more like the girls with whom she will be forced to identify with and will separate her from being seen as "one of the boys," instead to be seen as a potential mate.
Just as her body transforms, the boys begin to withdraw from friendship yet she is unable to identify with the girls yet. A very awkward stage for the "Andi's" out there.
Reminds me of the movie, "The Man in the Moon."
A song about a young transsexual girl suffering the pain and isolation coming with the male body and social role that feels so wrong to her. The singer assures her that she will get the opportunity to transition to female and to be known and accepted as the woman she longs to be.
Pretty open-minded stuff for 1983.
@waterfalloftime you're pretty warped
@waterfalloftime you're pretty warped
@waterfalloftime incorrect.
@waterfalloftime incorrect.
I asked John Elefante, himself, on FB. This is his response:
I asked John Elefante, himself, on FB. This is his response:
"You have completely misconstrued the songs meaning, it has nothing to do with gender identity, I didn't even know what that was when I wrote the song. It is simply about mistaken identity, it's about the heart not the outward appearance."
"You have completely misconstrued the songs meaning, it has nothing to do with gender identity, I didn't even know what that was when I wrote the song. It is simply about mistaken identity, it's about the heart not the outward appearance."
Ya. Despite what John Elefante says what you want but this song is a great accidental representation of a transgender woman. A lot of what happens with music is that it gets interpreted by the listener. This song makes the most sense to me as a song about a transgender girl.
@jm19971058 Like you said...music "gets interpreted by the listener". This is regardless of what the song writer intended.
@jm19971058 Like you said...music "gets interpreted by the listener". This is regardless of what the song writer intended.
However, the song writer is the only one that can tell you what the meaning is about. You can make stuff up to fit your narrative, but the one true meaning came from the heart of the song writer.
However, the song writer is the only one that can tell you what the meaning is about. You can make stuff up to fit your narrative, but the one true meaning came from the heart of the song writer.
I have the answer, straight from Elefante, in a personal message to me from FB:
I have the answer, straight from Elefante, in a personal message to me from FB:
I asked John Elefante, himself, on FB. This is his response:
I asked John Elefante, himself, on FB. This is his response:
"You have completely misconstrued the songs meaning, it has nothing to do with gender...
"You have completely misconstrued the songs meaning, it has nothing to do with gender identity, I didn't even know what that was when I wrote the song. It is simply about mistaken identity, it's about the heart not the outward appearance."
I asked John Elefante, himself, on FB. This is his response:
"You have completely misconstrued the songs meaning, it has nothing to do with gender identity, I didn't even know what that was when I wrote the song. It is simply about mistaken identity, it's about the heart not the outward appearance."