Gender Bender (1989)

Words and Music ©1989, 2013 by Dallas Denny
I wrote Gender Bender shortly after I transitioned gender roles. The whole thing spilled out of my head in about thirty minutes—and then I spent days making up additional verses, just for fun. I performed the song frequently at transgender conferences and even won a talent contest at Southern Comfort. A lot of people have asked me to put it online, and now, at long last, here it is, with just me and my classical Yamaha guitar.
Listen To Gender Bender (160 kbps MP3)
Fantasia Fair Follies Performances
I have performed Gender Bender many times at the Fantasia Fair Follies. Here’s the program from 1993 (with the name of the song wrong) and a portion of video taken by my friend Karen Marie in 2014.
1993 Fantasia Fair Follies Program (PDF)
Gender Bender Lyrics and Chords
Gender Bender
By Dallas Denny
D
Mary Alice Walker
C/B
Was a spinster all her life
D
She taught the kids in Sunday School
A
And stayed at home at night
D
She was always prim and proper
C/B
And when she finally died
D
The undertaker shook his head
A
And could not believe his eyes
Refrain:
G D
She was a gender bender
G D
Gender bender
G D
Gender bender
Martin met Loretta
In Atlanta late one night
She was everything he thought
That he had wanted in a wife
He finally popped the question
But on their wedding night
She had a little something extra
And much to his surprise
She was a gender bender
Gender bender
Gender bender
Sammy was the kind of boy
Who wore his hair in curls
His mother dressed him funny
And he hung out with the girls
The fellas all despised him
And tried to make him fight
But now his name’s Samantha
And they take him out at night
‘Cause he’s a gender bender
Gender bender
Gender bender
Frieda was a big old gal
She stood ’bout six-foot-three
And how she thought she’d ever pass
Was more than I could see
She landed her a millionaire
Considered quite a catch
And he coughed up the money
And now she’s got a snatch
She was a gender bender
Gender bender
Gender bender
Harley is a lumberjack
As rugged as they come
And he likes wearing dresses
‘Cause he finds that it is fun
His legs are long and hairy
He doesn’t try to pass
And if you called him sissy
He’d probably kick your…
Gender bender
Gender bender
Gender bender
Now that gal you set your cap for
Or that gent that caught your eye
May be more or less than you have thought
And maybe even I
Could be a
Gender bender
Gender bender
Gender bender
Extra Verses
Susie was a farm girl
She always dressed in jeans
Started taking androgens
When she was in her teens
She changed her name to Martin
And married as a man
Her wife was named Loretta
She used to be a man
Tommy at the office
Always talked about his wife
And it was our firm consensus
Tthey had a lovely life
At the office party
We met his better side
Six-foot-two and eyes of blue
And he said his name was Spike