Once a Year (Gender Conference) (2000)

Words and Music ©2000, 2013 by Dallas Denny

Source: Denny, Dallas. (2000). Once a year (gender conference). Unpublished song.

I wrote this song about the trans conference Southern Comfort, which takes place every fall in Atlanta. It was a transformative event for me and continues to be for others. I’m happy to have been a part in its formation in 1990.
 

Me (160 KBPS MP3)

 

Once a Year (Gender Conference)

 Words and Music by Dallas Denny

Marlene:

Every day

Try so hard

Go to work

Mow the yard

Wing-tip shoes

Suit and tie

Hate myself

Live a lie

But every fall

There comes a day

I pack my bags

And slip away

 

Refrain:

And go down South

To dress and play

And be myself

For three whole days

So here’s to me

I get to be me

Once a year

 

James:

In my life

I just get by

One part girl

Two parts guy

No one seems to understand

That I was meant to be a man

I’ve slowly come to comprehend

That I am an FTM

But once a year

I always go

Where I can talk

Testosterone

 

Refrain:

And go down South

To dress and play

And be myself

For three whole days

So here’s to me

I get to be me

Once a year

 

Karen:

Ten years ago

I was a mess

Now look at me

Post-op success

But now and then

I need to talk

With others who

Have walked the walk

So every fall

There comes a day

I pack my bags

And slip away

 

Refrain:

And go down South

To dress and play

And be myself

For three whole days

So here’s to me

I get to be me

Once a year