Music Video

Billy Porter - on "Not My Father's Son"
Watch Billy Porter - on "Not My Father's Son" on YouTube

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Billy Porter
Billy Porter
Vocals
Stark Sands
Stark Sands
Vocals
Brian Usifer
Brian Usifer
Conductor
Will Van Dyke
Will Van Dyke
Keyboards
Sammy Merendino
Sammy Merendino
Drums
Michael Visceglia
Michael Visceglia
Bass
Michael Aarons
Michael Aarons
Guitar
John Putnam
John Putnam
Guitar
James De La Garza
James De La Garza
Trumpet
Keith O'Quinn
Keith O'Quinn
Trombone
Dan Willis
Dan Willis
Woodwinds
Hiroko Taguchi
Hiroko Taguchi
First Violin
Philip Payton
Philip Payton
Violin
Denise Stillwell
Denise Stillwell
Violin
Allison Seidner
Allison Seidner
Cello
Randy Cohen
Randy Cohen
Programming
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Cyndi Lauper
Cyndi Lauper
Composer
Stephen Oremus
Stephen Oremus
Orchestrator
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Cyndi Lauper
Cyndi Lauper
Producer
Stephen Oremus
Stephen Oremus
Producer
William "Rock Pygmy" Wittman
William "Rock Pygmy" Wittman
Producer

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
When I was just a kid
Everything I did was to be like him
Under my skin
My father always thought
If I was strong and fought
Not like some albatross, I'd begin
To fit in
[Verse 2]
Look at me, powerless and holding my breath
Trying hard to repress what scared him to death
It was never easy to be his type of man
To breathe freely was not in his plan
And the best part of me
Is what he wouldn't see
[Chorus]
I'm not my father's son
I'm not the image of what he dreamed of
With the strength of Sparta and the patience of Job
Still couldn't be the one
To echo what he'd done
And mirror what was not in me
[Verse 3]
So I jumped in my dreams and found an escape
Maybe I went to extremes of leather and lace
But the world seemed brighter six inches off the ground
And the air seemed lighter, I was profound
And I felt so proud
Just to live out loud
[Chorus]
I'm not my father's son
I'm not the image of what he dreamed of
With the strength of Sparta and the patience of Job
Still couldn't be the one
To echo what he'd done
And mirror what was not in me
[Bridge]
The endless torrent of expectations
Swirling inside my mind wore me down
I came to a realization
And I finally turned around
To see
That I could just be me
[Chorus]
I'm not my father's son
I'm not the image of what he dreamed of
With the strength of Sparta and the patience of Job
Still couldn't be the one
To echo what he'd done
And mirror what was not in me
[Verse 4]
We're the same, Charlie boy
You and me
Charlie from North Hampton
Meet Simon from Clackton
Let's make boots
Written by: Cyndi Lauper
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