# Songs where performer and character are different genders **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [December 16, 2025, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-performer-and-character-are-different-genders/1025749 "2025-12-16T12:23:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-performer-and-character-are-different-genders/1025749/1 "2025-12-16T12:23:46Z")
Looking for songs that are narrated by a particular character. The narrator is explicitly a particular gender, but the performer is the opposite gender. Excluding performances in drag, please. So, for example, Dame Edna singing a song with a female narrator wouldn’t count. _House of the Rising Sun_ is a song narrated from the point of view of an explicitly female prostitute. (It’s been the ruin of many a poor **girl** , and God I know I’m one). It has been performed by male singers, including Bob Dylan. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/RP_caKDfoyU/maxresdefault.jpg "Bob Dylan - House of the Risin' Sun (Official Audio)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP_caKDfoyU) Fernando, by Abba, narrated by an old man reminiscing with a friend about a battle they fought in their youth. Well, it doesn’t explicitly state the narrator’s gender, but I think a male is more likely. It is, however, sung by the girls. The verses at least [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/dQsjAbZDx-4/maxresdefault.jpg "ABBA - Fernando (Official Music Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQsjAbZDx-4) Leva’s Polka is, according to [Wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ievan_polkka) “sung from the point of view of a young man, about a woman called Ieva (dialectal for the name Eva or Eeva in standard [Finnish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_language "Finnish language")) who sneaks out and dances the [polka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polka "Polka") with him all night.” However, in a particularly noteworthy performance, the lead singer is female. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hqthspSKZV8/hqdefault.jpg "Loituma "Ievan polkka"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqthspSKZV8) ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-performer-and-character-are-different-genders/1025749/2 "2025-12-16T12:35:26Z")
“Angel from Montgomery” is a rare thing being written and sung by a 25 year old man about the experience of being a middle aged woman. Presumably it speaks to the experience well given that it is a song much beloved amongst middle aged women. It was made famous and probably most associated with Bonnie Rait but Prine wrote it and sang it originally. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-performer-and-character-are-different-genders/1025749/3 "2025-12-16T12:38:14Z")
Fast Car by Tracy Chapman is about a female character (“I work in the market as a checkout girl”), but was covered by Luke Combs without any changes to the lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-performer-and-character-are-different-genders/1025749/4 "2025-12-16T12:42:02Z")
The Beatles covered the Shirelles’ “Boys.” They changed the “I” to “my girl” in the verses, but kept the titular “boys” in the chorus. Not really a change in perspective, though — it sorta implies they’re singing about “boys [like me],” while the Shirelles sang about “boys [like him].” ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-performer-and-character-are-different-genders/1025749/5 "2025-12-16T12:44:34Z")
In Luke Combs’ version of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car”, he sings the line “I work in a market as a checkout girl” intact. This causes some snickering in the country music community, but Combs defends his choice, stating that he wants to be respectful of the work. mmm ETA: Oops, @engineer_comp_geek beat me to it. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-performer-and-character-are-different-genders/1025749/6 "2025-12-16T12:48:21Z")
Another John Prine composition: Bette Midler’s cover of “Hello in There” keeps the original perspective from an elderly man, I’m pretty sure. Most of the lyrics could be from either the husband or the wife, but I think he addresses the wife by name. I’ll check now. ETA: I’m wrong, Bette changed it to “my husband.” ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-performer-and-character-are-different-genders/1025749/7 "2025-12-16T12:49:11Z")
Joan Baez singing The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-performer-and-character-are-different-genders/1025749/8 "2025-12-16T12:51:37Z")
I don’t know if this counts, but Sixpence None The Richer did a cover of There She Goes, a song originally sung by a male about a female. But there is nothing in the song that explicitly indicates that the singer is male. The Sixpence None The Richer version could easily be a female singing about a female, and in more recent years has often been interpreted as such. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-performer-and-character-are-different-genders/1025749/9 "2025-12-16T12:53:38Z")
Whatever gender _me_ in Me and Bobby McGee had, either Kris Kristofferson or Janis Joplin had a different one. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-performer-and-character-are-different-genders/1025749/10 "2025-12-16T12:53:39Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > There She Goes, a song originally sung by a male about a female Really? I thought Nico sang the original - a female singing about a female. R.E.M. covered it as well - a male singing about a female. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-performer-and-character-are-different-genders/1025749/11 "2025-12-16T12:56:27Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Really? I thought Nico sang the original - a female singing about a female. It’s originally by a British Band called The La’s. ETA: The Velvet Underground song There She Goes has the same title but is a different song. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-performer-and-character-are-different-genders/1025749/12 "2025-12-16T12:57:54Z")
Oh! And…I was wrong again. Lou sings the Velvets’ cover. And…we’re taking about two different songs with the same name. I’ll shut up now. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-performer-and-character-are-different-genders/1025749/13 "2025-12-16T13:03:48Z")
By the way, previous thread: > [@Songs sung from the perspective of the opposite gender](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-sung-from-the-perspective-of-the-opposite-gender/828565): > > The Belle & Sebastian song “The Chalet Lines” is a song that is sung by a man, but the lyrics are clearly from the POV of a woman. “He raped me in the chalet lines I had just said no for the final time Although it’s last month it’s like yesterday I missed my time, I don’t think I could stand To take the test, I’m feeling sick Fuck this, I’ve felt like this for a week” What are some other songs like this? The singer is Gender A but the song’s voice is of Gender B? I don’t think love songs… ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-performer-and-character-are-different-genders/1025749/14 "2025-12-16T13:03:52Z")
Blossom Dearie’s cover of Dave Frishberg’s “I’m Hip” keeps the lyric “you notice I don’t wear a beard.” [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EMB5CzzWXMQ/hqdefault.jpg "Blossom Dearie - 'I'm Hip'") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMB5CzzWXMQ) ---
**Author:** ![icon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c6cbf5/32.png) [@icon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icon)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-performer-and-character-are-different-genders/1025749/15 "2025-12-16T13:06:19Z")
Stormy Weather (1933). This is a torch song written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler and originally sung by Ethel Waters, but since then has been sung by many a male singer (e.g. Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra, Bob Dylan, etc.). It is easy to change because you can switch one word and then it becomes about woman instead of a man. I know I sang it after first hearing it sung by women (or vice versa) as part of a choir ensemble which is why it immediately came to mind when I saw this topic. `//i\\` ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-performer-and-character-are-different-genders/1025749/16 "2025-12-16T13:35:41Z")
> [@icon](#): > > Stormy Weather (1933). This is a torch song written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler and originally sung by Ethel Waters, My favorite version is by Leo Watson: “Don’t know why I can’t get no apple pie. Stormy weather… Gee these pork chops taste like leather….” ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-performer-and-character-are-different-genders/1025749/17 "2025-12-16T13:39:05Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > I don’t know if this counts, but Sixpence None The Richer did a cover of There She Goes, a song originally sung by a male about a female. But there is nothing in the song that explicitly indicates that the singer is male. The Sixpence None The Richer version could easily be a female singing about a female, and in more recent years has often been interpreted as such. Exactly the same happened when Susanna Hoffs (together with Matthew Sweet) wonderfully covered Rod Stewart’s “Maggie May”. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/OikrnBJ6ONA/maxresdefault.jpg "Matthew Sweet, Susanna Hoffs - Maggie May") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OikrnBJ6ONA&t=3s) ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-performer-and-character-are-different-genders/1025749/18 "2025-12-16T13:52:26Z")
A young Bing Crosby sings “There Ain’t No Sweet Man That’s Worth the Salt of My Tears”: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/G3Z6Pnof5VI/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGGUgWyhDMA8=&rs=AOn4CLCw-m6LPJdxN45R_Fn6RaEBneCeCw "1928 Paul Whiteman - There Ain’t No Sweet Man That’s Worth The Salt Of My Tears (vocal sextet)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3Z6Pnof5VI) ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-performer-and-character-are-different-genders/1025749/19 "2025-12-16T13:58:17Z")
You can decide whether or not it counts, since the pronouns are changed, but “The Lady Is a Tramp,” famously recorded by Frank Sinatra, was written (in the context of the Rodgers and Hart musical _Babes in Arms_) for a female character. Everywhere Frank sings “she,” it was originally “I.” The “Lady” of the title is meant to be the narrator herself. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2025, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-performer-and-character-are-different-genders/1025749/20 "2025-12-16T14:02:26Z")
The frontmen of the bands Saves The Day and Say Anything, Chris Conley and Max Bemis, have a side project called Two Tongues that consist entirely of duets. Well, some of them are more like dual vocals instead of the traditional duets where the singers are responding to each other, but a lot of them are duets. Some of _those_, in turn, don’t actually specify the gender, but in some of them Chris, with the higher voice, is singing as the woman. So they made several original songs with the gender switched from the beginning. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-where-performer-and-character-are-different-genders/1025749.md?page=2)