Dec. 21, 1851
But let me say frankly that at the same time I feel, maybe with too little regret, that I am under an awful necessity to be what I am.
I normally never would associate Thoreau with the entertainer Sammy Davis, Jr., but here we are. The song was originally called "I've Got to Be Me". It was from an original Broadway musical called Golden Rainbow, and was written and composed by Walter Marks. (This was back in the 1960's, when they still made original musicals not based on cartoons or second-rate Hollywood movies -- yes, I'm looking at you, Bring It On: The Musical.) But when Sammy recorded it, he hadda change the lyrics, just a little.
But here's a pertinent verse:
I'll go it alone, that's how it must be
I can't be right for somebody else
If I'm not right for me
I gotta be free, I've gotta be free
Daring to try, to do it or die
I've gotta be me.
We already know that it was tough being HDT (see March 13, 1841). His manners and his philosophy alienated a lot of people, including friends. But in order to be authentic, to be true to himself, there was no other road he could go.
I normally never would associate Thoreau with the entertainer Sammy Davis, Jr., but here we are. The song was originally called "I've Got to Be Me". It was from an original Broadway musical called Golden Rainbow, and was written and composed by Walter Marks. (This was back in the 1960's, when they still made original musicals not based on cartoons or second-rate Hollywood movies -- yes, I'm looking at you, Bring It On: The Musical.) But when Sammy recorded it, he hadda change the lyrics, just a little.
But here's a pertinent verse:
I'll go it alone, that's how it must be
I can't be right for somebody else
If I'm not right for me
I gotta be free, I've gotta be free
Daring to try, to do it or die
I've gotta be me.
We already know that it was tough being HDT (see March 13, 1841). His manners and his philosophy alienated a lot of people, including friends. But in order to be authentic, to be true to himself, there was no other road he could go.
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