My grandma listens to a lot of old rock and pop music when she drives. Since she drives me places, that means I get to listen to it, too.

I was listening to one of the songs yesterday, and realized it’s my theme song. It’s by a singer from the 1970’s named Jim Croce, and the song is called I Got a Name. Croce died the day before the song was released by his record company, so he never knew that it was one of his biggest hits. He was on his way from Louisiana — where I do a lot of filming — to Dallas, which is where I live. This is a video of him singing the song a few weeks before he died.

I like the words of the song a lot. But the part that really means something special is the line, “They can change their minds, but they can’t change me.”  Yeah.

I really don’t care what anybody thinks about me. I am who I am. If that offends anybody, they should look at someone else.

Like yesterday, I decided to wear my tutu. And all day long, I wore it.  At the barbershop, while I was getting my hair cut. At dinner with my grandma.  At acting class.

Some people stared at me. I just stared back. Nobody said anything, though. At least not anything bad. To be honest, a lot of girls like a guy who is confident enough to be himself — whether that means wearing a kilt or a tutu or an armful of bracelets, or something else.

Here are the lyrics to the song.  It’s about being proud of yourself and your dreams, no matter what anybody else thinks. What’s your theme song? What’s your dream?

Jim Croce’s I Got A Name

Like the pine trees lining the winding road,
I got a name, I got a name,
Like the singing bird and the croaking toad,
I got a name, I got a name.

And I carry it with me like my daddy did
But I’m living the dream that he kept hid.

[Chorus]
Moving me down the highway, rolling me down the highway
Moving ahead so life won’t pass me by.

Like the north wind whistlin’ down the sky,
I got a song; I got a song.
Like the whippoorwill and the baby’s cry,
I got a song, I got a song,

And I carry it with me and I sing it loud,
If it gets me nowhere, I’ll go there proud.

[Chorus]

And I’m gonna go there free

Like the fool I am and I’ll always be,
I got a dream, I got a dream.
They can change their minds but they can’t change me,
I got a dream, I got a dream

Oh, I know I could share it if you’d want me to,
If you’re goin’ my way, I’ll go with you.

[Chorus]

Songwriters: Charles Fox & Norman Gimbel

© Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.