Jobriath was born Bruce Wayne Campbell and was signed with Elektra Records … Read Full Bio ↴Jobriath was born Bruce Wayne Campbell and was signed with Elektra Records which, according to legend, had high hopes of turning him into 'the great American glam singer.' His debut album Jobriath (released in 1973) was hyped heavily, including the purchase of an immense billboard in New York's Times Square to advertise it. While the album was well-received by some critics who cited a distinct show tunes and/or vaudeville influence, despite the album intentionally being produced to sound like David Bowie, the American public was reluctant to give such a hyped-up recording artist even half a chance...especially as he was the first openly gay mainstream rock musician. (While queer musicians of any variety definitely existed before 1973, such as Noel Coward, it is contextually important to note that Jobriath was always very public about being gay, whereas Coward et al. proceeded as though no one knew about them besides their lovers. Even Freddie Mercury posed as merely bi-curious for most of his career.)

Jobriath's second album Creatures of the Street was released in 1974, and consisted of the remaining session recordings that weren't used for the first album. Jobriath's career was regarded as Elektra's (and the entire recording industry's) biggest faux pas and most expensive advertising failure. He was quickly dropped by Elektra. Although he briefly toured with his band after that, even he soon distanced himself from the Jobriath image and performed a cabaret act under the name Cole Berlin.

Pre-Jobriath, Campbell played the presumed-gay character Woof in the Broadway musical HAIR, and was a member of the folk-rock band Pidgeon (one album for Decca, 1969).

In 1983, on August 3rd, he died at his apartment in New York's Chelsea Hotel from AIDS-related complications. His death pre-dated Klaus Nomi's by three days, making him the first known recording artist whose death was AIDS-related.

The posthumous retrospective Lonely Planet Boy was released in 2004.

I'M A MAN
Jobriath Lyrics

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I maman
So I'm an elegant man
I'm a man
Clara bowes and open toes
Are what I am

Yes I maman
Yea I'm a fragile man

I'm a man
Light of step and soft of touch
A gentle man

You know I could love you
But if I should love you
Then I would love you
The way a man loves a woman
And live my life like been livin' it
My body claims my mind and soul so let me be
What I am
An elegant man

Yes I maman
So I'm a graceful man
I'm a man
Pierrots and spaceous clothes
Are what I am

You know I could love you
But if I should love you
Then I would love you
The way a man loves a woman
And live my life like been livin' it
My body claims my mind and soul so let me be
What I am
An elegant man

Yes I maman and I could love you

Overall Meaning

The song "I'm a Man" by Jobriath is a song about self-identity and the struggle that comes with it. The repeated phrase "I maman" is a play on words, with "maman" being the French word for "mommy," which adds to the theme of gender identity and the societal pressures that come with adhering to those gender norms. The singer proclaims himself to be an elegant, fragile, and graceful man, which are traditionally aspects of femininity. The lines "Clara bowes and open toes/are what I am" and "Pierrots and spacious clothes/are what I am" further speak to breaking free from traditional gender clothing expectations.

The chorus speaks to the possibility of the singer being able to love the person addressed in the song, but only if he can love them "the way a man loves a woman." This line is particularly poignant, as it speaks to the pressure to conform to traditional gender roles in order to be accepted by society. The last lines "My body claims my mind and soul/so let me be/What I am/An elegant man" speak to the idea that one's physical body and appearance shouldn't dictate who they are, and that individuals should be allowed to express themselves in whichever way feels authentic to them.

Line by Line Meaning

I maman
I am a man

So I'm an elegant man
I am a man of grace and sophistication

I'm a man
I am a male individual

Clara bowes and open toes Are what I am
I embody the fashion and style of Clara Bow, including open-toed shoes

Yes I maman
Again, I am a man

Yea I'm a fragile man
Although male, I have a delicate nature

Light of step and soft of touch A gentle man
I possess a gentle touch and demeanor

You know I could love you But if I should love you Then I would love you The way a man loves a woman And live my life like been livin' it My body claims my mind and soul so let me be What I am An elegant man
I have the ability to love, but I would do so as a man who loves a woman. I must live in a way that is true to myself and my body, as an elegant and sophisticated man.

So I'm a graceful man
I am a man who moves gracefully

Pierrots and spaceous clothes Are what I am
I am inspired by the fashion and style of Pierrot costumes, and enjoy wearing loose, flowing clothing

Yes I maman and I could love you
Once again, I am a man, and I have the capacity for love

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOBRIATH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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