There was a time when that phrase could only be uttered by a man. But now Sam is just as likely to be a woman. As are Alex, Charlie, Gerry and Robin. Shirley was also once a man’s name. The 1980s wrestler Big Daddy’s real name was Shirley Crabtree. So was his father’s before him. I am Sam was also a film starring Sean Penn as the eponymous Sam. I think I’ve seen it but can’t remember anything about it apart from the soundtrack. It comprised off-beat covers of Beatles songs, of which this is my favourite.
