"Tell Me About the Game You Won"- Feminist Music

[Ellemeno]

Ode to a Gym Teacher

Meg Christian

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msIP4k_0QGs[/youtube]


She was a big tough woman
The first to come along
She showed me being female meant you still could be strong
And though graduation meant that we had to part
She'll always be a player on the ballfield of my heart

I wrote her name on my notepad and the ink got on my dress
And I etched it on my locker and I carved it on my desk
And I painted big red hearts with her initials on my books
And I never knew till later why I got those funny looks...

She was a big tough woman
The first to come along
She showed me being female meant you still could be strong
And though graduation meant that we had to part
She'll always be a player on the ballfield of my heart

In gym class while the others talked of boys that they loved
I'd be thinking of new aches and pains the teacher had to rub
And while other girls went to the prom I languished by the phone
Calling up and hanging up if I found out she was home

She was a big tough woman
The first to come along....

I sang her songs by Johnny Mathis
I gave her everything
A new chain for her whistle, and daisies in the spring
Some suggestive poems for Christmas by Miss Edna Millay
And a lacy lacy lacy card for Valentine's Day
(Unsigned of course)

She was a big tough woman
The first to come along...

(Here comes the moral of the song...)

So you just go to any gym class
And you'll be sure to see
One girl who sticks to Teacher like a leaf sticks to a tree
One girl who runs the errands and who chases all the balls
One girl who may grow up to be the *gayest* of all...

She was a big strong woman
The first to come along
To show me being female meant you still could be strong
And though graduation meant that we had to part
YOU"LL always be a player on the ballfield of my heart!

[Ellemeno]

Cris Williamson - Retrospective

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxCrjY73lz8[/youtube]

"Come to your life like a warrior, nothing will bore you, you can be happy."

[Ellemeno]

One of my favorite feminist songs.  It's told from the child's perspective, and while she's hunnerd per cent right that her babysitter's the best one, she doesn't even get the deepest reason why.  I well up every effin time I listen to it.

The Babysitter's Here
Dar Williams

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3D70qDs6rY[/youtube]

Tonight was just great, she taught us the sign for peace.
Now she's made us some popcorn, we've turned out the lights and we're watching movies.
I don't understand and she tries to explain how
A spaceship is riding through somebody's brain and their blood and guts...

She's the best one that we've ever had
She sits on her hair, and she's tall as my dad
And she tie-dyed my shirt, and she pierced her own ear
And it's peace, man, cool, yeah, the babysitter's here.

Her boyfriend is Tom but we call him the king of romance
He wears an American flag on the butt of his ripped up pants
And will they get married with kids of their own? He says
"Not if she's going to college we won't"
And he kisses her, oh...someday I'll have a boyfriend just like that...

She's the best one that we've ever had
She sits on her hair, and she's tall as my dad
And she got mad at dinner when Tom drank a beer
But peace man, cool, hey, the babysitter's here.

And we all went to see her go dance at the high school
We made her a big card
And she told us that she'd be the unicorn wearing the pink leotard
And there she was leaping up just like she said,
With a sparkling horn coming out of her head
And she's oh...oh... I can't wait to give her the card, I can't wait to give her the card

She's the best one...

But it's Saturday night, I can't sleep, and we're watching the news
She says "Do me a favor, don't go with a guy who would make you choose,"
And I don't understand and she tries to explain
And all that mascara runs down in her pain
Cause she's leaving me...

You're the best one that we've ever had
You sit on your hair and you're tall as my dad
And I'll make you a picture for college next year
So hush now, peace, man, the babysitter's here.
The best babysitter's here.

[Brown Eyes]

<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/5882863-dc4.JPG" border="0" />

Sleater-Kinney

The Professional

"There is a sound
they don't want you to own
Arrest every word
that escapes from your throat
They hand you the world's smallest microphone
It's still too loud and you're asked to go home

She can stay as long as she swears
that when she breathes it will be
her own air
She'll state her case and take up space
and that suffocates-
The professional

There is a sound that they want
you to hear
To drown out the voice
that plays in your ear
They hand you the world's biggest razor blade
an amateur bleeds
but she hardly gets paid

She can stay as long as she swears
that when she breathes it will be
her own air
She'll state her case and take up space
and that suffocates-
The professional

You better watch what you, you better watch what you say, no way
They're coming after you, they'll get in your head, your head, your head, head

She can be mad but they'll let her know
the scorched earth
allows nothing to grow
and she'll be blamed but feel no shame
'Cuz she'll have stopped-
the professional."



This is one of my favorite riot grrrl bands.  I could fill up this thread with their lyrics, they're so wonderful and just as important they're awesome musicians.  I saw them live in Philly during grad school and it was one of those great experiences where the live performance was even better than the albums.  They rock so hard I remember they were dripping with sweat at the end.  They're 3 petite women, which in some ways is such a delicious visual foil on stage to the power of their music and the amount of energy they put into their performances.  Riot grrrl music runs the spectrum from punk to rock... and Sleater-Kinney (or S-K) is closer to the rock side of the spectrum.  Brilliant.  And, this song is a good example of a pattern that runs through almost all riot grrrl music (almost a signature of the movement)... the lyrics often talk about the music business and examining the role for women in rock and punk music.

[Brown Eyes]

Hole

Old Age (excerpt)

"...
What was she for Halloween?
The ugliest girl you've ever seen
Someday she will die alone

What was she for Valentine's?
An old forgotten concubine
Someday she will die for no one

She seems to me to know
All that glitters is sour
All that lies in her place
Jesus saves
Old age
Old age
Old age

It's okay to kill your idols
Just pretend you have no rivals
We all know that she is friendless

Spits at mirrors; it's not an issue
Just remove the hateful tissues
We all know her rage is endless

She seems to me to know
All that glitters is sour
All that lies in her place
Jesus saves
Old age
Old age
Old age
Old age

And then she begs and she says "Pretty please?"
I'll make her pure again; I'll make her clean

No one knows she's Hester Prynne
Someone please tell Anne Boleyn
Chokers are back in again

Someday she won't have to fake it
Living will itself seem sacred
Someday she will just refuse

She seems to me to know
All that glitters is sour
All that lies in her place
Jesus saves
Old age..."

<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/midsize/5889888-821.jpg" border="0" />

As I mentioned in my first post of the thread, Hole is another one of my favorite riot grrrl bands.  And, Hole is most definitely on the punk end of the riot grrrl spectrum... the earlier the Hole album, the more hardcore it is usually.  This song, however, is a rare example of an early-ish song that also sounds a bit more like a ballad.  It was published on the album My Body the Hand Grenade, but the song is an outtake from the earlier album, Live Through This.

<img src="http://www.divshare.com/img/5889919-b00.jpg" border="0" />

[Brown Eyes]

Here's one for Madonna fans out there!  You may recall that this song was accompanied by a video (directed by Guy Ritchie) that caused some controversy because it was so raw.  It featured Madonna driving around in a car and crashing into things, and generally going on a rampage.  I assume this was meant to be something of a visualization of feminist anger and frustration.


Madonna

What It Feels Like For A Girl


(Spoken:)
"Girls can wear jeans
And cut their hair short
Wear shirts and boots
'Cause it's OK to be a boy
But for a boy to look like a girl is degrading
'Cause you think that being a girl is degrading
But secretly you'd love to know what it's like
Wouldn't you?
What it feels like for a girl

Silky smooth
Lips as sweet as candy, baby
Tight blue jeans
Skin that shows in patches

Strong inside but you don't know it
Good little girls they never show it
When you open up your mouth to speak
Could you be a little weak

Chorus:

Do you know what it feels like for a girl
Do you know what it feels like in this world
For a girl

Hair that twirls on finger tips so gently, baby
Hands that rest on jutting hips repenting

Hurt that's not supposed to show
And tears that fall when no one knows
When you're trying hard to be your best
Could you be a little less

(chorus)

Strong inside but you don't know it
Good little girls they never show it
When you open up your mouth to speak
Could you be a little weak

(chorus, repeat)

In this world
Do you know
Do you know
Do you know what it feels like for a girl
What it feels like in this world."
   

[southendmd]

Lyrics by Holly Near, music by Meg Christian.  Beautiful melody, but couldn't find a recording.  The verses depict various women and their lot in life:  violence, poverty, loneliness, lack of choices.  I'll just show the chorus.

"The Rock Will Wear Away"

Can we be like drops of water
Falling on a stone
Splashing
Breaking
Dispersing in air
Weaker than the stone by far
But be aware:
As time goes by
The rock will wear away.

And the water comes again...

[Brown Eyes]

Just a Girl

No Doubt
from the 1995 album Tragic Kingdom

"Take this pink ribbon off my eyes
I'm exposed
And its no big surprise
Dont you think I know
Exactly where I stand
This world is forcing me
To hold your hand

Cause I'm just a girl, oh little ol' me
Well don't let me out of your sight
Oh I'm just a girl, all pretty and petite
So dont let me have any rights
Oh... I've had it up to here!

The moment that I step outside
So many reasons
For me to run and hide
I cant do the little things I hold so dear
cause its all those little things
That I fear

'Cause I'm just a girl,
I'd rather not be
'Cause they wont let me drive
Late at night
Oh I'm just a girl,
Guess I'm some kind of freak
'Cause they all sit and stare
With their eyes
Oh I'm just a girl,
Take a good look at me
Just your typical prototype
Oh... I've had it up to here!

Oh... am I making myself clear?
I'm just a girl
I'm just a girl in the world...
That's all that youll let me be!

Oh I'm just a girl, living in captivity
Your rule of thumb
Makes me worry some
Woh I'm just a girl, whats my destiny?
What I've succumbed to
Is making me numb
Oh I'm just a girl, my apologies
What I've become is so burdensome
Oh I'm just a girl, lucky me
Twiddle-dum theres no comparison

Oh... I've had it up to!
Oh... I've had it up to!!
Oh oh oh oh oh ... I've had it up to here."

[Ellemeno]

Lyrics by Holly Near, music by Meg Christian.  Beautiful melody, but couldn't find a recording.  The verses depict various women and their lot in life:  violence, poverty, loneliness, lack of choices.  I'll just show the chorus.

"The Rock Will Wear Away"

Can we be like drops of water
Falling on a stone
Splashing
Breaking
Dispersing in air
Weaker than the stone by far
But be aware:
As time goes by
The rock will wear away.

And the water comes again...

again, Paul.  I love that song, and have sung it many, many, many times, though not much in the last decade+.  I tried to find it on YouTube too, but couldnah.

[Brown Eyes]

again, Paul.  I love that song, and have sung it many, many, many times, though not much in the last decade+.  I tried to find it on YouTube too, but couldnah.

Heya Paul (or Elle)... why don't you go ahead and post the rest of the lyrics to that song even if you can't find a YouTube clip.  I'm interested because it's not a song I'm familiar with at all (as far as I know).