Songs for Women's Issues

The following are responses to several requests for songs about such
issues as abortion, rape, women's safety, etc.  Some include mention
of performers.  All the messages appeared on WMST-L in 2000.  For
additional WMST-L files now available on the Web, see the
WMST-L File Collection. 

Hi everyone,

A friend and I are looking for songs about abortion from women's
perspectives.  We already have Ani diFranco's "Lost Woman Song" and a
Sheryl Crow song in which the narrator mentions a friend who was shot while
trying to exercise her right to choose (sorry--I don't remember the title
of the song).

Does anyone know of other songs that address abortion rights or related issues?

Thanks,
Jeannie

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"I always felt that, for every unwashed dish, for every unmade bed,
another group of farmworkers got a dollar more."
    --Dolores Fern=E1ndez Huerta, labor organizer, on charges that
        she neglected her responsibilities at home.
        NPR interview, 2/22/00

Dr. Jeannie Ludlow                jludlow  @  bgnet.bgsu.edu
Coordinator, Undergraduate Program        (419)372-0176
American Culture Studies
101 East Hall
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green OH 43403

There is also another song by Ani DiFranco, off her newest album, called
"Birmingham," and it addresses not only her own abortion, but the issue of
clinic violence.

Jenn Crowell
grad student in WS at Towson University

"Sally's Pigeons" by Cyndi Lauper, off of her "Hat Full of Stars" album is
about losing a childhood friend to a botched back-alley abortion.

Victoria Heckler
vdheckler  @  aol.com

Peggy Seeger (who wrote the classic "I'm Gonna Be An Engineer") has written
and recorded at least two.  BTW, she is in the process of reissuing much of
her early material on new compilations, and has published "The Peggy Seeger
Songbook, Warts and all: forty years of songmaking."  It's part
autobiography, part music book, with lyrics and music for over 100 of her
songs.

The two abortion related songs are "Nine Month Blues"  reissued on PERIOD
PIECES, and "The Judge's Chair" reissued on AN ODD COLLECTION.

They are available at the major online stores, as well as from Peggy
through her website  http://www.pegseeger.com/

:-)  Gerri Gribi

Gerri Gribi     gerri  @  creativefolk.com

For Women's Studies & Folk Music Resources visit:
http://creativefolk.com
P.O. Box 8021  Green Bay, WI  54308
920-437-7373  Fax: 437-7389

To hear songs from my WOMANSONG COLLECTION CD:
http://songs.com/gerri

Loretta Lynn recorded a song about the birth control pill that might be of
interest.  I can't remember whether its title is "The Pill" or not,
though.

fyi,
Betty

_________________________________________________________
Betty Glass, Humanities Bibliographer
Getchell Library/322
1664 N. Virginia St.
University of Nevada, Reno
Reno, NV  89557-0044

email: glass  @  unr.edu

office: (775) 784-6500  ext. 303
   FAX: (775) 784-1751

Hi Jeannie,

Ani DiFranco has a new song which I think is called "hello birmingham" or "hello
buffalo" on her recently released cd _To the Teeth_ which talks extensively
about abortion (including making reference to her own) and the murder of Dr.
Slepian in Buffalo.

Also, there is a veiled reference to abortion in Rose Polenzani's song
"Ramon"...she sings of 'killing your bastard son' (the sung is sung to Ramon,
who apparently left the protagonist when she was pregnant). Rose is an
independent artist who records on the daemon Records label and the song can be
found on "Dragersville"

hope this helps

susan

Michelle Shocked's song Prodigal Daughter on the CD Arkansas Traveler is
about a woman who had an abortion.  The reference is a little bit obscure,
and involves her reading of the old folksong "Cotton-Eyed Joe."  When I
heard her sing this in concert, Michelle went through a long and pretty
convincing rap about  the Cotton-Eyed Joe with its verses like:

I could have been married a long time ago
If it hadn't a-been for Cotton eyed joe

However, I've heard lots of versions of Cotton-Eyed Joe, and I think it's
one of those songs that can absorb  improvised verses that might take it
far away from Shocked's interpretation.  A number of current rock-a-billy
versions turn the Cotton-Eyed Joe into an actual person, a temptation to
women.   Perhaps it boils down to the same thing?

Amelia Carr
acarr  @  alleg.edu
Allegheny College

Judy Collins had one on an album from the late 70's.  Does anyne remember
it?  If not, I can look it up at home.

Marilyn Grotzky

Some friends of mine wrote a book about women and abortion called:
HEALING CHOICE.
They are therapists in LA and have a talk radio show and clinical practice
there. They know quite a bit about the subject so you might contact them.
Dr. Candance Duprey and Dr. Dana Dovich
at: Dpdphds  @  aol.com
or go to their site:
http://www.healingchoice.com/

I'm really not very familiar with the subject other than counseling women
whose underlying depression is due to this issue. However, its a common issue
in clinical settings.

Lili
pinteareed  @  aol.com

I know that finals week is not the time to plan for next year, but it is
the time I am able to write!

For those of you who will be thinking over the summer about next year's
programming, I recommend you contact Gerri Gribi <gerri  @  creativefolk.com>.

This semester, Gerri visited our campus for a performance called "A Musical
Romp Through Women's History."  We were hoping for an hour-long performance
of various folk-type songs she had collected by women artists, about women,
and expressing moments in American history.

What we got was much more, because Gerri is a knowledgeable historian as
well as a talented entertainer.  Each song was preceded by a story or a
short history lesson - told in an engaging way.  Finally, Gerri wove her
performance around our women's studies program's own contributions to the
event.  We added in a student poetry performance and a "Women's History
Month IQ Quiz."  Gerri made sure her songs, stories, and historical
anecdotes connected with themes in the students' poetry, and gave
information about the women featured in the quiz.  And she did this with no
notice whatsover!

If you want more detailed feedback, please feel free to contact me at any
time.  Thanks.

Laura Duhan Kaplan

Dr. Laura Duhan Kaplan
Associate Professor of Philosophy
Coordinator, Women's Studies Program
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC  28223
phone: 704-547-2780
fax: 704-547-2172
ldkaplan  @  email.uncc.edu

Hello everyone,

U.S. Women's Equality Day is just around the corner!  I've created a
resource page which includes brief history of the women's suffrage movement
in the U.S., a suffrage songsheet you can download and print, links to more
information, including the complete text of the Declaration of Rights and
Sentiments of 1848, and recommended videos.

The URL is
http://creativefolk.com/equalityday.html

:-) Gerri Gribi

Gerri Gribi     gerri  @  creativefolk.com
PO Box 8021  Green Bay, WI  54308
(920) 437-7373   Fax: 437-7389
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
For Women's Studies & Folk Music Resources visit: http://creativefolk.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Listen to my music!
ONLINE:  http://songs.com/gerri
PHONE: Ladyslipper Listen Line  919-644-0000, code 0849

I'm a nationally touring feminist singer-songwriter-comic and I've got some
open dates on my upcoming October/November tour.  I've played a fair amount
of colleges as well as hundreds of other venues.  My program includes songs
about body image, sexuality, and breast cancer as well as some tunes just for
fun like "Menstrual Tango" (I guess that could be considered a women's health
song <g>) and "When Cats Take Over the World."

If you've got a budget to pay performers, I'd be happy to send you my press
kit and CD.  There's also lots of info, including songs to download, at my
website.  (Address below.)

I've got open dates for next semester too, including March.

Thanks!

-- Jamie

Jamie Anderson
Feminist Singer - Songwriter - Comic
** touring nationally for over a decade **
http://www.jamieanderson.com
http://www.mp3.com/jamieanderson
4201 University Dr., Ste. 102, Durham, NC, 27707
tsunamiinc  @  aol.com

Hi all,

One of my students has a campus radio show and wants to do a segment about
women's safety issues.  During the segment, he plans to plug the Campus
Escort service, the local hotline for rape advocacy, etc.  He'd like to
play several songs with a corresponding message during the segment.

Here's the problem:

because of the station's charter, he's not allowed to play mainstream 'pop'
groups or rock groups that have achieved a high level of commercial success.

He is allowed to play so-called "alternative" music, so he is already
planning to play Tori Amos and Ani diFranco.  He really would like to play
songs that deal with women's having to deal with safety issues that most
men can count on not having to deal with.

Any song suggestions?  I'll be glad to compile the list and post it.
Please reply privately!

Thanks so much you all,
Jeannie

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Dr. Jeannie Ludlow            jludlow  @  bgnet.bgsu.edu
American Culture Stds            (419)372-0176
101 East Hall                fall 2000 office hours:
Bowling Green State U               MWF 10:30-noon; 2:30-4:30
Bowling Green OH 43403                 others by appointment

WMST-L generated a pretty good list several months ago so you may want to
check the archives -- and in my opinion, the best of these songs are
produced by independent artists.  [Editor's note: the messages Mev Miller 
refers to are included above in this file.]
anyway,
here's the ones i thought of off the top -- I know I know many more but
don't have time now to look...

Holly Near - Fight Back
Tray Chapman - Behind the Wall
Alix Dobkin - Some Boys also the Boy/Girl Rap (and others)
Janis Ian - Breaking Silence
Erica Wheeler - Car with No Brakes
Ferron - testimony

and I can't remember the name of the artists -- it might be TOO popular -
but the song called "Mica" ("My name is Mica. I live upstairs from you.
you might have seen me before....

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Women's Presses Library Project
..keeping women's words in circulation
Mev Miller, Project Coordinator
1483 Laurel Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55104-6737

651-646-0097
651-646-1153 /fax

wplp  @  winternet.com

Suzanne Vega's song is _Luka_, (from the albumn Solitude
Standing) which I understand to be about abuse of a male child,
though it could about battered women, and certainly is included in
safety issues.  It was pretty popular though I can't find information
about where it landed on the charts.  The lyrics:

My name is Luka
I live on the second floor
I live upstairs from you
Yes I think you've seen me before

If you hear something late at night
Some kind of trouble. some kind of fight
Just don't ask me what it was
Just don't ask me what it was
Just don't ask me what it was

I think it's because I'm clumsy
I try not to talk too loud
Maybe it's because I'm crazy
I try not to act too proud

They only hit until you cry
And after that you don't ask why
You just don't argue anymore
You just don't argue anymore
You just don't argue anymore

Yes I think I'm okay
I walked into the door again
Well, if you ask that's what I'll say
And it's not your business anyway

I guess I'd like to be alone
With nothing broken, nothing thrown
Just don't ask me how I am
Just don't ask me how I am
Just don't ask me how I am

My name is Luka
I live on the second floor
I live upstairs from you
Yes I think you've seen me before

If you hear something late at night
Some kind of trouble. some kind of fight
Just don't ask me what it was
Just don't ask me what it was
Just don't ask me what it was

They only hit until you cry
And after that you don't ask why
You just don't argue anymore
You just don't argue anymore
You just don't argue anymore


Rebecca

Rebecca Tolley-Stokes
Assistant Reference Librarian
Sherrod Library
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TN
v) 423.439.4365  fax)423.439.4720  tolleyst  @  etsu.edu

"To be literate is to possess the cow of plenty."

  -Motto of the Madras Library Association

Hi everyone,
I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who has sent suggestions.
I also wanted to explain that, by "safety" issues, I mean something a bit
more broadly-defined than domestic violence (which is the list I remember
from "several months ago" and which I've already shared with the student).
Since the show will especially plug the Escort service and the rape
hotline, we were hoping for (and have received!) suggestions for songs
related to walking alone at night, acquaintence rape, dating violence, etc.

So far, I've gotten several songs.  I'll try to put together a compiled
list in the  next day or so.

Thanks again!
Jeannie


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Dr. Jeannie Ludlow            jludlow  @  bgnet.bgsu.edu
American Culture Stds            (419)372-0176
101 East Hall                fall 2000 office hours:
Bowling Green State U               MWF 10:30-noon; 2:30-4:30
Bowling Green OH 43403                 others by appointment

On a recording Holly Near and Ronnie Gilbert made together, there is an
excellent song called "Take Back the Night."

Susanne Vega's Website:

http://www.vega.net/vegahome.htm

Holly (U/Maine)

***********************************
HOL31  @  umit.maine.edu

 ICQ UIN#:  38794153 & 11685507
 Odigo:  #303057

 http://members.mint.net/nosey2

https://www.algore2000.com/myelection/myelection.php

Meryn Cadell sings several songs/spoken word poetry pieces about sexualized
gender-based violence.  I think her CD is titled "Angel Food" (not sure
about that)and it is the one that has the "Sweater Song" on it.

One of the songs is about a women walking home alone in the middle of the
night, and being terrified.  Some of the lyrics:

"take the chance the only chance that chicks would take
who must walk home in spikey heels, the clicks they make,
and walk through your cold neighborhood, but don't get raped
knock on wood."

Another song is from a survivor's point of view and deals with issues of
shame and fear.  Very intense and thought-provoking.

Also, try the song "Gratitude" on Ani Difranco's CD "Like I Said"--about a
woman who is expected by a male friend to return his kind favors in sexual
payments.  "What does my body have to do with my gratitude?"

Good luck.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gillian Wickwire
Department of Women's Studies
San Diego State University