Self Esteem sings ” I do this all the time”
A modern treatise to feminism wrapped up in a ballad.
The lyrics have it all. Male Oppression, Female Oppression.
Age, Marriage, Children, Friends, Female Appearance.
A guide to living a life free of social constraints and institutions. Worth a try but not possible? But important to have an awareness of what society expects of women and men. Is modern civilization freeing or abusing?
Mass production, power, light and clean water demand conformity. But a what price? Or does the mainstream support and create the platform for the avante garde?
Is the role of man and woman improving and the relationship between them more equal? Men say yes, and women no?
“Look up, lean back, be strong
You didn’t think you’d live this long
Be as one, hold on, steady stand
For as long as you think you can
Old habits die for a couple of weeks
And then I start doing them again
This sun is making me feel like I’m missing out on something
But if I went to your barbecue
I’d feel uncomfortable and not be sure what to say anyway
It’s like when I go to your birthday
Drinks to congratulate you being the age I already thought you were
Or not, I don’t know
It’s a miracle, I’ve remembered at all
When I’m buried in the ground
I won’t be able to make your birthday drinks
But I will still feel guilty
You see, when the air warms up like this
It brings every single memory of you back
And it makes me so sick, I can’t breathe
Except I am still breathing, aren’t I?
Sometimes I think that’s the problem
Look up, lean back, be strong
You didn’t think you’d live this long
Be as one, hold on, steady stand
For as long as you think you can
Be very cafeful out there
Stop trying to have so many friends
Don’t be intimidated by all the babies they have
Don’t be embarrassed that all you’ve had is fun
Prioritise pleasure
Don’t send those long paragraph texts
Stop it, don’t
Getting married isn’t the biggest day of your life
All the days that you get to have are big
Be wary of the favours that they do for you
They’ll tell you I’m wrong, they’ll tell you (I do this all the time)
They’ll tell you I’m wrong, they’ll tell you (I do this all the time)
Look up, lean back, be strong
You didn’t think you’d live this long
Be as one, hold on, steady stand
For as long as you think you can
All you need to do, darling, is fit in that little dress of yours
If you weren’t doing this you’d be working in McDonald’s
So try and cheer up, I’m not sure
You’re moving around too much and you need to stand still
Be more like Mairead, shh
Stop showing off
You’re a good girl
You’re a good, tall girl
You’re a good, sturdy girl
One day I would love to tell you
How the best night of your life
Was the absolute worst of mine
Look up, lean back, be strong
You didn’t think you’d live this long
Be as one, hold on, steady stand
For as long as you think you can
Now and again you make complete sense
But most of the time I’m sat here feeling stupid for trying
My hunger times, my impatience equals the problem
You’re beautiful and I want the best for you
But I also hope you fail without me
It was really rather miserable trying to love you
I’ll take care, I’ll read again, I’ll sing again, I will
I’ll take care, I’ll read again, I’ll sing again, I will
We laid there in the darkness and you were asleep
And I wasn’t checking my phone for a moment and I felt—”
Copyright Adrian Scott
North London Counsellor Blog 2021
All Rights Reserved
Disclaimer: This weblog is the view of the writer and for general information only
This article is designed to provoke argument and critique