An exploration in song of the consequences of sexism.
Committed and passionate singer songwriter of new songs from traditional inspiration
Berni is a singer songwriter of passionate and committed songs.
Story behind the song
I really think there is no more fundamental issue than that of sexism. The cultural moulding of little boys into aggressive warriors and little girls into potential mothers may once have made some sense... but today it makes no sense whatsoever! Indeed, such determinations are behind the majority of wars on the planet today. If we cannot escape from these moulds we are doomed to enslave half the human race and make killers or potential martyrs of the other half.
This song shows women as victims in the wider political sense (Verse One) in the private individual mode (Verse Two) and as Mothers (Verse 3). But the implications are that their aggressors are also victims of the insane mould they have been forced into.
I have no problems being judgemental about cultures. If the aim of a culture is to opress then it has no place in the future of the human race and should either evolve or atrophy and fade away So, practices such as female genital mutilation do not represent "cultural" differences for me... they are human rights issues.
Lyrics
Boys will be Boys
She stepped out in the street as if there was nothing there,
Ignoring the troops that she was facing -
Gave them glance for glance - a smile for an empty stare,
Whose footsteps was she tracing,
When they shot her down? They shot her down.
She carried no banner and she carried no bomb
And no gun was ever found.
Still they shot her down - They shot her down
For the crime… of walking their streets.
For the crime… of mocking their machismo
By not being afraid.
She told him again that their love was at an end,
Said she needed room to grow in.
Held him one last time and said they could still be friends
Grabbed her bag and started going -
So he shot her down - He shot her down -
He couldn't lose her and he couldn't lose face,
It would be all over town.
So he shot her down - He shot her down,
For the crime… of shattering his illusions.
For the crime… of being her own person
And not being his mother.
She bounced him on her knee then kissed him on the cheek,
A cuddle soon had stopped his wailing.
Set him gently down and softly did she speak:
"Back to the game that you were playing."
So he shot her down - He shot her down -
It was only a game and it was only in fun,
Now she could get up off the ground.
Then he shot her down - He shot her down -
Once again - With his laser bolt rifle.
Once again - one hand on the trigger -
The other in his pants.
