The interesting thing about this song is that it started out being about women——and it still can be about women and their struggle in this country and all over the world to survive. 

All of the words apply to women—rough times, strong barriers, wrong rules, slow, slow change, anger, rage.

And at the same time the song never uses the word women. It can also be about race, or LGBTQI, or those of us in this country who are working toward justice and reason for the common good.

It can be about refugees. 

But along with the frustration words, there are other words—standing firm together, forging a strong bond, growing in new ways, birthing dreams and visions growing.

But ultimately it says that through every day we will survive because we’re survivors.

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Mother May I

If ever there was a time for a woman to not ask permission, it is now. Whether it is mother, teacher, preacher, husband, next-door neighbor, congress-person, I’m ready for each woman to think it through, ask questions for clarity, and decide for herself.

No asking, no putting myself in that position. If I make a mistake, so be it. I learn from that too. But I don’t learn from leaning or from dependency. 

Just go for it.

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I really do have a necklace made of sparkling rhinestones that says “BITCH” and I wear it when I perform this song. I claim the word for women. I claim the word that says “Be yourself. Don’t always try to please. Stand up tall. Let him call you a bitch – it beats being a doormat. Smile. I’m not 5’7” like I used to be. I still have a dark hair. And if going after what I want is selfish, then so be it. I’ll sing it in a minute and stretch as tall as I can as I sing “I’m just a tall, brown-haired selfish bitch.”

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Tendering

The first song in the CD Woman Songs Peace Songs is “Tendering” and I still identify with the very personal focus that spurred the original writing. Now there seems a whole new level on top of that personal one. It’s the level that speaks to the whirlwind of things going on in the world, in this country, sometimes in our own backyards. And it definitely speaks to that feeling of being alone and overwhelmed.

Please, right now, I need some tendering. I want some tendering. And I give some tendering too.

Mother May I

If ever there was a time for a woman to not ask permission, it is now. Whether it is mother, teacher, preacher, husband, next-door neighbor, congress-person, I’m ready for each woman to think it through, ask questions for clarity, and decide for herself.

No asking, no putting myself in that position. If I make a mistake, so be it. I learn from that too. But I don’t learn from leaning or from dependency. 

Just go for it.

Restroom Door

I still notice the sign on the restroom door as I enter. I would say that in the last thirty-five years the signage issue has improved and many more restroom doors say “Women” than used to. But I stay vigilant because occasionally there are still attempts to be cutesy. 

That’s easier for me to tolerate than when the other door says “Men” and my door says “Ladies.” I wrote a song once that isn’t in this collection that said, “Hey you need to know I’m not a lady—never have been one so I’ve been told. And I don’t intend to be a lady—it is just not one of my goals.”

Just put Women on the restroom door—Thank you.

——————

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Tendering

The first song in the CD Woman Songs Peace Songs is “Tendering” and I still identify with the very personal focus that spurred the original writing. Now there seems a whole new level on top of that personal one. It’s the level that speaks to the whirlwind of things going on in the world, in this country, sometimes in our own backyards. And it definitely speaks to that feeling of being alone and overwhelmed.

Please, right now, I need some tendering. I want some tendering. And I give some tendering too.

The post [SONG] Tendering appeared first on Ann Freeman Price.

You know some men are changing. Some men aren’t. I’m not in favor of abortions and at the same time I am in favor of a woman’s right to choose what happens to her own body. I don’t give that over to men to make that decision.

There are a host of things that can be done to support women——education, birth control, strengthening self-esteem, being sensitive to women who have been raped. I’m in favor of each of those.

I’m also in favor of not curtailing the right of a woman to choose abortion.

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Call Me Woman

Language is important to me. I’m not a lady. I’m not a girl. I’m a strong, resourceful, creative woman. My name is Ann—without an “e”.

I think whenever you say “She’s a…..” you need to double check yourself because first and foremost we are women.

It starts somewhere just before teenage years. When a young woman is even eleven or twelve, she’s not a little girl anymore—she’s a young woman. And it continues as we who are female continue to grow in years.

I push aside the labels—old lady, sweetheart—and I ask for clarity. Just say it plain, let the words come out of your mouth—she’s a woman, and quite a one at that.

Sometimes I think that the person who is calling you sweetheart or lady thinks they are paying you a compliment. Maybe it is a compliment to some people. But sometimes it’s antiquated or patronizing. Sometimes it’s a political put-down.

So play it safe and call me woman.

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I Git Tired

I wrote this when I had four children at home and a traveling husband and I did get tired of trying to do everything—the dishes, mopping the floor, taking the garbage out, cleaning the toilets.

So I divided the jobs up and everyone did their part (most of the time—and to various levels of competency).

Now I live in an apartment where the same thing is true. It’s part of the repetitiveness of life—you do (hopefully) brush your teeth at least twice a day—you do cook meals—you do the shopping and sometimes I still grouse about it. And these days I need instead of making a list for others to help (although I occasionally do that too) but I also try to balance for myself the things I repeatedly do over and over and some of these things are very much on the plus side.

I meditate (most days); I do yoga and Egoscue every day; I read many books simultaneously and relish that time and those things I don’t get tired of doing daily.

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The interesting thing about this song is that it started out being about women——and it still can be about women and their struggle in this country and all over the world to survive.

All of the words apply to women—rough times, strong barriers, wrong rules, slow, slow change, anger, rage.

And at the same time the song never uses the word women. It can also be about race, or LGBTQI, or those of us in this country who are working toward justice and reason for the common good.

It can be about refugees.

But along with the frustration words, there are other words—standing firm together, forging a strong bond, growing in new ways, birthing dreams and visions growing.

But ultimately it says that through every day we will survive because we’re survivors.

#womansongs/peacesongs #feministmusic #strongwomanballad #survivors #metoo #annfreemanprice

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Today with the emergence of the #MeToo movement it remains relevant. It continues to say “Respect each one of us. We are strong. And you need to know that we will speak out.”

Take Back the Night—–There is a growing movement among women which says, “We refuse to fear—to stay home—to be dependent. The night is ours too. We will go out together and we will ‘take back the night.’”

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