submissions
| Melissa Etheridge – Testify Lyrics
| 2 months ago
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Before coming out, Melissa Etheridge was brilliant at shaping lyrics that applied to people whatever a partner’s gender is. She continued this practice along with making lyrics vague and universal enough for the listener to assign meaning. This song is not about a male lover, rather about any man or my interpretation, “The Man” who symbolically keeps the oppressed down. This is why there are so many references to the news and turning her head to it. Written in the late 80s, after the world had abandoned the gat community to die to AIDs and gay rights were barely spoken outside of gay circles, she wants to testify before it is too late, before too many die not knowing the freedom they could have. This extends behind gay rights, as in true ME fashion, she doesn't assign it to the community, but allows more universal understanding. |
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