In ignorance, I still assumed this body was mine, that I could choose. I had faith for charity and understanding sympathy. But no, we're seen as baby machines. Face judge, jury, and male GPs, found guilty, careless, callous, cold, and told the things we're always told by the gentle, prime-time moralist on national daily news, with persuasive smile he'll take away a woman's right to choose. They say the Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away. But not beyond the eighteenth week if Alton has his way.
'Have you considered what you're going to lose? Do you realize what you're asking me to do? Are there medical reasons? And, oh, by the way, you know we can't help you unless you pay?'
Desperation and a waiting list. You don't count blessings, just weeks missed. Problems are beginning to show. It's so impersonal, so painfully slow.
'Do you know what you'll put my conscience through? Do you know just how few women are as lucky as you? No, the delay's not deliberate. It just takes time. And maybe by then you'll have changed your mind.'


A history of desperation, of old wives' tales, from jumping down off ladders to using knitting needles. From gin baths, to a punch in the guts--sometimes it would work, mostly it just hurt. That these laws are to protect us is another moral con. How do they protect the given rights of any woman? They'll drive us on the back-streets, demand won't go away. We'll bleed, we'll die, because we couldn't pay. This Bill will make us victims--it's we who should decide. We want control of our bodies and our lives. Alton, don't feel too safe behind your man-made laws. Laws can be broken as easily as bones. Steal from one, and you steal from us all, and laws like yours will make re-sisters of us all!


Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher

Fight the Alton Bill! song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

0 Comments

sort form View by:
  • No Comments

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song: Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.” That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Album art
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him. There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Album art
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Album art
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Album art
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.