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Ballad Of The ERA

Kristin Lems
Language: English


Kristin Lems

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[1982]
Lyrics & Music by Kristin Lems
Album: Equality Road

Equality Road

"This was "the" rally song for the E.R.A. campaign...I sang this all over the country.."
This track was recorded live at the final ERA rally in Lafayette Park, Washington, DC, on June 30, 1982, the day that the time limit on the proposed Amendment expired. "I marvel that the singing shows such good cheer and resolve," she muses, "when you consider everyone there was having nervous breakdowns. In a way, the rally was a mass therapy session!" To add to it all, it rained - and the rally was shortened. One of the photos in the CD booklet shows a group of children, young feminists, holding up a big umbrella over Kristin as she continued "singing in the rain".
It was 50 years ago
An amendment was proposed
to make the law state men and women equal
But little did we know
Just how long the fight would go
And even now, we're working on its sequel..

So no more debate -because we can't wait
We demand equality today
And it's fight we must
To make the law just
ERA - ERA - ERA!
ERA - ERA - ERA!

I'm only Adam's rib
Keep me safe within my crib
Ms. Shifty cries while working women labor
«Any girl who needs to word
Should find a man, or she's a jerk,
And if she don't know her place,
Who cares what they pay her? » (We do!)

So no more debate -because we can't wait
We demand equality today
And it's fight we must
To make the law just
ERA - ERA - ERA!
ERA - ERA - ERA!

Said the main who's been laid off:
«How can I support this stuff?
The boss tells me you'll make more competition »
She said: « Find work if you can
But not just cause you're a man
Let's work side by side in factory and kitchen! »

So no more debate -because we can't wait
We demand equality today
And it's fight we must
To make the law just
ERA - ERA - ERA!
ERA - ERA - ERA!

Well, said the sergeant with a sneer: «Well then tell me something dear
Are you willing to be drafted with the others? »
Well she answered: «Yes, and more,
I will not support your war,
I will resist and fight beside my brothers! »

No more debate -because we can't wait
We demand equality today
And it's fight we must
To make the law just
ERA - ERA - ERA!
ERA - ERA - ERA!

Now the day is close at hand
That across this lovely land
Those who try to keep us down will be defeated!
So help us speed the day,
Shout the word, it's ERA!
Till the era of equality is greeted!

No more debate -because we can't wait
We demand equality today
And it's fight we must
To make the law just (Shout it!)
ERA - ERA - ERA!
ERA - ERA - ERA!

Contributed by giorgio - 2012/3/22 - 08:57




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