Photo Credit: openDemocracy, via Flickr.
On August 8, 2018, Argentina voted against legalizing abortion. Women’s reproductive rights continue to be a hot-button issue all around the world. For example, in the USA there are those that are concerned that potential shifts in the Supreme Court could cause Roe v. Wade to be overturned (Update: On June 24, 2022, Roe v. Wade has been overturned. Also, published a list of 10 more protest songs about women’s reproductive rights).
There is also opposition to women’s health organizations like Planned Parenthood which provides women with reproductive health services which in many cases help prevent unwanted pregnancy and reduce the need for abortions.
A number of songs have also been written about the topic of abortion both from a pro-life and pro-choice perspective (and in some cases from a neutral observational perspective). Right now we will look specifically at ten songs protesting in favor of a women’s right to choose.
Rosie Jane – Malvina Reynolds
“Rosie Jane” is off of Reynolds’ 1975 album Held Over. Best known for her anti-conformity anthem “Little Boxes”, Reynolds composed this tune in support of Roe v. Wade which was established in 1973. The song’s lyrics addressed the hypocrisy of pro-lifers who once a child is born they no longer care “When that baby is a child, It will suffer from neglect, Be picked upon and pecked, And run over and wrecked.” It also concludes with the potent line “And it cannot be murdered till it’s born.”
Baby’s Gone – Heavens To Betsy
Heavens To Betsy was an influential riot grrrl duo that was the first band of Corin Tucker, who went on to greater fame as a founding member of Sleater-Kinney. “Baby’s Gone” appeared on their 1992 self-titled demo cassette and it is sung from the perspective of a teenager writing to her parents after she died from the complications of attempting a self-abortion. The song draws awareness to potentially fatal consequences when safe legal abortions are not accessible.
Sally’s Pigeons – Cyndi Lauper
“Sally’s Pigeons” appears on Lauper’s 1993 album Hat Full of Stars. The moving song was written about a friend of Lauper who as a teenager got pregnant and ended up dying from a back-alley abortion. Even though more a song of mourning than a direct protest, it does draw awareness that making abortions illegal or limiting access to them doesn’t stop abortions, it only makes abortions more deadly. (Update: In light of the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Lauper re-recorded the tune.)
Don’t Pray on Me – Bad Religion
This tune off of the veteran punk band’s 1993 album Recipe for Hate is a scathing indictment of the oppression that has taken place as a result of religion’s involvement with politics. The song also takes a stand for women’s reproductive rights with the potent verse: “A bitter debate and a feminine fate/Lie in tandem like two precious babes/ While the former gets warmer, it’s the latter/ That matters except on the nation’s airwaves / And custodians of public opinion stayed back/ After vainly discussing her rights/ Lay hands off her body/ It’s not your fucking life!”
La Femme Fétal – Digable Planets
This tune off of the alternative hip hop trios’ classic 1993 album Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time and Space) is an insightful commentary in support of women’s reproductive right. It attacks male politicians who “don’t really give a damn about life/
They just don’t want a woman to control her body/
Or have the right to choose.” It also attacks the hypocrisy of pro-lifers with the reminder that “life doesn’t stop after birth” and that “The situation would surely change if they were to find themselves in it.” The tune also discusses the potentially fatal risks of illegal abortions and it describes those that oppose women’s productive rights as “Orwellian” and “fascists.”
Fallopian Rhapsody – Lunachicks
This tune off of the all-female punk group’s 1995 album Jerk of All Trades provides compelling reasons in support of safe and legal access to abortions. It also indicts so call pro-lifers who basically stop caring about the life once it is born and exposes the hypocrisy of religious fanatics who are willing to kill abortion doctors while praying.
White Crosses – Against Me!
“White Crosses” is the title track off of Against Me! 2010 album. Front woman Laura Jane Grace wrote the song in response to a church around the corner from where she lived that had four thousand white crosses on its lawn, representing the number of abortions that happen in America each day. Grace expresses a desire to “smash them all.” The song could also be considered an indictment on religion which oppressively tries to dictate the choices that women make over their own bodies.
Roe V. World – War On Women
The feminist hardcore band War On Women frequently addresses the issue of women’s right to choose. For example, “Roe V. World” and “Pro-Life” off their 2015 self-titled debut album and “Childbirth” off their 2018 album Capture The Flag all poignantly address the subject. “Roe V. World” not only supports Roe v. Wade, but the tune addresses practical steps that can be taken to reduce unwanted pregnancy, which would in turn reduce the need for abortions (such as making contraception readily available and teaching men what consent means). The song also rages against the patriarchy that tries to “keep women pregnant their entire fucking lives.”
Play God – Ani DiFranco
There is no way you could make a list of pro-choice songs without including one from DiFranco. The veteran singer-songwriter and activist often address the topic in her songs. For example, “Lost Woman Song” off of her 1990 self-titled debut is a gripping autobiographical account of an abortion she had when she was 18 years old. “Hello, Birmingham” off of her 1999 album To The Teeth deals with the murder of an abortion doctor in DiFranco’s hometown of Buffalo and a bombing of an abortion clinic in Birmingham. A recent example of DiFranco’s musical campaigning is “Play God”, 2016 single which also appears on her 2017 album Binary. The song attacks the government and religious systems which are propped up by the patriarchy. When it comes to her body and her reproductive choices DiFranco makes it clear to all the men out there that “You don’t get to play God, man, I do.”
End of My Bloodline (Remix) – Screaming Females with Moor Mother and Sammus
This reworking of a tune that originally appeared on the indie rock trios 2018 album All At Once features potent verses from underground female rappers Moor Mother and Sammus. Powerful lyrics include “I pay the rent here so listen, no gentrfying my body. It’s mine.” The song makes it clear that women should have clear control over their bloodline and that no man should ever tell a woman what to do with her body. A powerful declaration of the right to self-determination.
Below is a Spotify list featuring tunes about Women’s Reproductive Rights. It includes songs from the two lists posted here, along with a few others.