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The Judge Said

Malvina Reynolds
Language: English


Malvina Reynolds

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[1977]
Lyrics by Malvina Reynolds
Music: Sung to the tune of “When Johnny Comes Marching Home”
Album: Mama Lion [1980]

In 1977 a decision by one Judge Simonson of Madison, Wisconsin, relieved some young men of responsibility for a sex crime they committed on the basis of rather dubious reasoning. This song was written by Malvina in response to his decision and contributed to a recall campaign against the judge who made highly inappropriate remarks excusing rape. The story was quickly picked up by the national news. Eventually Simonson was removed from the bench.
The judge said: « Screw 'em! -Boys, you're only human.
They brought it on themselves by being born a woman.
Like a mountain's there to climb
And food's there to be eaten,
Woman's there to rape,
To be shoved around and beaten. »

The judge took his position,
the judge he wouldn't budge,
So we've got out this petition,
and we're going to screw the judge.

Now if you beat a horse or dog or violate a bank,
Simonson will haul you in and throw you in the clink.
But violate a woman,
Your equal and your peer,
The judge will slap you on the wrist
And lay the blame on her.

The judge took his position,
the judge he wouldn't budge,
So we've got out this petition,
and we're going to screw the judge.

To draw a true conclusion from what Simonson has said,
Woman has to live in fear and cover up her head.
She has to dress in Purdah
And lock herself in cages,
And this kinky judge in Madison
Is from the Middle Ages.

The judge took his position,
the judge he wouldn't budge,
So we've got out this petition,
and we're going to dump the judge!

Contributed by giorgio - 2010/4/29 - 08:58




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