From the recording ALTER EGOS LP4
A Scottish-oriented song with original Doric lyrics (Aberdeen), but with a serious theme. The theme for the song came from a comment that society makes it so much easier if you’re a “straight white male”, and for all others who are not it is still a struggle – even though in so many ways things have improved. I tried to broaden the song past Scotland, and with the theme that we are “all the same” and in the song there are some firsts – but there are of course so many others that I could have mentioned. Civil rights, women’s rights, LGBTQ rights, disability rights. But there is still such a long way to go.
Credits:
Steve Lewis - all lyrics and instruments, vocals
Melissa McIntosh - vocals in Doric (Aberdeen)
Michael Krebs - production, additional drums and effects
Milan Holz - mastering
Lyrics
Awa and leave me alane
I see ye. Stracht white male.
I see ye.
Ye hink yer great. Fit can ye fail?
I see ye. Stracht white male.
Yev gotten it gart. Fit can ye fail?
Mair equal than us fur muckle too lang
Ye hink yer great.Ye hink yer strong.
Society has gotten it wrang
Yer time hiz come ben.
Till now it has been so easy for you the straight white male
You think you control everything today you are doomed to fail
All the same but are we? Too many get left behind
Forgotten, unseen, robbed of their dream. Out of sight and out of mind
Seems you’ve got it easier if you’re a straight white male.
Been in front for so long on life’s long and winding trail
So much in control like you didn’t care
So wrong when we all breathe the same fresh air
It’s going now in a better direction.
There’s still a way to go. Don’t close the conversation.
No compromise on respect or equality.
Don’t forget. You’re in the minority.
1761 Portugal is the first country to ban domestic slavery
1791 France is the first country to decriminalise homosexuality
1850 Iceland was the first country to give unconditional property rights to women
1893 New Zealand is the first country to give women the vote
1919 UK is the first country to have a female member of Parliament
1960 Ceylon is the first country to have a female Prime Minister
2001 Netherlands is the first country to allow same sex marriages
But there is still such a long way to go
Fairness, dignity, I see ye, positive discrimination, equality
We’re all the same
Have you lost sight of the new reality? Have you failed to see the change?
You can’t behave like you used to. Time has come to treat us all with respect
Whatever the colour, gender, orientation, challenge, opinions, political beliefs or disabilities
We’re all the same
Things have been rapidly changing while you’ve been fast asleep
It makes you choke cos it’s all gone woke,
Better look before you leap.
What of the other minorities you neglected before?
Finally their time has come to use the same door.
Seems you’ve got it easier if you’re a straight white male.
Been in front for so long on life’s long and winding trail
So much in control like you didn’t care
So wrong when we all breathe the same fresh air
It’s going now in a better direction.
There’s still a way to go. Don’t close the conversation.
No compromise on respect or equality.
Don’t forget. You’re in the minority.