Ova - The Granny Song (UK, 1984)

Jana Runnalls and Rosemary Schonfeld were Ova, a UK lesbian feminist duo frequently joined by other musicians. "The Granny Song," written by Schonfeld, is from their 1984 LP "Possibilities." Like their other music, it was released on the independent label "Stroppy Cow Records."

[lyrics]

"My grandmother told me, when I was still quite young
That way back in 1983 when she was thirty one
Well she told stories I just could not believe
And this is what she said to me
She said: 'Child,
They were building bombs that could destroy the earth
And there was acid rain on the trees
And when we raised our voices
They said 'It's all for the economy.'

We did what we had to do
And we had to break the law
I'm not saying 'Be like me'
I'm just saying what we did it for
You do what you have to do
But don't sit back and let the world die
Dow what you have to do
But don't sit back and let the world die
No no no no

She said the rich got richer, the poor died younger
Everybody lived on sugar beet
And women were not safe on the street
And the nuclear plants caused cancer
But the governments refused to answer
And there were starting countries where
Women could not feed their babies
While men sailed on their yachts on the sunny seas
And nobody thought they were to blame
They said it's always been the same
I can't believe all the things she said to me
Were happening back in 1983
She said..."