Unwoman: Mamas Please Let Your Babies Grow Up

Since I don't control the bandcamp the song is on, I wanted to give it more context here, and include lyrics and the creative commons license info, while still encouraging you to buy the compilation, for which all proceeds go to the Marsha P. Johnson Family Foundation and to The Trevor Project. We all must do what we can to fight fascism. One contribution I can offer is this song -- you, or anyone at all, are welcome to sync to video, cover, remix, share, and distribute derivative works of, the song. Commercial use is acceptable. I claim no responsibility or oversight over what people choose to do with it. Please share this page here on my personal site widely. Please share widely and credit "Unwoman" wherever possible. No need to ask me for permission, but please do email un@unmediated.net and let me know you've done it, and I'll share your collaboration on my bluesky. Mamas Please Let Your Babies Grow Up © 2024 by Unwoman is licensed under CC BY 4.0 I wrote this song in 2024, inspired by an unhinged TERF who would park her car across from the elementary school near my dentist, all day, holding multiple signs decrying gender-affirming care and proclaiming the joys (!) of puberty. (Seriously, not a popular position even among cis people.) Anyway, I didn't write this song for my trans friends, or my friends who are parents of trans kids. I wrote this for misinformed parents who risk losing communication with their children, or even their children losing their lives. This was a really hard song to write, and the whole process was extremely uncomfortable and I pushed through a lot of cringe, ultimately saying to myself, this song needs to exist and I've done my best. And now I'm pushing through MORE cringe in order to share it widely, and you can share in my cringe by also sharing it. Proving love is more important than being cool. Love, Erica LYRICS Mamas, please let your babies grow up to be whatever they want Cowgirls and teachers and doctors and stars The future has room for so much! Bella was three when she knew she wasn't a boy Didn't know what she would be, but it wasn't a boy Instead of seeing the daughter she had Her mother let strangers say her child was mad Now Bella's mother would take it all back If she just had the chance Mamas, please let your babies grow up to be whatever they want It's everyone's right to choose their own path With or without you to walk hand in hand Mamas, please let your babies grow up to be however they want I promise you don't need to clip their wings Just because you don't understand True, there are dangerous forces that threaten our kids But none of them are humans who simply exist Whether you like it or not we will be Offering strength and community And we would prefer you would join us all in harmony Yes there are things that I've learned as a parent of one Who is determined to follow only his own drum And I think back to my childhood What felt repressive, what felt free and good Can we let our children make a kinder world? Mamas, please let your babies grow up to be whoever they want It's not your purpose to make them conform The world will be harsh enough Mamas, please let your babies grow up to be whatever they want Artists and nurses and engineers The future has room for so much!