My two cents on the Blurred Lines lyric “controversy”.

I keep reading about how Robin Thicke’s song, Blurred Lines is “rapey” in nature.  I’ve listened to it, I’ve read the lyrics. I’ve read countless articles and posts. And I’m sorry, I’m not seeing it.  There are plenty of songs I’ve heard – mostly rap, mostly by African-American “artists”, I’m afraid – that are BLATANTLY  rapist anthems.  But yet and still, the focus remains on Robin Thicke.  Okay.  Whatever.

What I wanted to share though was this little diddy from back in my youth – a little tune that played on the radio and in the dance clubs just briefly in the late ’80s – sung by Aaron Hall who hailed from the group Guy.  Ahem, feast your eyes on this (lyrics published on Let’s Sing It.com).   I bold-faced the lyrics I find MOST disturbing:

Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray my Lord my soul to keep
If I should die before I wake
I pray my Lord my soul to take

You’ll be saying “Daddy” to me
Boy please don’t hurt me
This is my first experience, baby
Make it feel alright, don’t worry baby

Don’t be afraid
Don’t be afraid
Don’t be afraid
Don’t be afraid, baby

Don’t be afraid
Don’t be afraid
Don’t be afraid
Don’t be afraid, girl

When I lay you down tonight
And I squeeze and hold you tight

…the hate, the violence…Really just stop already.

Everything will feel alright
Don’t be afraid, baby
When you start to scratch and moan
And your problems are long gone
Let it happen right now
Don’t be afraid, girl

Now I have you all to myself
You can put all the other guys all on the shelf
No need to run and no need to hide
All the doors are locked baby and I have you inside
You can yell and you can hit me
It just makes me horny
Ain’t nothing but a love thing baby
Between me and you
So just give in baby, don’t worry about a thing

Don’t be afraid
Don’t be afraid
Don’t be afraid
Don’t be afraid, baby

Don’t be afraid
Don’t be afraid
Don’t be afraid
Don’t be afraid, girl

When I get through with you
There’s nobody else you will want to go to
I put all men to shame
Remember babe, this is all a nasty man’s game

Don’t be afraid
Don’t be afraid
Don’t be afraid
Don’t be afraid, baby

Don’t be afraid
Don’t be afraid
Don’t be afraid
Don’t be afraid, baby

Gee, I feel so lucky, got to have you in my arms
But now its time to go beddy bye, no need for an alarm
So go to sleep my baby
Like I said, everything’s alright
Rest your head on my tattooed chest
I know it feels real good
Ooh wee baby, no need to be afraid
The lights are off and I close the shades
So kiss me baby I say, so one more time
For the road baby, I’m rising again
Give me a sedative baby, don’t be afraid

Don’t be a-
Don’t be a-
Don’t be afraid, little girl
Don’t be a-
Don’t be a-
Don’t be afraid, little girl
Don’t be a-
Don’t be a-
Don’t be afraid, little girl
Don’t be a-
Don’t be a-
Don’t be afraid, little girl
Don’t be a-
Don’t be a-
Don’t be afraid, little girl

Compared to this, I believe Blurred Lines to be no more “rapey” than the average tired come-ons women usually have to fend off at the clubs. Yes, the song is asinine and really, do guys think telling me I’m the “baddest bitch in the place” is a compliment? Not quite.  But I’ll take most of Blurred Lines over Don’t be Afraid any day.

Oh sure, I have more to say about rape culture in general. Growing up as a human with a vagina and an abundance of melanin in this patriarchal / misogynistic / race hating society, one can’t help but be acutely aware of the daily attacks aimed at one’s person, but there’s so very little I can add to what I am happy to see is the growing voice of women and a few men, who aren’t going to take this shit anymore, that I think it’s best for me to stop here.  Know that  I stand with them and do what I safely can to make sure the message gets spread.

Alright, I think that’s enough for today. You may now return to your regularly scheduled blog hopping :-).