People // Suzi Barnes // Blog

So I originally intended this song to be one of those annoying feminist rants in a very general sense... it kind of took a life of its own. Now it's only a mildly annoying feminist rant about marriage and love and what is expected of me as a woman in Western society... or at least American society... or at least the Barnes' family society. Anyway, the words have a lot of meanings, but here are the two "main ideas" when I look at it: my struggle with the idea of marriage as the only suitable lifestyle for a woman and the need to be accepted as I am.

I was told this week one of my brothers is filing for a divorce after only a year of marriage to a woman he has known since grade school. Situations like this make me wonder if marriage is the best choice in a world that's so uncertain, and if I don't get married, that somehow undermines my value and worth as a woman. Seriously- if I don't get married or at least have children, I have failing in my role as a woman. On a side note, if I am not married when I have kids, I'm promiscuous, but still better than barren.

The song is titled "Pretty Dresses" which I meant to mean wedding dresses or something, but keeping it general includes the idea that wearing pretty dresses is meant to further define women as materialistic drama queens radiating sex appeal. Which I hope I am not. And contrary to popular belief, I have a wonderful boyfriend who loves me anyway, and encourages me all the time to be myself and screw everyone else.

Ok. Sorry for the rant. Thoughts are longing to escape my skull, and Indaba is getting the full brunt of it all. Feel free to comment, I love that.

PRETTY DRESSES

They say get a life

It's time for the real world

And be someone's wife

It's no good being alone girl

So if you're feeling love

Better change your name

Keep eyes wide open

And mouth shut tight

Say what I'm feeling

As long as it feels right

But if I'm not careful

I might be just what you say

I have no pretty dresses

I am only flesh and bone

And if I wore the pretty dresses

I'm still naked underneath the clothes

No pretty dresses

No pretty dresses, no

Take your time

But don't move too slow

A graceful dance

That no one seems to know

And I can't keep my step

You caught me falling

Pretty maids

Lined all in a row

Had no room for me

And I know

All I lack is surrender and silence

And all those pretty dresses

But I am only flesh and bone

But if I wore pretty dresses

I'm still naked underneath the clothes

No pretty dresses

No pretty dresses, no

And maybe I'm just crazy

Thinking I'm the girl he wants

Without the pretty dresses

Could I be the girl he'd love?

You know I'm scared either way

Cause if I'm not careful

he's gonna change my name