WARNING: THE FOLLOWING BLOG POST CONTAINS PARTISAN POLITICAL CONTENT THAT SOME READERS MAY FIND OFFENSIVE. THIS IS UNAVOIDABLE GIVEN THE UNFORTUNATE STANCE OF A CERTAIN POLITICAL PARTY WHICH HAS MADE BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS A FEATURE OF TODAY’S PARTISAN POLITICS. BUT WE STILL GOTTA SPEAK OUT FOR BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS, SO..
A couple months ago I received this message from a New England pastor and writer:
“Jen: I have a request, sort of. I have a teenage daughter whose sexuality hasn’t settled for her yet, but will most likely be some version of queer. She is politically active and consciously a feminist. I can convince her that Trump will be impeached at some point, even if he thinks the rules don’t apply to him. That’s hopeful. Her fear is really Mike Pence who she believes is unimpeachable but actively hates people like her. I told her that we’d impeach him, too, but she’s not buying that argument. I told her that in two years everyone would be a democrat and we wouldn’t let him get away with anything. That sort of helped, but two years is a long time to worry. As my wife said, “it’s kind of existential for her”. Her fears are real. Would you consider — or any other member of the Chapin family — writing a song to give her — and kids like her — hope in a situation like this? I told her we’ll keep her safe, but I don’t think that’s going to cut it, and I want her to have something to think about/sing when we’re not around (which will happen at some point). Thanks for considering… Resisting with Peace,
[name withheld]”
So, it took me some weeks, but I finally got to writing the requested song, which was performed for the first time this past weekend in upstate New York. I think its title is “Secret.” Here are the lyrics, which I’m told were met with approval from dad and daughter:
the secret’s out the secret’s out now the secret’s out and we won’t turn back the secret’s out forever it was a secret that we’re beautiful a secret that we’re strong holding hands and hiding pairing wrong to get along in a world that made love a crime a sin a dirty disease the biggest lie I ever heard is that my love hurts yours that your commitment might be compromised because there might be scores of fabulous lovers loving love of every stripe and hue of every hue we won’t turn back the secret’s out forever do you wanna know a secret? Do you wanna know? Do you wanna know a secret? Some of us are born into foundations that just can’t contain our souls and some are sacrificed on the altar of nothing a girl a boy a queen what does it matter really? it’s no concern of yours my questions are as old as the sea the answers are not up to you they live within me