Would you want to be a girl in 1895?

 

Would you want to be a girl in 1895?
Would you want to be a girl, would you want to be a lady?
Well keep in mind your rights and freedoms, baby!
Travel back in time, let’s travel back in time.

In hopes of being helpful, we have made a little list
Of some things a girl could do, and those from which she should desist
And by “desist” of course I mean things you shouldn’t do, if it was 1895,
and if it was you who was a girl, in 1895!
Would you want to be a girl, would you want to be a lady?
Well leave behind your rights and freedoms, baby!
Travel back in time, let’s travel back in time.

 

To begin with, a girl should always wears a dress:
Wearing trousers like a boy would be scandalous!
Who doesn’t love a corset? They make your waist look slim!
So what if you feel out of breath: just smile, and suck it in!

Because you want to be a girl in 1895!
Would you want to be a girl, would you want to be a lady?
Well say goodbye to your rights and freedoms, baby!
Travel back in time, let’s travel back in time.

Nowadays boys and girls should exercise a lot,
But back in 1895, a girl need not!
If she rides upon a bicycle, she should ride very slow.
Remember: horses sweat, men perspire, and ladies simply ‘glow’.

Would you want to be a girl in 1895?
Would you want to be a girl, you want to be a lady?
Well leave behind your rights and freedoms, baby!
Travel back in time, let’s travel back in time.

A girl can go to school, but shouldn’t try to be too clever
To be a doctor or a lawyer should not be a girls’ endeavor
Leave politics and business to your little brother.
Why should you care? You have no vote; be content as wife and mother.

Because you are a girl in 1895!
Would you want to be a girl, would you want to be a lady?
You can leave behind your rights and freedoms, baby!
Travel back in time, let’s travel back in time.

 

c evalyn parry 2012 SOCAN