Parody Song Roasts Trump and The Entire Patriarchy in Under 3 Minutes

In some not-so-shocking news, another Youtube YouTube has recently gone viral… in fact, you might have even seen it yourself. Here’s a hint: it shows a woman responding in song-form to Trump’s sexist comment in the wake of the Kavanaugh hearing. The shit we like to see.

The two-and-a-half-minute ditty written and performed by Lynzy Lab is a sarcastic and savage reaction to the extremely patriarchal society in which we live. Since the Kavanaugh hearing, many men including Trump have expressed the view that men have more to fear from a loss of reputation than women have to fear from sexual assault.

Don’t believe us? Here’s Trump’s full comment:
"It's a very scary time for young men in America when you can be guilty of something that you may not be guilty of,” President Trump said to reporters several days after the hearing.

Let’s just let that profoundly disturbing and backwards sentiment sink in.

Since coming forward, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford has faced death threats and has been forced to move out of her house for fear of her family’s safety. She has risked her reputation, given up her privacy, and endured public mockery in order to do what is right for her country. Yet in Trump’s eyes, she is not the one who is living in a dangerous time; it’s the men. To fact check (in case you’ve been living under a rock since *around* the beginning of time), men are generally the most privileged members of society. They benefit from every aspect of our social structure. And yet, according to Trump, they are the ones who should be scared.

There was major public outrage following this small-minded, sexist, misogynistic and blatantly false comment. One of the most popular and widely shared responses was from Lab, a dance teacher in Texas. In the video Lab posted, she plays the ukulele and sings a song she wrote called “A Scary Time”.

The parody song calls out the irony of Trump’s statement with a well-delivered, articulately written and sassily powerful lyric.

The title itself sets the stage for the rest of the song’s sarcastic tone that drives the bottom-line message of the song: that it is not now, and never has been a scary time for men in America.

The video racked up tens of millions of views and shares on Twitter and Facebook, and currently has over a million views on YouTube. This past weekend, Lab performed the song on Jimmy Kimmel Live in celebration of it being the International Day of the Girl, this time with a group of women gathering behind her and singing with her.

Here’s Lab’s performance of the song on Jimmy Kimmel Live:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN-3F8T4t5w

Lab’s song lists the things that women are unable to do for fear of sexual assault. The mile-long list is accurate and relatable for all women:

“I can't walk to my car late at night while on the phone
I can't open up my windows when I'm home alone
I can't go to the bar without a chaperone
I can't wear a mini-skirt if it's the only one I own
I can't use public transportation after 7pm
I can't be brutally honest when you slide into my DMs
I can't go to the club just to dance with my friends
And I can't ever leave my drink unattended”

“I can't live in an apartment if it's on the first floor
I can't be wearing silk pajamas when I answer the door
I can't have another drink even if I want more
And I can't make you feel invalid, unseen, or ignored
I can't jog around the city with headphones on my ears
I can't speak out against my rapist after 35 years
I can't be taken seriously if I'm holding back tears
And I can't ever speak earnestly about all these fears”

While the verses point out the ways in which women live in constant fear of sexual assault, the chorus addresses Trump’s comment and points out its twisted logic:

“But it sure is a scary time for boys
Yeah, gentlemen band together make some noise
It's really tough when your reputation's on the line
And any woman you've assaulted could turn up any time
Yeah, it sure is a scary time for guys
Can't speak to any woman or look her in the eyes
It's so confusing, is it rape or is it just being nice?
So inconvenient that you even have to think twice”

“Cause it sure is a scary time for dudes
Can't text a girl repeatedly asking for nudes
Can't make a girl have sex when she's not in the mood
And what gives her the right to give you attitude?
Yeah it sure is a scary time for men
Girls like to act like you're to blame and they're the victim
Her dress was short and she was drunk she's not so innocent
Thank God your dad's the judge and you won't be convicted”Our jaws dropped. The irony of Lab’s lyrics makes the song both simultaneously funny and serious, a hard balance to strike when it comes to such a sensitive subject. It’s truly the best of both worlds. The blunt way in which she completely tears Trump’s comment apart is comical, the tune is catchy and upbeat, and the setting is casual; just a girl in front of a webcam playing a song on her ukulele. But the underlying message is an unsettling and necessary wake up call; that it’s time to rise up against the misogyny that is so pervasive in our society.

The last line of the song is a call to action; “The day to vote is November sixth, so let’s go make some noise.”

It is a time in our country where the majority of our female population is deeply frustrated, disappointed and saddened by the recent events that have taken place. It is easy to become cynical and despondent right now. It is easy to lose hope. But as Lab reminds us, we can change our situation. It’s our not only our right but also our duty as citizens to vote; to use our voices to create a better country.

So let’s go make some noise.