Brief Encounters

Happy International Womens Day!

As you know, I’m away writing songs and also taking part in an online songwriting challenge. My friend and host of the course Cecily suggested writing to the theme of independent women. Tough one for blokes I think, even incredibly sensitive ones like me! :-)

Below is the lyric to the song that surfaced. The starting point for me was a bird called the Red Necked Phalarope…one that I have always wanted to see, but never have. It’s rare, and breeds on tiny lochans on the far northern isles of Scotland. With these birds it is the lady who lays the eggs of course. But, unusually for birds, she has the more vibrant plumage. And after she’s laid her eggs, she then flies off and leaves the male to brood those eggs and rear the young.

We’re not birds, but I guess in writing this song what emerged was, firstly, that there are lots of ways to be human and, secondly, that there are lots of ways to be whichever gender of human we happen to be.

And we’ve all got a lot to learn. And a lot more respect we could be giving to each other.

Brief Encounters

You wait for him
Then lay your eggs and fly
Mr Phalarope broods the nest
And no one asks why

These Brief Encounters
That life will always be
Then you fly away
Across the sea

Who wears the trousers, 
You or I?
We  just do our best
To get on by
I pass the hammer
And you do the rest
‘Cause you’re the best
At the DIY

These Brief Encounters
That life will always be
No need to explain yourself
To me

I’m a Y Chromosome
Don’t know why
Wasn’t like I had a choice
Sex is where your X
Got given a voice
No you don’t need to
Explain yourself to me

Oohohoh, oohohoh

We get what we’re  given
All the time
You got your body parts
I got mine
I’ll wait for you
Happy to stand in line
Wherever there’s love 
There’s usually time 

For These Brief Encounters
That life will always be
Then you fly away
Across the sea


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