New pre-release single: “You’re The Enemy,” Warrior Songs Vol. 2

Embed for Youíre the Enemy
A few months ago I wrote and recorded “You’re The Enemy,” a song about Military Sexual Trauma (MST), for the non-profit Warrior Songs‘ new compilation album Women At War. The album will be released in a couple months but in light of current events, we have decided to pre-release my song digitally now. You can stream it above and/or download with a pay-what-you-want option:

https://warriorsongs.org/track/1564039/you-re-the-enemy

This song is dedicated to all survivors of MST, especially those whose attackers have not had consequences.

Produced by Enion Pelta-Tiller & Emily Yates
Engineered by Andrew Gragg Lunsford at Mountain Star Studios – Black Hawk, CO on 04/19/2018
Baritone Ukulele & Lead Vocals : Emily Yates
Violin & Backing Vocals: Enion Pelta-Tiller
Upright Bass & Backing Vocals: Julie Gussaroff
Drums: Michelle Pietrafitta
Backing Vocals: Jenny Boykin Roe

I didn’t report being sexually assaulted in the military because I knew the investigation, if one even happened, would be even more demoralizing than being assaulted by people I knew.

I believe Dr. Christine Blasey Ford because there is no way in hell you can convince me a person would subject themselves to death threats AND the demeaning process of being questioned about past trauma by ridiculously-powerful frat boys unless they were either telling the truth or on a masochistic search for truly cruel and unusual punishment.

I believe survivors. I want justice for survivors. I am a survivor.

Lyrics:

They say that you’re my battle buddy
They say that you’re my friend
That I’ll never have to make you answer
To the business end
Of this weapon I was issued
To give terrorists their due
But what if the terrorist is you

I was trained to fight,
To kill and to die
But never thought that I’d be fighting
Someone on my side
If we were taking fire I’d trust you with my life
If we’re alone there’s one hand on my knife

Chorus:
Even if I wore a skirt
And not a uniform
You’d have no, right, to treat me like
You won me in this war
They say we’re on the same team
Wonder when you’ll try to rape me
Maybe you’re the enemy (x2)

Oooooooh fuck nooo
Oooooooh fuck nooo
Oooooooh fuck nooo
Oooooooh fuck nooo

Of course you’re in my unit
Of course I know your name
I see you all the places
I go every day
I can’t get away from you
My contract says I’m stuck
All the walls are closing in, I’m … outta luck

Even if I wore a skirt
And not a uniform
You’d have no right to treat me like
You won me in this war
They say we’re on the same team
Wonder when you’ll try to rape me

Maybe you’re the enemy
Maybe you’re the enemy
That deployment we got drunk
You knew I couldn’t tell a soul
Drinking vodka that we got
From some disgruntled joe
I shoulda known I’d wake up
With you taking off my pants
Shoulda known that all you needed was the chance

Even if I wore a skirt
And not a uniform
You’d have no right to treat me like
You won me in this war
We were on the same team
Then you tried to fucking rape me
Now I see you’re the enemy
Now I see you’re the enemy

Oooooooh fuck nooo
Oooooooh fuck nooo
Oooooooh fuck nooo
Oooooooh fuck nooo

New live video! “Don’t Know Much About Star Wars”

I haven’t been playing a ton of shows recently while I’ve been working on writing a book, but Jamie DeWolf gave me a microphone at Tourettes Without Regrets in Oakland last month and today I discovered there’s video evidence! Here’s my little lighthearted, dark-humored ukulele tune, “Don’t Know Much About Star Wars” that both is and is not about Star Wars, including a new verse I wrote for the occasion. (Thanks to Kenny Hoff for the vid!)