In honor of Pride Month, I am sharing the gayest songs I’ve written (so far). Here is the first batch! Stay tuned to see the rest later in the month!
TURN IT UP!!!!!
These first songs were produced quick and dirty in my basement in Colorado as a response to actual events. I had very young twins at home and had retired from performing live but I still wanted an audience. So I started a blog called bloginsong.com and wrote and recorded dozens of songs for the next 10 years or so.
Then RITA - the last song in this post, was recorded with GUSH in various fancy recording studios in LA, during the 90s. On 2'“ tape!
Miss California
Inspired by the 2009 Miss California, who brightly responded to Perez Hilton's question about whether states should legalize same-sex marriage like this:
“Well I think it's great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. And you know what, in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there but that’s how I was raised and that’s how I think it should be between a man and a woman. Thank you very much.”
Miss California
How I adore ya
Despite your bizarre religious streak
And your bizarre altered physique
Miss California
How I adore ya
Sex workers Unite Unite Unite
C’mon sister lets fight lets fight lets fight
You are a bigot and trite and trite and trite
Still its your body, your right your right your right
Miss California
Miss California
How I adore ya
But isn’t it just a little bland
Pretending you aren’t selling a brand
To hide behind dogma and behave
As though you aren’t in the sexy trade
Sex workers Unite Unite Unite
C’mon sister lets fight lets fight lets fight
You are a bigot and trite and trite and trite
Still its your body, your right your right your right Miss California
Miss California take the money you make
Have some fun and get paid
Have some fun and get laid
Stomp on the old school parade
This is Hollywood babe
Were all in the sex trade sex trade sex trade
We’re all a little bit gay
So get over it babe
Won’t Be Broken
about Proposition 8 which banned same-sex marriage in CA and was overturned by a federal court.
I’ve already faced the demons
From the playground to the am dial
Been fencing with the crooked laws
Finding workarounds
I’ve had to sneak my kisses
Try to pass
Keep on building bridges
I won’t be broken
Won’t be half a citizen
I won’t be broken
Won’t be half a citizen
I wear the colors
Speak the coded language of my tribe
I’ve got a few tattoos that indicate
My disdain for hate
There’s a liberation for every generation
and steady, mark, I’m taking mine
I won’t be broken
Won’t be half a citizen
I won’t be broken
Won’t be half a citizen
Serve with honor
March with pride
Pay your taxes
Find a lover
Find a Bride
Now step aside?
I won’t be broken
Won’t be half a citizen
Winning Pretty
about Don’t Ask Don’t Tell
Now tell me of a citizen
Who cannot serve in infantry?
Somehow the celebrations
For our patriotic GLBT
Have left me feeling hollow
Since no matter what they swallow
They can kill and spill overturn
Crash and burn
I haven’t got a word now
For the feeling in between
You know I’m feelin’ so proud
As they march into the skein
We are free, now truly aren’t we?
We are proud and without lies
You can ask and I can tell you
What I enjoy between my thighs
You know we marched into the city
You know we camped out in the trees
But winning isn’t always pretty
They will cut you at your knees
And I can slaughter
I can translate
I can save you from the enemy
I can come home
Broken body
Disillusioned fighting PTSD
We are heightened
When we are equal
We are lowered
When we fight
Guess that’s why I’m feeling lonely
While I’m bursting with gay pride
How to harmonize
These feelings
I am in between the baffles
Alone, and keening
For the beautiful
The spacious skies
Rita
about girlfriends, boyfriends, bisexuals and adored pets - back when bi-sexual. Written and recorded in the early 90s. We didn’t even know about the Time Magazine Cover. We were busy living it!
Words by Lisa Johnson
Music by Camille Smith, John Bright, and mostly Lisa Johnson
I once had a girl
Her name was Rita
I once had a Rita had a girl
I once had a girl
Her name was Rita
I once had a Rita had a whirl
CHORUS
Rita, Rita
Lead on, lead on
Oh freedom, Rita
Real Love Real Love
I once had a mate
His name was Michael
I once had a Michael had a mate
I once had a mate
His name was Michael
I once had a Michael had a fate
H e said
CHORUS
I once had a dog
His name was spider
I once had a spider had a dog
I once had a dog
And his name was spider
I once had a spider and
He sat with me on a log and he said
CHORUS
Love these!
When was that Newsweek cover?????