The Petrol Girls new single ‘Baby, I Had An Abortion’ is not wrapped in layers of allusion, it’s in-your-face from title of the song to the power of the exhilarating and unapologetic anthem based on singer Ren Aldridge’s own experience. Given the personal nature of the subject matter, you can sense the song has tapped into an extra well of power and from the low growl of the verses through to the choruses which are a riot of mosh-ready exhilaration. The track is powered by some immense drumming, but nothing can detract from the full-tilt power of the vocal performance and the importance of the song’s message which Aldridge describes as “a party-banger about having an abortion and not being sorry about it“.
Having read the press release, written by Ren Aldridge, I felt there was little I could add to the powerful messages it conveys so have included it below as well as the lyrics:
From the press release:
“This song is a response to my experience of having had an abortion in 2018 and my encounters with pro-lifers since then. I’m totally happy to speak openly about my abortion and feel very privileged to have accessed it easily and for free on the NHS in the UK. This should be the case everywhere but abortion is illegal, expensive and / or hard to access in many places around the world. I found out I was pregnant the morning after the eighth amendment was repealed in Ireland, so felt very aware of how lucky I was to be in a country where I could do it easily.
When I moved to Austria I was shocked to find out that it costs around €500 to have an abortion even if you have health insurance. That’s almost two months rent for me! One morning, my partner and I encountered pro-lifers marching in front of the abortion clinic on the main street. I saw red, and before I knew it was circling them screaming “I HAD AN ABORTION AND I’M NOT SORRY!” to the amusement of onlooking shoppers. I joined local counter protests and continued shouting “I had an abortion, and I’m not sorry” in German. But I started thinking about this interaction and how limited it was, even if it was cathartic. I didn’t want to dignify them with a serious reaction – I wanted to ridicule them. I’ve not seen much of the pro-lifers since the pandemic but I’m thinking about dance routines and street theatre to go along with the pro-abortion flyers we handed out to passers-by.
The idea for the song came directly from these experiences, and is first and foremost intended for upsetting pro-lifers on demonstrations. The ‘Shame Shame Shame’ lyric is totally a Game of Thrones reference, and the whole idea is intended to ridicule pro-lifers’ attempts to shame us for exercising our bodily autonomy. I wanted the song to have party vibes because I feel like abortion, whilst it obviously can be traumatic and upsetting, can also be totally fine and something to celebrate. I wanted to put something joyful about abortion out into the world.”
Petrol Girls will be raising money for Abortion Without Borders with this release. They’re a network of organisations that fund and support people in Poland to access abortion in neighbouring countries or at home with pills. Abortion laws were further tightened in Poland last year making it only legal in extremely limited circumstances. “The work done by Abortion Without Borders is incredible and they’ve been a lifeline for so many,” says Ren”.
I’m a god damn should be mother
Got a womb so that’s my purpose
I’m a god damn incubator
But baby I’ll see you later
Who’s life are you pro?
Who’s do you want to control?
Heaven forbid my rights
Heaven forgive what I decide
SHAME SHAME SHAME
Point your finger and cry
SHAME SHAME SHAME
Oh I feel it deep inside
BABY I HAD AN ABORTION
Oh its a god damn moral panic
Save the sperm because its sacred
Blessed is the foetus
But god damn the children in existence
Who’s life are you pro?
Who’s do you want to control
You want to come inside
Tell me how i’m traumatised
Shame shame shame
Point your finger and cry oh its a
Shame shame shame
That I’m not sorry I’M NOT SORRY
BABY I HAD AN ABORTION
BABY I HAAAAAAD
An abortion
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Review by Paul F Cook
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