Let Mother Vote Lyrics

Song Facts:

• Genre: Musical Theatre


• Lyricist: Shaina Taub


• Composers: Shaina Taub


• Musical: "Suffs"


• Year: 2024

Artist Info:

Shaina Taub is a celebrated songwriter and performer known for her work in musical theatre. She has composed and written for various stage productions, blending storytelling with vibrant melodies. Taub's style often integrates contemporary sounds with traditional musical theatre elements, creating a unique and engaging listening experience. Her previous works include contributions to "Twelfth Night" and "As You Like It" for the Public Theater's Public Works program. Taub's music often addresses social issues, bringing historical and contemporary themes to the stage. She is recognized for her powerful lyrics and dynamic performances, capturing the essence of her characters through music.

Annotations and Meaning of Let Mother Vote:

The track Let Mother Vote from the musical "Suffs" is a powerful anthem advocating for women's suffrage. The song text uses a blend of earnest pleas and clever arguments to make the case for allowing women to vote.

Welcome, gentlemen!
God bless our great republic,
God bless our grand old flag,
God bless the land of freedom we hold dear.

The opening lines set a patriotic tone, appealing to the listeners' sense of national pride and unity. By invoking blessings on the republic, the flag, and the land of freedom, it establishes a context of shared values.

And the heartbeat of that land will always be the home,
And that, of course, is woman's sacred sphere.

Here, the performer highlights the traditional role of women as the backbone of the home. This line argues that if women are entrusted with nurturing families, they should also be trusted with nurturing the nation.

We nurture every family just as we're meant to do,
So won't you let us nurture the nation, too?

This couplet emphasizes women's roles in family care, suggesting that these skills are transferable to national governance. It presents the idea that women’s nurturing abilities are beneficial beyond the household.

Let Mother vote, we raised you after all.
Won't you thank the lady you have loved since you were small?

The appeal becomes personal, asking men to acknowledge the contributions of their mothers by supporting their right to vote. It leverages the emotional connection and gratitude sons feel towards their mothers.

We reared you, cheered you, helped you when you fell.
With your blessing we could help America as well.

This passage reiterates the support and guidance women have provided, suggesting that with the right to vote, they can extend this care to the nation.

We wash out any stain in society's domain.
So well-balanced government, fresh baked with decency.

The song text uses domestic metaphors to propose that women can cleanse and improve the political landscape, just as they maintain their homes.

Two cups of moral fiber, add a dollop of good grace,
Mix in maternal instinct and the world's a better place.

These lines use the imagery of cooking to describe the virtues women bring to governance, emphasizing moral integrity and nurturing.

Cos we gave birth to old A.Blingan and Robert E. Lee
Babe Ruth and Woodrow Wilson

This historical reference underlines the significant figures that women have raised, indirectly supporting the idea that their influence has shaped important leaders.

Let Mother vote, let Mother vote, we'll nurse the USA.
Until corruption, greed, and vice are sweetly swept away.

The repetition reinforces the plea, suggesting that women’s involvement in voting will lead to a purer, more honest government.

We'll vote like father, vote like son
And two good votes are better than one

Finally, this line argues that adding women's votes will strengthen democracy, implying that their perspectives complement those of men.

**Song Title: "Let Mother Vote"**

In an interview, Shaina Taub reflected on the evolution of the song "Let Mother Vote," originally conceived as a different number titled "Watch Out For the Suffragette." This early version aimed to satirize the misogynistic anti-suffrage songs of the 1910s with the all-women cast playing men and cautioning the audience about feminists. Taub realized during the Public Theater run that this approach was counterproductive, as most audience members were unfamiliar with the suffrage movement, making the initial anti-suffrage perspective confusing.

Taking advice from playwright Lynn Nottage, Taub decided to reframe the opening to better establish the world Alice Paul was about to disrupt, centering it on Carrie Chapman Catt's perspective. She studied effective opening numbers like "Fugue for Tinhorns" from *Guys and Dolls*, "Little Shop" from *Little Shop of Horrors*, and "Magic To Do" from *Pippin* to build the scene without immediately introducing the protagonist.

Taub's key revelation was to cast the audience as the men, with Carrie addressing them directly to advocate for women's voting rights. By beginning with "Welcome, gentlemen," she set a tone that was both humorous and indicative of the gender dynamics at play. The musical style blends ragtime, early jazz, and Tin Pan Alley influences to reflect the era and Carrie's strategy of presenting suffrage as a charming, appealing idea. The phrase "Let Mother Vote," rooted in historical suffrage campaigns, inspired the song's core message and melody, enhanced by Jenn Colella’s powerful vocals, which Taub described as a motivating force during the writing process.

Overall, Let Mother Vote is an eloquent and heartfelt call for women's suffrage, utilizing emotional appeals, logical arguments, and patriotic sentiment to advocate for gender equality in voting rights.