Let Mother Vote (reprise) Lyrics

Annotations and Meaning of Let Mother Vote (reprise):

Creation

Originally, "Let Mother Vote (Reprise)" included a plotline where President Woodrow Wilson suffered a stroke, leading to his wife, Edith Wilson, taking over—a real historical event. Grace McLean brilliantly transformed from Woodrow to Edith, providing a delightful moment for the audience. However, Edith was staunchly anti-suffrage, making it dramatically implausible for her to champion the cause. Despite the comedic potential, historical accuracy prevailed, leading to the scene's revision.

The turning point came with the creation of "Let Mother Vote." I realized it could be reprised by Wilson upon his capitulation, symbolizing his endorsement of the amendment. After two hours—or seven years in dramatic time—of Alice relentlessly pressuring Wilson, he sings Carrie’s song when he finally supports the cause. This change effectively represented the theme of conflicting tactics to achieve change and highlighted who ultimately receives credit.

This revision not only felt dramatically and musically superior but also allowed Grace McLean to deliver a powerful performance, concluding her arc with a memorable exclamation point.

As I have always, always said, we ought to let mother vote.
She raised us after all.
Won't we thank the ladies we have loved since we were small?

The speaker in these lines highlights the essential role that mothers play in society. By raising their children, they have contributed significantly, thus deserving the right to vote. This appeal to familial respect and gratitude underscores the argument for women's suffrage by linking it to deeply held personal values.

It won't disrupt our lives.
They'll still be loyal wives.
So Congress, won't you please let mother vote?

Here, the speaker tries to alleviate fears about societal changes by assuring that granting women the vote won't disrupt traditional gender roles. This line reflects the period's anxiety about shifting power dynamics but also subtly critiques the idea that voting rights should be contingent on maintaining the status quo.

But let it be known that the voices of foolish agitators in the streets did not reach me at all.
It was rather the voices of the patriotic ladies whose service lies at the heart of the war.

This section contrasts the suffragists’ activism with the quieter, patriotic efforts of other women. The speaker distances himself from the more radical activists, instead praising those who contributed to the war effort. This creates a dichotomy between "acceptable" and "unacceptable" forms of advocacy, revealing internal divisions within the suffrage movement itself.

And I know how much stronger their heart will beat if you give them this thing.

This line acknowledges the deep emotional and moral importance of the vote to women. It appeals to the lawmakers' sense of justice and empathy, suggesting that granting suffrage will inspire and empower women, thereby strengthening the nation as a whole.

You vote like father, vote like son, and two good votes are better than one.
So Congress, won't you please let mother vote?

The concluding lines reinforce the practicality of suffrage, suggesting that doubling the number of votes within a family will only benefit society. This pragmatic argument complements the earlier emotional appeals, presenting women's suffrage as both a moral and logical step forward.

The reprise of "Let Mother Vote" thus serves as a compelling mix of appeals to tradition, family, and patriotism.