Singing a Sad Tune     8/11/2003 By Britney Glaser Musicians are singing about the negative impacts of abortion. Music artists spanning the past 30 years in more than 20 genres of music have been singing a common song that may quietly be influencing society. From rap to country, heavy metal to folk, musicians confront a prevalent and personal issue: the emotional and physical turmoil of abortion. The songs are not just from women who have experienced abortion; a significant number are from men. The rap song, Retrospect for Life by the group Common, says, “Turnin’ this woman’s womb into a tomb/I’m sorry for takin’ your first breath, first step, first cry. From now on I’ma use self-control instead of birth control, cause $315 ain’t worth your soul.” The song Speculum, by the heavy metal band Adema, is written by a band member whose girlfriend had an abortion. He sings to the aborted baby, “Know that I think of you, it’s killing me. The guilt has lasted years, I still cry…[T]he table’s cold, it’s too late to make up for these mistakes.” Ben Folds, from the rock band Ben Folds Five, describes the day that his girlfriend had an abortion. Folds’ song, Brick, says, “Can’t you see, it’s not me you’re dying for. Now she’s feeling more alone, than she ever has before. … She’s alone, and I’m alone, now I know it.” Women’s songs come to the heart of the pain that they or friends have undergone through this procedure. Country/folk singer Julie Miller expresses the lingering voice of the unborn in her song Dangerous Place. She sings, “Little ones to Him belong, you are weak and we were wrong. Tell ourselves you don’t exist but your silent screams persist.” Punk folk singer Ani DeFranco describes the emotional and physical feelings of the abortion procedure in Lost Woman Song: “Through the pinch, pull wincing/my smile unconvincing/on that sterile battlefield that sees/only casualties/never heroes/my heart hit absolute zero. … Your voice still sounds in me.” These gripping songs often involve graphic descriptions of the abortion. The group Sex Pistols provides a vivid depiction of the aborted baby in its song, Bodies: “Dragged on a table in a factory…in a packet in a lavatory…throbbing squirm gurgling bloody mess. I’m not a discharge, I’m not a loss of protein, I’m not a throbbing squirm. … I’m not an animal Mummy!” Christian heavy metal band Holy Soldier sings from the perspective of the aborted baby: “From a pail with open eyes, I see the man that I despise. He looks at me and turns his back, and my life fades. … Mommy I’m afraid.” From rock musician Graham Parker: “Did they tear it out, with talons of steel, and give you a shot, so that you wouldn’t feel? And wash it away as if it wasn’t real?” From Barren Cross, a Christian heavy metal band: “The operation is over. I’m now in pieces in a garbage bag. Guilt will now take over, ’cause where is the relief you thought you had?” What does this all mean? Why are these musicians singing songs about abortion? David Reardon, director of the Elliot Institute, which researches the impact of abortion on women, men, siblings and society, concluded in his fact sheet After Effects : “Studies within the first few weeks after the abortion have found that between 40 and 60 percent of women questioned report negative reactions. Within 8 weeks after their abortions, 55% expressed guilt, 44% complained of nervous disorders, 36% had experienced sleep disturbances, 31% had regrets about their decision, and 11% had been prescribed psychotropic medicine by their family doctor.” Our society may want to ignore the harm that abortion does to men and women. But, for more than 30 years, they have been speaking out through their songs. They demonstrate that, in the words of entertainer Billy Joel, music is “an explosive expression of humanity.” And, as opera star George Jellinek said, “The history of a people is found in its songs.” DCTalk, a Christian alternative band, perfectly summed up what should be society’s response to abortion in, Children Can Live (Without It): “A miracle of God, now looked on as a choice. It’s time for all His children to unify a voice. With influence in numbers and power in prayer, we must defend the children, and fight for what is fair.” “If music truly reflects the soul of a society, these songs reveal the intensity and violence of abortion,” said Wendy Wright, senior policy director for Concerned Women for America. Still, despite this evidence, both scientific and cultural, Planned Parenthood’s Web site says, “Research studies indicate that emotional responses to legally induced abortions are largely positive.” Note to Planned Parenthood: Turn on your radio. A list of the songs cited in this article, with links, follows:  Adema. “Speculum.” Azlyrics.com. 2000-2003. 28 July 2003.  Bad Religion. “Operation Rescue.” Lyricsfreak.com. 28 July 2003.  Barren Cross. ” Barrencross.com. 28 July 2003.  Ben Folds Five. “Brick.” Lyricstime.com. 2003. 28 July 2003.  Brotha Lynch Hung. “Return of Da Baby Killa.” Lyricsdepot.com. 2003. 28 July 2003.  Common. “Retrospect for Life.” Maxlyrics.com. 2003. 28 July 2003.  DC Talk. “Children Can Live (Without It).” Lyrics.jp. 28 July 2003.  Holy Soldier. “See No Evil.” Gargaro.com. 1995-2003. 28 July 2003.  Miller, Julie. “Dangerous Place.” Nlntv.com. 2003. 28 July 2003.  Parker, Graham. “You Can’t Be Too Strong.” Lyricsdownload.com. 2001. 28 July 2003.  Sex Pistols. “Bodies.” Geocities.com. 28 July 2003.