My Body Belongs to Me by Protyus A. Gendher [Glass Ceiling Records]
Lyrics and links below!
I wrote “My Body Belongs to Me” as a love song for my inner child, for my children- who I haven’t always been able to protect- and yours too.
I’ve struggled as a person carrying around an assortment of adverse childhood experiences to find a way to love myself, to heal, and to move forward. These experiences affected absolutely everything for the rest of my life. There’s no honest way to downplay this.
There’s this thing that some parents go through, where it’s easy for us to blame ourselves for things that look much different when we think about our children in that same position. Self-love feels like a pipe-dream, but I do not want that to be the reality for anyone else.
I don’t think I’m a minority. I think most of us carry deep traumas that turn guilt into a shackle that there’s just no key for. If I can make the weight of that shackle any less for any of us- much less prevent it taking a hold of another person who didn’t have a choice, who didn’t know better, who didn’t have the language, or knowledge, or community to prevent their violation-I will.
So this song is a prayer for us all, and a celebration of the autonomy we deserve to claim no matter how far we are along the trail in our journeys.
I have the most amazing body
And it can do the most amazing things
It can run and jump and play and sleep and grow
And my body, belongs to only me.
Nobody has the right to hurt me
I don't need a reason to say no
No one should be touching me without my consent
This is my body, keep your hands on your own.
I have the most amazing body
And it can do the most amazing things
It can run and jump and play and sleep and grow
And my body, belongs to only me.
If you want a hug you should ask
And if I want one too I'll say "yes"
But if I don't feel like being touched
Just hugging me would make me pretty stressed
I have the most amazing body
And it can do the most amazing things
It can run and jump and play and sleep and grow
And my body, belongs to only me.
Everyone's body belongs to them
So I don't touch other people without consent
If my touch isn't wanted, I don't want you fronting
I'd rather have a good relationship
I know that not everybody in this world is safe
It's sad, but some just can't bet trusted in our space
If somebody ever touches you without consent
Find a trusted grownup and go tell quick
I have the most amazing body
And it can do the most amazing things
It can run and jump and play and sleep and grow
And my body, belongs to only me.
[anti-drop]
It's ok to give hugs, and it's ok to hold hands
It's ok to wrestle in the mud when goofing off with friends
It's ok to sit on the lap of a grown up that you trust
But there are some parts of your body that others shouldn't touch.
If it's covered by a swimsuit, when you go for a swim
A safe adult just won't ask to touch you there my friend
I know that not everybody in this world is safe
It's sad, but some just can't bet trusted in our space
If somebody ever touches you without consent
Find a trusted grownup and go tell quick
[pre-drop build]
[bass drop]
I have the most amazing body
And it can do the most amazing things
It can run and jump and play and sleep and grow
And my body, belongs to only me.
And my body, belongs to only me.

What do you think?