To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=29730
11 messages

Origins: We Don't Need the Men (Malvina Reynolds)

18 Jan 01 - 09:02 PM (#377402)
Subject: 'we don't need the men'
From: GUEST

Anyone have lyrics to Malvina Reynolds's "We don't need the men" (that's in the song, don't know fer sure the title).

Tahnks in advance.

-- Arne Langsetmo


18 Jan 01 - 09:11 PM (#377410)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'we don't need the men'
From: Fergie

I remember some

We dont need the men we dont need the men we dont need to have them round cept for now and then they can come to see us when we need to move the piano otherwise they can stay at home and watch the whitesoxs on the tv


18 Jan 01 - 09:15 PM (#377415)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'we don't need the men'
From: Sorcha

You'll find the lyrics Click here


The Mudcat Café TM

Thread #13646   Message #113454
Posted By: Joe Offer
11-Sep-99 - 05:09 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req/Add: 'Hostile to the opposite sex' songs
Subject: Lyr/Tune Add: WE DON'T NEED THE MEN (M Reynolds)

I guess I have to admit that women can get pretty clever with their male-bashing songs. This one is so good, I wish I could feel comfortable singing along. It really is difficult nowadays, for us "enlightened" guys to go to concerts with women of the nineties. Inevitably, there's a male-bashing song, and we're expected to sit and smile politely while we're being verbally castrated. It really is difficult to know how to behave in such situations. Oh, they always say, "We don't mean YOU, Joe," but they sure do seem to enjoy watching me squirm.
-Joe Offer-

WE DON'T NEED THE MEN
(Malvina Reynolds, ©1958)

(Intro) It says in Coronet Magazine, June 1956, page 10,
That married women are not as happy as women who have no men
Married women are cranky, frustrated, and disgusted
While single women are bright and gay, creative and well-adjusted

We don't need the men, we don't need the men
We don't need to have them round, except for now and then
They can come to see us when we need to move the piano
Otherwise they can stay at home and read about the White Sox
We don't care about them, we can do without them
They'll look cute in a bathing suit on a billboard in Manhattan

We don't need the men, we don't need the men
We don't need to have them round, except for now and then
They can come to see us when they have tickets for the symphony
Otherwise they can stay at home and play a game of pinochle
We don't care about them, we can do without them
They'll look cute in a bathing suit on a billboard in Milwaukee

We don't need the men, we don't need the men
We don't need to have them round, except for now and then
They can come to see us when they're feeling pleasant and agreeable
Otherwise they can stay at home and holler at the TV programs
We don't care about them, we can do without them
They'll look cute in a bathing suit on a billboard in Madagascar

We don't need the men, we don't need the men
We don't need to have them round, except for now and then
They can come to see us when they're all dressed up with a suit on
Otherwise they can stay at home and drop towels in their own bathroom
We don't care about them, we can do without them
They'll look cute in a bathing suit on a billboard in Tierra del Fuego.


JRO

MIDI file: WEDON'~1.MID

Timebase: 192

Name: We Don't Need the Men
Text: By Malvina Reynolds
Copyright: Copyright © 1958, Schroder Music (ASCAP)

ABC format:

X:1
T:We Don't Need the Men
M:4/4
Q:1/4=120
K:E
B8|e2e2eee2|e2e2e2e2|ddddd2d2|d6d2|c2c2ccc2|
c2c2ccc2|BBB2c2B2|G8|e2e2eee2|e2e4e2|d2d2d3d|
d2d4d2|c2c2ccc2|B2B2e3B|BBA2G2F2|EE7|B2B2G3B|
e8|e2e2e3c|A8|d2d2d3d|d2d2d3c|B2B2c2B2|G8|
B2B2G2B2|e2e4BB|c2c2A2c2|e2e6|ddd2d2d2|d2d2d3c|
B3BA3G|F2E6|c2c2e3e|e2B6|A2A2B3c|c2B6|d2d2d2dd|
d2d2d2cc|B2B2c2d2|f2e11/2||


18 Jan 01 - 09:40 PM (#377439)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'we don't need the men'
From: GUEST,Arne Langsetmo

Yep, that's the one. Thanks again.

Cheers,

-- Arne


18 Jan 01 - 09:51 PM (#377446)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'we don't need the men'
From: Sorcha

Your're welcome. Come on back, now, ya hear?


19 Jan 01 - 11:21 AM (#377757)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'we don't need the men'
From: Mrrzy

This one only works when you say it, not write it:

I need a man... in the balls once!


19 Jan 01 - 11:42 AM (#377780)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'we don't need the men'
From: jayohjo

Couldn't resist this thread - great song, and indeed we don't - except for the obvious...;) (just kidding, for my nice right-on absolute-sweetheart male friends!)

jayohjo XX


19 Jan 01 - 11:45 AM (#377785)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'we don't need the men'
From: Dave the Gnome

I must admit that as a male my 'knee-jerk' reaction to the title of this thread was 'uh-oh, another piece of reverse-sexist male-bashing'.

Having read the words I have re-evaluated. It is a badly written piece of reverse-sexist male-bashing.

Come on Girls! I know you can do better than that. It is not even funny. Try some of Jo Brands stuff to get us realy squirming!

BTW - I don't need men either. Never been emotionaly involved with one, never slept with one, wouldn't even consider marrying one - I dunno what you wimmin see in us and which of us is the daftest;-)

Dave the about to be verbally castrated Gnome


19 Jan 01 - 01:53 PM (#377908)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'we don't need the men'
From: GUEST,Ferrara

I believe that Malvina wrote this with the wives of a group of union members who had an organizational meeting (regarding a strike?) and didn't include their wives. Men only. As I hear it, she had the enthusiastic cooperation and suggestions of the women in the group, who were waiting for the men to finish their meeting.

... Could be "fakelore," of course....


19 Jan 01 - 02:01 PM (#377915)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'we don't need the men'
From: Mrrzy

Hey, there is no such thing as "reverse sexism" - it's just plain sexism, whether anti male, anti female, anti gay, or what have you. Kinda like it isn't "reverse" discrimination just because it's against the dominant race...


19 Jan 01 - 02:05 PM (#377922)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'we don't need the men'
From: Dave the Gnome

"it isn't "reverse" discrimination just because it's against the dominant race... "???

I agree but try telling that to the popular press!

DtG