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Hate does not equate to self​-​respect

from Not even a cup of tea (or Smarty sings weird songs) by Steve Smart Poetry & Music

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From the forthcoming theatre-cabaret show 'SMILE!'. I guess this needs to come with a 'contains lyrics that might make straight white men unhappy' warning. Because that's a thing. Recently I heard someone describe themselves as (and I'm paraphrasing here) not gay enough to call themselves gay, but definitely not straight enough to identify as straight, and I related so strongly to that. I'm kind of... open to possibility I think. Anyway, this song is born of frustration at the notion that I should be a particular way if I identify as a man, a male. It's pretty much... fuck you and the gender construct you rode in on.

The full audio liner notes are here: blamesmarty.substack.com/p/not-even-a-cup-of-tea-liner-notes-492

lyrics

LYRICS

I don't hate men
I resent many of the things men repre...sent

I don't hate men
I've been one, to some extent
my whole life and I like me... fairly well

I don't hate men
but let us not be blind to history
what it teaches us is be best wary

I don't hate men
I don't enjoy it when they question my sexuality
or my right to exist if I persist in being as I am

I don't hate men
not all men
some men I could do well without

I could name names
but what good does it do to pick out individuals
when it's our whole culture that needs renewal

I don't hate men, then again
if we don't call out individuals for their behaviour
how is that change ever going to take root to flower?

I don't hate men
just wish we could all embrace our various sides
without fear of failing at manly pride
that destroyer of worlds, that denier of life

I don't hate men
I hate it when we defend indefensible behaviour
by simply citing our gender and nothing more

I hate it when we shrug and claim
this is just the way we're born
we take no responsibility, feel no shame
also our "P.O.V." has ruined porn

I hate it when we say we will not change
that we don't need to are not the problem
others seek to rob us of our rightful menstuff
as though those rights were ever earned

I hate that some will only take away
from all these words 'well is he gay?'
as though that makes the entire point

and in a way perhaps it does
not in the way you think
but certainly in the way you think

I don't hate men
but then again
I do equate

straight
men
with
hate

credits

from Not even a cup of tea (or Smarty sings weird songs), released November 17, 2023

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Steve Smart Poetry & Music Melbourne, Australia

Steve Smart is practically indestructible. Hard headed and stubborn, he may not be the most famous poet in the world but no one can say it's from lack of trying. All of his poetry and music albums are right here at Bandcamp.

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