What does 'Woke' mean?
People seem to be struggling to define the term ‘woke’ - a concept at the heart of the raging culture wars in many countries and social media platforms. It is likely to be central to the big elections of 2024.
We take this matter very seriously - and after some extensive research and soul-searching - would like to share this Public Service explainer song, fronted by a puppet orangutan (called Ori Ori), involving cult-like children, and featuring amateurish experimental green screen.
Ori Ori would be happy to debate any of the definitions or issues raised in the song, with anyone in the media who might help him to improve his profile - as in spite of being a terrible excuse for a character, having a questionable accent, and not possessing a working larynx or brain, he is a firm believer in free speech and self-promotion.
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Thanks as ever to the amazing people who support our musical antics through Patreon (where you can see extras like out-takes and podcasts): / marshfamilysongs .
Do join us there, or just leave a tip at our tip jar at: paypal.me/mars....
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Lyrics:
Once upon a time, when you had something on your mind
And it was making you a little sad inside
You’d have to try your best to find
How to express that state of mind
By using words, explaining issues - had to consider either side
But now we’ve made a leap
That means you never have to pause
You can just plough right on
(Doesn’t mean you’re right, of course)
But it carries such a force
And you’re freed of all remorse
You just call it woke!
You just shout it woke!
Like when an obstacle’s presented
Or you didn’t get a joke
When the WiFi’s broke (woke!)
You don’t like some bloke (woke!)
It’s mirrors and it’s smoke
Cos there’s no such thing as …
There’s no such thing as witches
It’s something that is learned
(But tell that to the tens of thousand menopausal women that they burned)
There’s no such thing as banshees
A figment of belief
(But helpful to control annoying children when they give you too much grief)
If enough of us repeat it
It will never be revoked
It’s a semiotic automatic weapon
When provoked
If you’re worried about progress - liked the days when gays were straight
You can do the wokey-cokey and you don’t seem too irate
You just call it woke!
You just shout it woke!
It’s an anagram of “we ok”
To other other folk
You can print it: woke!
You don’t think just “woke”
It’s mirrors and it’s smoke
Cos there’s no such thing as…
There’s no such thing as Krampus
Who pops up now and then
In folklore you find Baba Roga, Baba Yaga
Lots of Bogeymen
Traditions, myths and stories
Passed down for centuries
But luckily we’ve cooked up something quicker
That’s in all our dictionaries
Now, words can change their meanings
You’ve probably seen it done
Like “sick”’s become a good thing
Or like, “like”’s the latest “um”
But we’ve really hit the jackpot
With this shorthand for our woes
It’s the bollocks to look out for
In the Emperor’s New Clothes
You just call it woke!
You just shout it woke!
Like when a car runs out of petrol
Or a peanut makes you choke
License got revoked? (woke!)
Climate change invoked? (woke!)
If you think that history’s broke
It might save you from a stroke
When you’re filling up with rage and want to cry
So let us all inveigh it
Doesn’t matter where you say it
It’s an ironic addition
To a sense of lost tradition
Doesn’t show much erudition
But who needs a definition?!
You can’t touch it, you can’t be it
But you know it when you see it
Share the hoax, share the joke
Sing it: woke!
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Instruments:
Vocals: Ben, Danielle, Alfie, Thomas, Ella, Tess
Cornet: Ella
Clarinet: Thomas
Violin: Tess
Piano: Alfie
Guitar, Banjo, Percussion: Ben
29 сен 2024
