“Let Us All Speak Our Minds” Sheet Music (pdf).
“Let Us All Speak Our Minds” Karaoke (midi with lyrics).
Lyrics: William Brough.
Tune: J. G. Maeder.
Men tell us ’tis fit that wives should submit
To their husbands submissively, weakly.
Though whatever they say, their wives should obey
Unquestioning, stupidly, meekly.
Our husbands would make us their own dictum take
Without ever a wherefor or why for it.
But I don’t and I can’t, and I won’t and I shan’t.
No, I will speak my mind if I die for it!
For we know it’s all fudge to say man’s the best judge
Of what should be and shouldn’t and so on,
Or woman should bow, not attempt to say how,
She considers that matters should go on.
I never yet gave up myself thus a slave,
However, my husband might try for it.
For I can’t and I won’t, and I shan’t and I don’t.
But I will speak my mind if I die for it!
And all ladies, I hope, who’ve with husbands to cope,
With the rights of the sex will not trifle.
We all, if we chose, our tongues but to use,
Can all opposition soon stifle.
Let man if he will, if bid us be still
And silent, a price he’ll pay high for it.
For we won’t and we can’t, and we don’t and we shan’t.
Let us all speak our minds if we die for it!