Mecca Normal is an influential two-piece indie rock band from Vancouver, Ca… Read Full Bio ↴Mecca Normal is an influential two-piece indie rock band from Vancouver, Canada. Formed by Jean Smith and David Lester in 1984, Mecca Normal is considered one of the archetypal, pioneering leaders of the riot grrrl movement. Smith writes lyrics and sings in a style that is often confrontational and laced with feminist themes; Lester's melodic yet dissonant guitar swirls and loops around her vocals. Merging the personal with the political in their songs and art-related activism, they helped define the sound and spirit of the early diy / indie rock / riot grrrl movement alongside bands such as Beat Happening and Bikini Kill. Indeed, they are perhaps the only band to have full-length releases on three of the largest indie labels of the 90s: K Records, Kill Rock Stars and Matador Records. They also had a 7" single released by Sub Pop. In the 80s they formed their own record label, Smarten Up!, which later merged with Lester's small press publishing company Get To The Point to form Smarten Up! And Get To The Point. Both Smith and Lester have authored their own books. Smith also formed 2 Foot Flame with Peter Jefferies and Michael Morley (Dead C). The band released two LPs on Matador Records, 1995's self-titled LP, and 1997's Ultra Drowning.

2010: Magnet Magazine online posts a new illustration by David Lester every Saturday with a free Mecca Normal mp3. The Mecca Normal guitarist is visually documenting people, places and events in his band's 26 year history, with text by vocalist Jean Smith.

2010: Mecca Normal releases two new songs in the fall of 2010 on a K Records 7" -- available now as a K Singles Zip Pak with Special Apps: Malachi -- Inspired Agitators poster by David Lester -- suitable for printing -- video: Recording at Dub Narcotic Studio with Calvin Johnson, Intro to Malachi video.

The Message
Mecca Normal Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Mother Africa walking along with Stephen Lewis
The dancers are dancing towards the camera
Hips moving real fast

A young woman in a school uniform
Is singing in front of the choir
Singing a song perhaps she wrote
For this occasion this television opportunity

Make no mistake it's directed at you and me.

She sings, "Why me, why him, why her?
Why me, why him, why her?"

But the real question underlies the theme.
We know you have the drugs
You keep them under lock and key
In the west away from us.
And you choose who lives and dies.
Why him, why her, why me?
Why her, why him, and why do you choose?"

Mother Africa takes off her large lens glasses
And wipes her eyes
Stephen Lewis doesn't look he's going to cry.
He takes the message back
Back to where it's heard.

Why me, why him, why her?
You choose who lives and dies.
Why do you choose who lives,
Who dies?

Who dies?

Overall Meaning

The song "Message" by Mecca Normal is a politically charged piece that speaks to the unequal distribution of resources across the globe. The lyrics describe a scene of Mother Africa walking alongside Stephen Lewis while a young woman sings in front of a choir, asking the questions "Why me, why him, why her?" The woman is singing about the unequal distribution of life-saving drugs, which are kept under lock and key in the West, away from those who need them most. The young woman is urging the listener to question why certain people are chosen to have access to these resources, and why others are left to die.

The chorus of "Why me, why him, why her?" is meant to draw attention to the random nature of who gets access to life-saving drugs and who does not. The song calls out those in power, asking them to explain why they make certain choices about who lives and dies. The song's final line, "Who dies?" serves as a haunting reminder of the human cost of these decisions.

Overall, "Message" is a song that forces the listener to confront uncomfortable truths about how resources are allocated across the globe. The questions asked by the young woman in the song are universal, and the song encourages listeners to think about how they can take action to create a more equitable world.

Line by Line Meaning

Mother Africa walking along with Stephen Lewis
The setting of the song and introduces the characters involved:

The dancers are dancing towards the camera
A description of the visual scene at the beginning of the song:

Hips moving real fast
A continuation of the description of the dancers:

A young woman in a school uniform
Introducing a new character:

Is singing in front of the choir
Describing the young woman's action:

Singing a song perhaps she wrote
Speculating on the origin of the young woman's song:

For this occasion this television opportunity
Explaining the context in which the young woman is singing:

Make no mistake it's directed at you and me.
Clarifying the purpose of the young woman's song:

She sings, "Why me, why him, why her?
Quoting the opening line of the young woman's song:

But the real question underlies the theme.
Suggesting that there is a deeper meaning to the song:

We know you have the drugs
Making a statement about the distribution of drugs:

You keep them under lock and key
Specifying the control of the drugs:

In the west away from us.
Clarifying the location where the drugs are kept:

And you choose who lives and dies.
Pointing out the power dynamic associated with the control of drugs:

Why him, why her, why me?
Reiterating the questions posed in the young woman's song:

Why her, why him, and why do you choose?"
The final lines of the young woman's song:

Mother Africa takes off her large lens glasses
A shift in focus to the action of Mother Africa:

And wipes her eyes
Describing the emotional state of Mother Africa:

Stephen Lewis doesn't look he's going to cry.
Contrasting Stephen Lewis's reaction to Mother Africa's:

He takes the message back
Describing Stephen Lewis's reaction to the young woman's song:

Back to where it's heard.
Clarifying where Stephen Lewis will bring the message:

Why me, why him, why her?
A restatement of the young woman's questions:

You choose who lives and dies.
A repetition of the earlier accusation about power:

Why do you choose who lives,
Asking for an explanation of the decision-making process:

Who dies?
The final line of the song, underscoring the gravity of the situation:

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PAUL DAVID HUMPHREYS, ANDREW MC CLUSKEY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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