Pamela Means' many honors include being named Falcon Ridge Folk Festival's #1 "Most Wanted New Artist", and both Wisconsin's "Folk Artist of the Year", and "Female Vocalist of the Year". Pamela has also been a Boston Music Award Nominee ("Outstanding Contemporary Folk Artist").
Currently, Pamela performs over 150 shows a year at clubs, coffeehouses, colleges, and festivals across the country, most notably the Newport Folk Festival, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, South by Southwest Conference, Southern Womyn's Fest, and Michigan Womyn's Festival. Pamela is also a favorite at innumerable regional Gay Pride events, Take Back the Night rallies, and Black History Month celebrations. Pamela has shared the stage with artists including Ani DiFranco, Joan Baez, Neil Young, Shawn Colvin, Richie Havens, Patty Larkin, Melissa Ferrick, Violent Femmes, Pete Seeger, Janis Ian, and Holly Near.
Pamela's 2003 summer tour took her nationwide, promoting her fifth self-released album, Single Bullet Theory (Wirl Records, 2003), in which "...Means fires off what is easily one of the best musical summanations of our current political situation.." (Bay Area Reporter, San Francisco, CA)
Quoting her inspiration, Warrior Poet Audre Lorde, Pamela asks "I am myself- a Black woman warrior poet doing my work- come to ask you, are you doing yours?" With Truth as ammunition, a Pamela Means performance brings the fight for social justice and human dignity to the forefront of a new generation..
Two Halves
Pamela Means Lyrics
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High paid lawyers bargain talk
About the poison in the system
How they drank it down and became victims
Today they overturned convictions
Of louima's civil rights violations
By a gang of NYPD's finest
Who were really just thugs
Is that him walkin' now
Ol' Jim Crow
Comin' from all of them parties
WEF, WTO
He's a sharp dressed fella'
With a tight grip on the globe
Has all the connections
To keep the high high
Keep the low down low
Keep the high high
Keep the low down low
When I'm out there on the road
Those traffic laws I do uphold
I don't need to be pulled over
By a big dick cop with a billy club boner
Behind a badge and a loaded weapon
Over time I've learned this lesson
Though there are two halves of me
There's only one half they will see
Though there are two halves of me
To a racist cop out on the beat
Another black bitch is all I be
To a racist cop out on the beat
Another black bitch is all I be
But, I be
Yes, I be
In Pamela Means's song Two Halves, she explores themes of systemic racism and police brutality. The first verse highlights the corruption within the police force, with "jersey troopers" and "high paid lawyers" discussing the "poison in the system" that has resulted in the wrongful convictions of individuals like Abner Louima. The lyrics suggest that these officers who were meant to protect people have instead become perpetrators of violence themselves. Means also references Jim Crow, a system of racial segregation and discrimination that was prevalent in the United States until the mid-1960s. She suggests that this legacy is still present today, with Jim Crow "comin' from all of them parties," referring to institutions like the World Economic Forum and the World Trade Organization.
The second half of the song reflects on the experience of being a Black person in America, particularly when encountering law enforcement. Means sings about how she tries to keep herself safe on the road, fearing being pulled over by a "big dick cop with a billy club boner." She acknowledges that while she has "two halves" to herself, a multifaceted identity beyond just her race, to a racist cop, she is reduced to just "another black bitch." The repetition of the phrase "though there are two halves of me" underscores the frustration and anger that comes with being constantly stereotyped and reduced by others.
Overall, Two Halves is a powerful commentary on issues that continue to plague American society - police brutality, systemic racism, and the dehumanization of marginalized communities. Through her powerful lyrics and striking metaphors, Pamela Means brings attention to these issues and encourages listeners to confront them head-on.
Line by Line Meaning
Jersey troopers take a walk
New Jersey state troopers take a stroll
High paid lawyers bargain talk
Wealthy attorneys engage in negotiation tactics
About the poison in the system
Discussing the toxic elements within the establishment
How they drank it down and became victims
They unknowingly consumed the toxins and became affected by them
Today they overturned convictions
Recent decisions have resulted in overturning previous criminal sentences
Of louima's civil rights violations
Regarding the infringement of Abner Louima's human rights
By a gang of NYPD's finest
Perpetrated by some of the New York Police Department's top officers
Who were really just thugs
These officers were actually violent criminals
With a penchant for violence
They had a strong inclination for brutality
Is that him walkin' now
Is the embodiment of racial oppression coming forth?
Ol' Jim Crow
The longstanding systematic discrimination against black people
Comin' from all of them parties
This discrimination is further perpetuated by entities like the World Economic Forum and World Trade Organization
WEF, WTO
Acronyms for the World Economic Forum and World Trade Organization
He's a sharp dressed fella'
This discriminatory system presents itself as polished and sophisticated
With a tight grip on the globe
It has a firm control over the world
Has all the connections
The system is well-connected and protected
To keep the high high
It ensures the privileged remain privileged
Keep the low down low
And ensures the oppressed remain oppressed
When I'm out there on the road
When I'm traveling about
Those traffic laws I do uphold
I adhere to traffic regulations
I don't need to be pulled over
I have no desire to be stopped
By a big dick cop with a billy club boner
By an authority figure who is overly aggressive and power-hungry
Behind a badge and a loaded weapon
Hiding behind their uniform and weaponry
Over time I've learned this lesson
I have come to understand this truth from life experience
Though there are two halves of me
Although my identity is multi-faceted
There's only one half they will see
The racist police will only perceive me as a black woman
To a racist cop out on the beat
To a prejudiced officer patrolling the streets
Another black bitch is all I be
They will reduce my entire being to a derogatory, sexist term
But, I be
Despite this, I remain strong and resilient
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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