Seeger's father was Charles Seeger (1886–1979), an important folklorist and musicologist; her mother was Seeger's second wife, Ruth Porter Crawford Ruth Crawford seeger (1901–1953), a modernist composer who was one of the first women to receive a Guggenheim Fellowship. ... (family photo)
One of her brothers is Mike Seeger, and the well-known songwriter Pete Seeger is her half-brother.
One of Peggy Seeger's first recordings was "American Folk Songs for Children" (1955), considered one of her most enduring, and probably the best-selling, collection of children's songs ever recorded.
Together with MacColl, Seeger joined The Critics Group, performing satirical songs in a mixture of theatre, comedy and song. Seeger and MacColl recorded as a duo and as solo artists; MacColl wrote "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" in Seeger's honor.
Reclaim the Night
Peggy Seeger Lyrics
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(Peggy Seeger)
Though Eve was made from Adam's rib
Nine months he lay within her crib
How can a man of woman born
Thereafter use her s** with scorn?
For though we bear the human race
And some men place us lower still
By using us against our will
If we choose to walk alone
For us there is no safety zone
If we're attacked we bear the blame
They say that we began the game
And though you prove your injury
The judge may set the rapist free
Therefore the victim is to blame
Call it nature, but rape's the name
Chorus: Reclaim the night and win the day
We want the right that should be our own
A freedom women have seldom known
The right to live, the right to walk alone without fear
A husband has his lawful rights
Can take his wife whene'er he likes
And courts uphold time after time
That rape in marriage is no crime
The choice is hers and hers alone
Submit or lose your kids and home
When love becomes a legal claim
Call it duty, but rape's the name
And if a man should rape a child
It's not because his spirit's wild
Our system gives the prize to all
Who trample on the weak and small
When fathers rape, they surely know
Their kids have nowhere else to go
Try to forget, don't ask us to
Forgive them -- they know what they do [Chorus:]
When exploitation is the norm
Rape is found in many forms
Lower wages, meaner tasks
Poorer schooling, second class
We serve our own, and, like the men
We serve employers -- it follows then
That bodies raped is nothing new
But just a servant's final due
We've raised our voices in the past
And this time will not be the last
Our bodies' gift is ours to give
Not payment for the right to live
Since we've outgrown the status quo
We claim the right to answer "No!"
If without consent he stake a claim
Call it rape, for rape's the name
[Chorus:]
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@feminist @rape @abuse
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===Document boundary
Peggy Seeger's song "Reclaim the Night" is a powerful political statement about the injustices and dangers that women face in a male-dominated society. The lyrics critique the unequal treatment of women and how it results in their exploitation and abuse. The verses speak of the legal and cultural systems that allows men to commit rape against women, including their wives and female children. The song describes the victim-blaming attitudes that often surround these crimes, as well as the lack of agency women have over their own bodies and lives. The chorus, which is repeated throughout the song, is a call to action for women to reclaim their rights and live without fear.
The opening lines of the song reference the Christian creation story of Adam and Eve. It juxtaposes the idea that women were created to be inferior to men with the fact that women are the bearers of life. The lines reflect the pervasive notion that women are second-class citizens, and that men have the right to use women's bodies for their own pleasure. The verse, "And some men place us lower still, by using us against our will," draws attention to the fact that rape is not only about physical violence, but also about power and control. The song implies that rape is a form of violence used to enforce gender inequality, and that it serves to perpetuate the idea that women are inferior to men.
Overall, "Reclaim the Night" is a passionate and uncompromising statement against rape culture, gender-based violence, and the denial of women's rights. The song speaks to feminists around the world who are fighting for equality, justice, and respect for all genders.
Line by Line Meaning
Though Eve was made from Adam's rib
Despite the origin story of woman being created from man's body, it does not justify the mistreatment of women
Nine months he lay within her crib
Women have a vital role in reproducing humanity, and it is not something to be dismissed
How can a man of woman born
Even though men are born of women, it does not entitle them to treat women poorly
Thereafter use her s** with scorn?
It is unjustifiable to mistreat women during sexual activity, regardless of any power dynamics that may exist in society
For though we bear the human race
Women play an important role in the continuation of humanity
To us is given but second place
Despite their important role in the human race, women are often treated as inferior to men
And some men place us lower still
Some men actively perpetuate the view that women are inferior to men
By using us against our will
Some men use their power to commit sexual assault and abuse on women against their will
If we choose to walk alone
Women face the risk of violence when walking alone
For us there is no safety zone
There is no guarantee of safety for women when they are alone in public spaces
If we're attacked we bear the blame
Women are often blamed for the assaults they face, instead of holding the perpetrators accountable
They say that we began the game
The cultural narrative around gender and sexuality often wrongly assumes that women are the ones initiating unwanted sexual encounters
And though you prove your injury
Even if a woman can prove that she has been assaulted, there is no guarantee that justice will be served in the judicial system
The judge may set the rapist free
The justice system often fails women by allowing perpetrators of violence to walk free
Therefore the victim is to blame
Women are often blamed for the violence that they suffer at the hands of men
Call it nature, but rape's the name
Rape is a destructive and harmful act that cannot be justified through biological determinism
Chorus: Reclaim the night and win the day
Women must take back the night and fight for their right to live and move freely without fear
We want the right that should be our own
Women have the right to live and move without fear of violence or assault from men
A freedom women have seldom known
Historically, women have been denied the right to live and move freely without fear of violence or assault from men
The right to live, the right to walk alone without fear
Women should be able to enjoy their lives without constantly having to look over their shoulders and feel unsafe
A husband has his lawful rights
The legal system has historically granted men a disproportionate amount of control over their wives and family
Can take his wife whene'er he likes
Marriage should not be used as an excuse for sexual abuse or coercion
And courts uphold time after time
The legal system has often been complicit in perpetuating systems of oppression
That rape in marriage is no crime
The legal system has historically failed women within the context of marriage by not recognizing spousal rape as a crime
The choice is hers and hers alone
Women have the right to choose what happens to their own bodies and should not be pressured into non-consensual sexual activity
Submit or lose your kids and home
Women often face impossible and unfair choices, where they must choose between their safety and their livelihood and children
When love becomes a legal claim
Marriage should not be used as an excuse for sexual abuse or coercion
Call it duty, but rape's the name
There is no justification for sexual violence, regardless of any social or legal context
And if a man should rape a child
Child sexual abuse is a heinous crime that traumatizes vulnerable people
It's not because his spirit's wild
Child sexual abuse is the result of a conscious and deliberate decision made by the abuser
Our system gives the prize to all
Our current social and legal systems have historically benefited the powerful, rather than the vulnerable
Who trample on the weak and small
Those with power often use it to take advantage of those with less power
When fathers rape, they surely know
Even though fathers who commit sexual assault within their families know that what they are doing is wrong, some still commit these heinous acts
Their kids have nowhere else to go
Victims of familial sexual assault may not have anywhere else to turn to for help or support
Try to forget, don't ask us to
Victims of sexual assault should not be expected to forget the trauma that they have experienced
Forgive them -- they know what they do
Excusing perpetrators of sexual violence by suggesting that they cannot help themselves is not acceptable
When exploitation is the norm
Exploitation of vulnerable individuals is often normalized through cultural narratives and social structures
Rape is found in many forms
Sexual violence can take many different forms and is not limited to physical assault
Lower wages, meaner tasks
Women often face discriminatory practices in the workplace, such as being paid less than their male counterparts
Poorer schooling, second class
Women and girls are often denied equal access to education and may not be afforded the same opportunities as men
We serve our own, and, like the men
Women may perpetuate systems of oppression themselves, often as a result of limited choices or resources
We serve employers -- it follows then
Women often work within systems where they have little control over their own lives or bodies
That bodies raped is nothing new
There is a long history of men in positions of power using that power to commit sexual violence against women
But just a servant's final due
Women, particularly those with little power or resources, are often forced to submit to sexual violence from those in positions of power
We've raised our voices in the past
Women have long spoken out against the systems of oppression that silence them
And this time will not be the last
Women will continue to fight for their rights and for justice
Our bodies' gift is ours to give
Women should have the right to choose what happens to their bodies, as they are the ones who live in them
Not payment for the right to live
Sexual activity should not be a requirement for women to be allowed to exist within society
Since we've outgrown the status quo
Women have challenged the oppressive patriarchal systems that have historically held them back
We claim the right to answer "No!"
Women have the right to say no to sexual activity that they do not consent to
If without consent he stake a claim
Sexual activity without consent is a violation of a person's bodily autonomy and right to safety
Call it rape, for rape's the name
There is no justification or excuse for sexual violence, and it should always be called out for what it is
[Chorus:]
The chorus repeats the central message of the song: women must fight for their rights and demand safety and freedom from violence
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Contributed by Hudson A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.