Shannon is a folk/punk musician from the northwoods of Minnesota, and a mem… Read Full Bio ↴Shannon is a folk/punk musician from the northwoods of Minnesota, and a member of the Riot Folk! Collective. She tackles guitar playing and songcrafting like it’s a contact sport, mixing folk and punk traditions with a unique flair. Shannon has been making folk a threat again since 2001 with her quirky stories, passionate message, quick wit, and contagious energy.

www.shannonmurraymusic.com

Martyr
Shannon Murray Lyrics

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Joanie could have saved her life

If she'd just put on a dress

And said Jesus the only child

Jesus is an only child

Jesus is the only child of god

Why would a god send a woman to do what men had always done

Why would she do that?

Joseph could have saved his life

If he'd just taken the pardon

Said I was guilty but now I'm free

Said I was guilty but now I'm free

Said I was guilty but now I'm free

Who needs fair trials anyway when freedom is all that we wage

Who'd die for that

I want to be a martyr

I want to die for this song

I want to be a martyr

I want to die for this song

Oh ohhhh yeah

Aileen could have saved her life

If she'd just got a respectable job

And said I don't want to hook no more

I don't want to hook no more

I don't want to hook no more

The economy is looking fine

Plenty of good jobs you'll find

For a poor uneducated white trash woman with no experience

I want to be a martyr

I want to die for this song

I want to be a martyr

I want to die for this song

Oh ohhhh yeah

Overall Meaning

The song "Martyr" by Shannon Murray is a commentary on societal expectations and gender roles, particularly in relation to the concept of martyrdom. The verses reference three historical figures who could have avoided their fate if they had just played by the rules - Joan of Arc, who could have saved her life by conforming to traditional gender norms; Joseph, who could have saved his life by accepting a pardon despite his guilt; and Aileen, who could have saved her life by finding a more socially acceptable profession than prostitution. However, the chorus asserts that the singer, rather than conforming to societal expectations or seeking a comfortable life, wants to be a martyr for her art. She wants to be remembered for her work, and is willing to die for her message.

The song raises a number of thought-provoking questions about the nature of martyrdom and what it means to truly live for one's beliefs. The references to Joan of Arc, in particular, suggest that the traditional view of martyrdom - as something that happens to you, that you suffer through - might be a limited one. Joan, after all, chose her fate, and was willing to die for what she believed in. Similarly, the singer's desire to be a martyr for her music suggests that there is something powerful and transformative about committing yourself fully to a cause, even if it means risking everything.

Line by Line Meaning

Joanie could have saved her life
Joanie had the potential to avoid getting killed in a certain situation.

If she'd just put on a dress
Wearing a dress would have made Joanie more socially acceptable, and possibly saved her life.

And said Jesus the only child
Declaring Jesus Christ the only child of God.

Jesus is an only child
Jesus does not have any siblings.

Jesus is the only child of god
Jesus Christ is the supreme being, with no other children or equals.

Why would a god send a woman to do what men had always done
Why would God assign traditionally male tasks to a woman?

Why would she do that?
Why would the woman follow God's plan and assume non-traditional roles?

Joseph could have saved his life
Joseph had the opportunity to avoid death.

If he'd just taken the pardon
If he had accepted the pardon offered to him.

Said I was guilty but now I'm free
Confessing to being guilty, but still being freed.

Who needs fair trials anyway when freedom is all that we wage
Why should we bother with fair trials when our only objective is freedom?

Who'd die for that
Who would willingly sacrifice themselves for that cause?

I want to be a martyr
I desire to die for a noble cause.

I want to die for this song
I desire to sacrifice myself for the message conveyed in this song.

I want to be a martyr
I desire to die for a noble cause.

I want to die for this song
I desire to sacrifice myself for the message conveyed in this song.

Oh ohhhh yeah
Exclamation of affirmation.

Aileen could have saved her life
Aileen had the opportunity to preserve her life.

If she'd just got a respectable job
Aileen could have saved her life by getting a job that better aligns with societal norms.

And said I don't want to hook no more
Aileen could have stated that she does not want to engage in prostitution any longer.

I don't want to hook no more
Aileen has decided to quit prostitution.

The economy is looking fine
The economy is currently thriving.

Plenty of good jobs you'll find
There are plenty of respectable jobs available.

For a poor uneducated white trash woman with no experience
Despite the social limitations on this type of woman, there are still options available for employment.

I want to be a martyr
I desire to die for a noble cause.

I want to die for this song
I desire to sacrifice myself for the message conveyed in this song.

I want to be a martyr
I desire to die for a noble cause.

I want to die for this song
I desire to sacrifice myself for the message conveyed in this song.

Oh ohhhh yeah
Exclamation of affirmation.

Contributed by Wyatt B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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