the village
Wrabel Lyrics
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And your dad don't get it
Uncle John don't get it
And you can't tell grandma
'Cause her heart can't take it
And she might not make it
Cutting off your long hair"
You do as you're told
Tell you, "Wake up, go put on your makeup
This is just a phase you're gonna outgrow"
There's something wrong in the village
In the village, oh
They stare in the village
In the village, oh
There's nothing wrong with you
It's true, it's true
There's something wrong with the village
With the village
There's something wrong with the village
Feel the rumors follow you from Monday all the way to Friday dinner
You got one day of shelter,
Then it's Sunday hell to pay, you young lost sinner
Well, I've been there, sitting in that same chair
Whispering that same prayer half a million times
It's a lie, though buried in disciples
One page of the Bible isn't worth a life
There's something wrong in the village
In the village, oh
They stare in the village
In the village, oh
There's nothing wrong with you
It's true, it's true
There's something wrong with the village
With the village
There's something wrong with the village
There's something wrong in the village
In the village, oh
They stare in the village
In the village, oh
There's nothing wrong with you
It's true, it's true
There's something wrong with the village
With the village
There's something wrong with the village
Wrabel's song "The Village" speaks to the struggles of feeling different and not being accepted by the people around you. The opening lines in the song describe the challenge of trying to express your true self when your family won't understand. This can be particularly challenging for queer people who are not accepted by their parents or extended family members who hold traditional views of gender and sexual orientation. Wrabel captures the tension and anxiety that builds up when you can't be yourself around the people who should love you unconditionally. The pressure to conform can be suffocating, and the young person in the village feels trapped by everyone's expectations.
The chorus repeats the phrase that "something's wrong in the village." The lyrics suggest that the problem is not with the individual but with the community around them. The people in the village stare and judge, making the young person feel like they don't belong. Wrabel challenges the idea that it's the young person who needs to change, saying "there's nothing wrong with you, it's true, it's true." Instead, he suggests that the village needs to change, to learn to accept and love people who don't fit their narrow definition of "normal."
The second verse speaks to the sense of isolation that comes from being ostracized by your community. The rumors and gossip follow the young person everywhere they go, and even their family dinners become fraught with tension. Wrabel captures the sense of desperation and hopelessness that can arise when you're constantly judged and criticized for who you are. He also critiques the way in which religion can be used to justify discrimination or violence, noting that even the Bible can be selectively cited to support harmful beliefs. Ultimately, Wrabel's song is a plea for empathy and understanding. He asks the listener to recognize that everyone deserves love and acceptance, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation or any other aspect of their identity.
Line by Line Meaning
No, your mom don't get it
Your mother does not understand how you feel about your life.
And your dad don't get it
Your father does not understand how you feel about your life.
Uncle John don't get it
Your uncle John does not understand how you feel about your life.
And you can't tell grandma
You cannot share your feelings with your grandma.
'Cause her heart can't take it
Sharing your true feelings may harm your grandma's health.
And she might not make it
Your grandma's health might get affected if you share your true feelings.
They say, 'Don't dare, don't you even go there
They advise you not to do something out of the ordinary.
Cutting off your long hair'
Specifically, they forbid you from cutting your hair.
You do as you're told
You are expected to comply with their wishes.
Tell you, 'Wake up, go put on your makeup
They want you to put on a façade for others to see.
This is just a phase you're gonna outgrow'
They believe that your uniqueness will fade with time.
There's something wrong in the village
There is something inherently flawed in the society you live in.
In the village, oh
Your community is where these problems primarily exist.
They stare in the village
They scrutinize your every move.
There's nothing wrong with you
You are not the problem.
It's true, it's true
You must realize this fact.
There's something wrong with the village
The major issue lies within the society you live in.
With the village
The society as a whole is the root of the problem.
Feel the rumors follow you from Monday all the way to Friday dinner
You are constantly under the microscope and are constantly being judged, even by family members.
You got one day of shelter,
You might get relief from the scrutiny for a day or two.
Then it's Sunday hell to pay, you young lost sinner
But you return to your regular life, being accused of being an outsider or not conforming.
Well, I've been there, sitting in that same chair
The artist has felt the same way.
Whispering that same prayer half a million times
The singer has asked for change over and over again with no reply.
It's a lie, though buried in disciples
The current way of thinking is based on falsehoods.
One page of the Bible isn't worth a life
You cannot base your whole life on one page of a book.
Writer(s): Stephen Samuel Wrabel, Andrew Jackson, Andrew William Pearson
Contributed by Lillian T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.