Ladies

Song Facts:

• Genre: Musical Theatre


• Lyricist: Shaina Taub


• Composers: Shaina Taub


• Musical: "Suffs"


• Year: 2024

Annotations and Meaning of Ladies:

The track Ladies from the musical "Suffs" is a satirical commentary on the paternalistic attitudes towards women, emphasizing how these views are both condescending and restrictive.

Ladies, God bless the ladies,
No one adores ladies more than I.
As the father of three daughters,
As the husband to a wife,
I do not know who I'd be without the ladies in my life.

The song starts with a seemingly affectionate tribute to women, but quickly reveals a paternalistic tone. The speaker uses his relationships with women to justify his authority over them.

Ladies, when you're with ladies,
You can enjoy your sacred duty as a man.

This line implies that women exist primarily to fulfill men’s needs, framing their roles in terms of how they benefit men.

In this chaotic world we're in,
Thank God some comfort can be found whenever a lady is around.

Women are portrayed as sources of comfort in a chaotic world, reducing their roles to providing emotional support for men.

It isn't wise to weigh down women with the worries of the day.
Our female wants to focus on her family anyway,
So be kind and let her mind be fully feminine and free.

These lines suggest that women are naturally suited to domestic roles and should be shielded from the complexities of the outside world. This attitude reinforces gender stereotypes and limits women's autonomy.

It's only fair when they're the burden of responsibility.
Ladies must be protected, they rely on us to supervise their lives.

The song text underscores a belief in male superiority, portraying women as incapable of handling responsibility without male oversight.

As a leader guards his people, every man must do his share.
We must take care of our ladies.
Take care of the ladies.

Men are framed as protectors and supervisors, furthering the notion that women need to be taken care of and cannot manage their own lives.

It isn't moral to make mothers all on matters of the state.
Their heads weren't meant for hard and heavy national debate.
In politics, pollutes aren't ladies' lives, I'm scared to say.

These lines dismiss women's capacity for political thought and involvement, suggesting that engaging in politics would somehow corrupt or overburden them.

We'll sacrifice virility and compromise fertility and threaten the stability of the USA.

The song text uses hyperbolic fears to argue against women's involvement in politics, claiming it would undermine national stability.

So ladies must be commanded, they require a man to manage their affairs.
We must keep them safe at home, afar from evil, far from greed.
We must keep them in our arms where their freedoms guaranteed.

The lyrics reinforce the idea that women's freedom and safety are dependent on male control, a perspective that denies women their independence and agency.

So why would ladies vote?
We provide all that they need.
We must respect and protect a final eternal gracious, vivacious ladies.

The conclusion dismisses women's suffrage, suggesting that men's provision is sufficient and that women don't need a political voice.
### "Ladies"

Song creation

"Ladies" has always been a part of the show in some form, but it underwent significant transformations over time. The songwriter shared that writing for the legendary performer Grace McLean provided immense inspiration. "This was another case where I knew I was writing for a legendary performer, the singular Grace McLean, and that gave me wings," she said. From the start, the song was envisioned as a Golden Age musical theatre tune, reflecting President Woodrow Wilson's nostalgia for traditional gender roles.

To capture this feel, she played through numerous Rodgers and Hammerstein songs, seeking out chord voicings that were less familiar to her. "Cockeyed Optimist" was a particular source of inspiration.

The major evolution of this song post-Public Theater run was dramaturgical. Initially a soliloquy, "Ladies" was set within a vaudeville framework, opening each act with numbers like "Watch Out for the Suffragette." Recognizing the song's Golden Age pastiche, she decided to place Wilson in a real scene with Dudley Malone for the first half, transforming the piece into a paternal teaching moment about how to treat women. "Wilson doesn’t think he’s subjugating women, he thinks he’s protecting them—it’s that kind of benevolent sexism that is the most insidious," she explained, aiming to convey this damaging perspective shared by many well-meaning men.

Additionally, she realized the song lacked a proper ending in earlier versions. Given Grace McLean's talent, it was essential to provide her with a grand Broadway ending. "When you have Grace McLean at your disposal, you need to give her a big old Broadway ending like she deserves," she concluded.

Overall, Ladies is a critique of outdated and patronizing views on women’s roles.