The Convention Part 1 Lyrics

Song Facts:

• Genre: Musical Theatre
• Lyricist: Shaina Taub
• Composers: Shaina Taub
• Musical: "Suffs"
• Year: 2024

Annotations and Meaning of The Convention Part 1:

The track The Convention Part 1 from the musical "Suffs" captures the dynamics and tensions within the suffrage movement, highlighting the collaboration and conflict among activists of different backgrounds and generations.

We stand united in sisterhood,
Working together on the same team,
Younger and older, joining as one,
Shoulder to shoulder for the same dream.

The opening lines set a tone of unity and collective effort, emphasizing the collaboration between women of different ages and experiences in the fight for suffrage.

Well, well, well, look who's finally become a member of NOS.
Oh, no, I'm only in town for tomorrow's NAACP conference.

This interaction introduces a character who is balancing her involvement with both the suffrage movement and the fight for racial equality, reflecting the intersectionality of social justice causes.

Care to give a quote for the Chicago Daily?
You can quote from my address as distinguished guest speaker.

The character's prominence and involvement in speaking engagements highlight her influential role and the public attention she receives.

So you've agreed to speak at your hundredth white women's convention?
Are you just here to sow dissension?
Don't you resent that you're a prop,
They trot out at events, NOS represents a rich little Negro mascot,
Come here and preach.
See, we have no race hatred,
We let Mary make a speech.

This passage exposes the tension between the desire for inclusivity and the tokenism faced by Black suffragists. It critiques the superficial inclusion often practiced by predominantly white organizations.

If I didn't speak, they wouldn't even mention race.
I tolerate their system,
'Cause that's the only way they'll ever listen to our case.
Oh, and their system wants you dead?
What then?
I can't have this out with you again.

The lyrics reflect the strategic compromises made by activists to be heard within a flawed system. The internal conflict between different approaches to activism is highlighted, revealing the complexity of navigating these challenges.

Why are you fighting me?
I am not the enemy.
Ladies, a photograph please.

This line underscores the frustration and misunderstanding within the movement, where allies sometimes clash over strategies and priorities. The call for a photograph shifts the focus back to unity and public representation.

We stand united in sisterhood,
Working together on the same team.

The refrain reinforces the central theme of unity despite differences, emphasizing the collective goal of achieving women's suffrage.

Before our formal program continues,
Let's entertain a brief diversion from our junior Washington DC committee.
Vote Wilson out!
Vote Wilson out!
Vote Wilson out!
Vote Wilson out!

The chant to "Vote Wilson out" represents a direct political action, reflecting the suffragists' frustration with President Wilson's inaction on women's suffrage.

My fellow Suffs, that should be NOS's rallying cry this fall.
It's time to show Wilson NOS's Suffs are the vanguard of the future.
It's time to show him we're not just some gaggle of irrelevant old fogeys.

The final lines call for bold action and assert the suffragists' relevance and leadership in the movement, positioning them as forward-thinking and determined to enact change.

Song creation

"The Convention" has retained its core hook since its inception in 2018. Inspired by the "rah rah sisterhood" songs of the era, the songwriter aimed to create her own version of a "shoulder to shoulder" anthem to underscore a sequence centered on conflict. "Public-facing harmony, and private dissonance," she described it. The Mary/Ida sung scene is another piece of recitative that resisted de-musicalization. The songwriter emphasized the importance of seizing every opportunity to hear Nikki and Stacy sing together, given their stunning performances. This sequence also introduces the recurring theme of "Why are you fighting me? I am not the enemy," which appears several times throughout the show. An interesting aspect she noted is the rhyme of "me" with "me" in the theme, which she realized, with some embarrassment, after the show was finalized on Broadway. Though it might lose her some craft points, she humorously claimed this was intentional to illustrate the imperfection inherent in any collaboration within a social movement. Overall, The Convention Part 1 captures the complexities and internal conflicts within the suffrage movement while emphasizing the need for unity and strategic action to achieve their goals.