This Girl Lyrics

Song Facts:

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

Song creation

"This Girl" was written in late 2017 and has seen only minor cuts and lyric adjustments since then. The most significant change from its original version at the Public Theater to its current Broadway iteration is its dramatic placement. Initially, the song occurred before "The Convention," but this placement was reconsidered by the songwriter and director Leigh Silverman. "We quickly realized this completely jumped the gun: If Carrie had already decided to denounce Alice, we were ahead of things heading into the convention," she explained. The solution was to structure "The Convention" similarly to "La Vie Boheme A" and "La Vie Boheme B" from Rent, with "This Girl" serving as the pivotal song-song in the middle. This reconfiguration immediately energized the soliloquy, giving it new life. Jenn Colella, who performs the song, has delivered it with full intensity from the very first day of their first reading, creating an electrifying moment every night.

Annotations and Meaning of This Girl:

The track This Girl from the musical "Suffs" explores the internal conflict and generational tension within the women's suffrage movement, particularly between seasoned activists and younger, more radical members.

This girl, this entitled little...
Calm down, Carrie,
But this girl, this Alice Paul.
What gall to call me an old fogey.

The song opens with Carrie Chapman Catt's frustration with Alice Paul, highlighting the tension between their differing approaches to suffrage. Catt feels disrespected and undermined by Paul's audacity.

Since when am I an old fogey?
She thinks I'm obsolete, she oughta kiss my feet.
I lit the way for her, but no, she thinks she knows better.
Don't let her get to your head, focus on your speech instead.

Catt reflects on her contributions and feels slighted by Paul's perceived ingratitude. She reminds herself to stay focused on her own goals despite the provocation.

What was I thinking enabling her?
I should've heeded the doubts I had from the start.
She's undeniably smart but so misguided.
I've labored for decades to craft a conservative image for suffrage,
But she makes us look like a horde of hysterical harpies,
With smoke blowing out of our ears.

Catt criticizes Paul's radical tactics, fearing they undermine the conservative image she has worked hard to establish. She worries that Paul's methods will set back the movement's progress.

What if she ruins what I have been mounting for years?
I did not count on this girl.
This girl.

Catt's anxiety peaks as she considers the possibility that Paul's actions might undo her years of work.

I can't believe I am now viewed as the old guard,
And she, as the beacon of change.
Me, the old fogey.
How strange.

Catt grapples with her new role as the established figure being challenged by younger activists. This shift in perception is difficult for her to accept.

This girl.
Not this girl, raised by a penniless drunk,
Who refused to send her to school.
Not this girl who paid her own way through college,
Proving she's nobody's fool.

Catt recounts her own difficult upbringing and accomplishments, emphasizing her resilience and intelligence. She contrasts her struggles with Paul's perceived entitlement.

Who worked as the first woman superintendent,
Harassed by her boss, but managed to thrive.
Who married a man for a good reputation,
Then found herself widowed at age twenty-five.

Catt highlights her professional achievements and personal hardships, underscoring her strength and determination.

Not this girl who flouted all feminine customs,
By joining the fight for the vote.
Not this girl who followed the lead of the movement,
Hiding her anger beneath her petticoat.
Who rose through the ranks,
By paying her dues,
And earned her place at the top.
Who transformed and expanded the organization,
And she's yet to see.

Catt reflects on her journey within the suffrage movement, showcasing her dedication and the barriers she overcame to rise to a leadership position.

Not this girl you see before you now,
Who stands by each move that she's made,
This old fogey's time has come,
Dolan's time has come,
I want my whole goddamn life for respect for my sex,
And I will no longer allow this arrogant child,
To imperil our chance to be free,
Not me, not this girl!

The final lines are a powerful declaration of Catt's resolve. She refuses to let Paul's radicalism jeopardize the movement she has devoted her life to. Catt asserts her authority and determination to lead the movement towards success. Overall, This Girl captures the generational and ideological conflicts within the women's suffrage movement.