Rights (The Bill of Rights Song)

The Story Behind the Song

A song about selective principle -- people who treat the Bill of Rights like a menu, defending the amendments that protect them and dismissing the ones that protect someone they dislike. It doesn't argue for one political side over another; the target is the inconsistency itself, the refusal to extend the same freedom you claim for yourself.

Performances

Sadie McCoy's "Hers" edition performs the same twelve songs with her own vocal performance; per-track durations for her edition aren't published yet.

Lyrics

You love the first ’til I say somethin’ you don’t like, You hate the second ’til it comes for someone you despise. You love the fourth if it keeps you in your vice, And you hold up the fifth when it saves you from your crimes. Rights when you like ’em, but not when they sting, Y’all pile on laws ’til they don’t mean a thing. Freedom ain’t free, and it ain’t yours to deny, It’s given to us all — not only your side. Most of y’all got no clue about the third, But if soldiers came knockin’, you could quote those words. Six, seven, eight to put a leash on your mob, Nine and ten keep some of y’all from playin’ God! Rights when you like ’em, but not when they sting, Y’all pile on laws ’til they don’t mean a thing. Freedom ain’t free, and it ain’t yours to deny, It’s given to us all — not only your side. If you’re all about justice, let’s see you walk the line, Instead of grabbin’ rights or inventin’ some bullshit fine. Why don’t y’all try this on for size: Exercise yours... and I’ll exercise mine. Rights when you like ’em, but not when they sting, Y’all pile on laws ’til they don’t mean a thing. Freedom ain’t free, and it ain’t yours to deny, It’s given to us all — not only your side. Exercise yours… and I’ll exercise mine.