I write little songs for the Feminist Survival Project podcast, and this is one of them. The sound quality on this one didn’t come out quite as we hoped, so if you can’t understand the words but are curious, here they are! (The words in quotes are references to sci fi/fantasy/supernatural/superhero/magicky stories used to illustrate just how ubiquitous these metaphors are. Can you identify them all???)

“Wonder Twin powers, activate!”

How does it feel when you crawl out of trauma?

What is it like? Is it captivating drama?

“One does not simply walk into Mordor”

No! It’s mostly waking up every day and imitating what you think normal people do,

going to therapy, taking your meds, and faking sanity.

“I volunteer as tribute!”

This is why the stories are full of magic.

Nothing in nature is sufficiently tragic.

Stories can show you for the hero you are.

Stories can show you for the hero you are.

“Bah, humbug!”

People think a hero is someone who helps strangers

They can’t see survivors’ work won’t make them entertainers

“Winter is coming.”

No, the goal is just normality, and that doesn’t look impressive from the outside.

But your experience of the struggle is so much bigger on the inside.

“Luke, it is your destiny.”

This is why the stories are full of magic.

Nothing in nature is sufficiently tragic.

Stories can show you for the hero you are.

Stories can show you for the hero you are.

“You’re a wizard, Harry!”

Suffering and pain can leave your soul in tatters

It can be hard to believe that you matter

“Let it go. let it go!”

Yes, it’s easy to infer that it’s not enough to help just yourself

But actually it’s incredibly valuable and important that you’re taming that lion in your wardrobe.

“I am Moanna!”

Yes, we can see you are full of magic.

You have defeated the evil and tragic.

Now you’ll remember what a hero you are.

Now you’ll remember what a hero you are!

“Sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty.”

Yes, we can see you are full of magic.

You have defeated the evil and tragic.

Now you’ll remember what a hero you are.

Now you’ll remember what a hero you are!