Prejudice - Tim Minchin

This is a song about prejudice

And the language of prejudice

And the power of the language of prejudice

It’s called «Prejudice»

In our modern free-spoken society

There is a word that we still hold taboo

A word with a terrible history

Of being used to abuse, oppress and subdue

Just six seemingly harmless letters

Arranged in a way that will form a word

With more power than the pieces of metal

That are forged to make swords

A couple of Gs, an R and an E, an I and an N

Just six little letters all jumbled together

Have caused damage that we may never mend

And it’s important that we all respect

That if these people should happen to choose

To reclaim the word as their own

It doesn’t meant the rest of you have a right to it’s use

So never under estimate

The power that language imparts

Sticks and stones may break your bones

But words can break hearts

A couple of Gs, jeez, unless you’ve had to live it

An R and an E, even I am careful with it

An I and an N;

in the end, it will only offend

Don’t want to have to spell it out again

Yeah

Only a ginger can call another ginger «ginger»

Only a ginger can call another ginger «ginger»

So listen to me if you care for your health

You won’t call me ginger unless you’re ginger yourself

Only a ginger can call another ginger «ginger»

When you are a ginger, life is pretty hard

Years of ritual bullying in the school yard

Kids calling you «ranga» and «Fanta pants»

No invitation to the high school dance

But you get up and learn to hold your head up

You try to keep your cool and not get het up

But until the feeling of ill is truly let up

Then the word is ours and ours alone

Don’t you know that…

Only a ginger can call another ginger «ginger»

Only a ginger can call another ginger" ginger"

So if you call us ginge, we just might come unhinged

If you don’t have a fringe with at least a tinge of the ginge in it

Only a ginger can call another ginger «ginger»

Now listen to me, we’re not looking for sympathy

Just because we’re sensitive to UV

Just cause we’re pathetically pale

We do alright with the females

Yeah I like to ask the ladies 'round for ginger beer

And soon they’re running their fingers through my ginger beard

And dunking my ginger nuts into their ginger tea

And asking if they can call me ginge

And I say, «I don’t think that’s appropriate!»

'Cuz only a ginger can call another ginger «ginger»

Only a ginga can call another ginga «ginga»

And all the ladies, they agree it’s a fact

Once you’ve gone ginge, you can’t go back

Only a ginger can call another ginger «ginger»

Yeah go ginge, go you funky motherfucking ginge

Yeah, funky ginger mofo

Yeah, you can call us «bozo» or «fire truck»

You can even call us «carrot top» or «blood nut»

Yeah, you can call us «match stick» or «tampon»

But fucking with the G-word is just not on

If you’re a ginger-phobe and you don’t like us

We will stand up to the fight if you want to fight us

But if you cut yourself, you might catch gingivitis

So maybe you should shut your funky mouth

Only a ginger can call another ginger «ginger»

Only a ginger can call another ginger «ginger»

So if you call us ginge, you can’t whinge if you’re injured

If you don’t have a tinge of the ginge in your minge

Only a ginger can call another ginger «ginger»

And you know my kids will always be clothed and fed

'Cos papa’s gonna be bringing home the gingerbread

And they’ll be pretty smart, because they’ll be well-read

And by «read», I mean «read» and the other kind of «red»

(It's a homophone!)

Only a ginger can call another ginger «ginger»

Only a ginga can call another ginga «ginga»

Just like only a ninja can sneak up on another ninja

Yeah, only a ginger, only a ginger

Only a ginger, yeah

Are you all listening-a?

I’m not pointing the finger

I just having a sing-a

I’m just reminding ya

That only a ginger can call another ginger

«Ginger»