Four Years to Life                   [Part 2 of my Abortion Trilogy]

Song lyrics by Chrome Dome Mike Kimbro

Structure Scheme: Accent points align for all 6 verses, with 1 line's exception.

Consider reading along to my Spoken Verse Performance.

VERSE 1

To ladies in the Peach State.

Whose parts are in good working order.

You're in big trouble if your period's late.

Be ready to make a run for the border.

CHORUS

Four years to life.

Four years to life.

If your college options,

Are schools down in Dixie.

Proceed with great caution.

Those in Georgia could be risky.

Yeah, plan on staying four years to life.

VERSE 2

If you can find a cruise ship,

Or flight over seas, better book it.

But the sad fact is that you can't take a trip,

And not be asked as to why that you took it.

CHORUS

Four years to life.

Four years to life.

If your college options,

Are schools down in Dixie.

Proceed with great caution.

Those in Georgia could be risky.

Yeah, plan on spending four years to life.

BRIDGE

So whether at a modest JuCo,

Or university of higher learning.

Here's one thing that we all know:

Coeds have desires that are burning.

So even if you're a legacy,

With a building wearing your name.

Where support of abortion is heresy,

Orange jumpsuits will highlight the shame.

That's right, sister,

This ain't no game.

So factor in four years to life.

VERSE 3

All ladies who go down there,

Know well they could face legal trouble.

And the right's politicians don't give a care,

That students from out of state might pay triple.         [Examples: #1, #2, #3] 

CHORUS

Four years to life.

Four years to life.

If your college options,

Are schools down in Dixie.

Proceed with great caution.

Those in Georgia could be risky.

Yeah, plan on staying four years to life.

VERSE 4

Now parents...

Most letters brought by mail-man.

Get read by the staff, then your daughter.

You'll be glad Georgia has a fair calling plan.        [Note: It's called the Inmate Phone System by Securus Technologies]

So she can call while she's there for manslaughter.

VERSE 5

The Equal Rights Amendment,

Some say that it died due to hatred.

Would your grown daughter proudly claim that she went,

To study where women's right's are not sacred?

VERSE 6

But Georgians get to share blame,

Since most of the South didn't back it.         [Note: Speaking, of course, about the Equal Rights Amendment.]

Utah and Oklahoma both did the same.         [Note: Variations in accent points on this line alone.]

So what's the harm hangin' 'round Yellow Jackets!?!

CHORUS

Four years to life.

Four years to life.

If your college options,

Are schools down in Dixie.

Proceed with great caution.

Those in Georgia could be risky.

Yeah, plan on staying four years to life.

CLOSE  (Optional)

[NOTE: TRANSITION to a 'Chuga-chuga' rhythm.]

I hear the train a comin',

With a fresh group of female inmates.

To the Big House in County Baldwin,              [Note: Here's the links to Arrendale, Emanuel, and Whitworth.]

Where A compassionate warden awaits.

The End

Copyright © Michael Kimbro 2019.  All rights reserved.

Keywords:  Poems about abortion, ERA poetry, Verses about the Equal Rights Amendment, Odes to Georgia College Coeds