Abortion

Song Meaning

The lyrics open with a stark, uncompromising declaration: "First degree murder!" This sets an immediate, confrontational tone. The repeated chorus, "Abortion, abortion / You got to have caution," frames the entire piece as an urgent moral warning. The speaker immediately establishes a strong stance, urging careful consideration. The core tension arises from the speaker's deeply held conviction against abortion, contrasted with the realities of intimacy. Verse 1 hints at a past shared "Jah's love," suggesting a personal connection to the theme of creation and life. This personal reflection quickly expands to a broader concern, lamenting "my black sisters going down the drain," which introduces a communal and demographic dimension to the perceived crisis. The lyrics employ a striking blend of moralistic decree and specific, often graphic, allusions. There's a jarring reference to contraceptive "strain" leading to "blood vessel bursts," whether a literal medical claim or a metaphorical depiction of perceived harm. This is coupled with a strong appeal to traditional values in Verse 3, where a woman's purpose is defined as being made "from the rib of a man / To multiply and not to divide," directly condemning "pills and thrills" and "sodomy." The effectiveness of these lyrics lies in their raw, unvarnished delivery and the speaker's passionate, if sometimes harsh, appeals. The repeated calls to "throw away the pills" and the desire for "my little youth" and "my little girl" reveal a deep, personal longing for life and family. The bridge, "Woman! Don't you got feelings? / You're bright like a star!", shifts from condemnation to a direct, emotional plea, attempting to stir empathy and self-worth as a means to encourage a different choice.