Voices: Listening to Womanhood Through Sinéad O’Connor

4 days ago
3 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

image credit: Andreas Larsson in The Gentle Woman 2012 https://thegentlewoman.co.uk/library/sinead-oconnor

I wanted to add the voice of Sinead O’Connor because no matter when I listen or how I am feeling her voice and words have something to teach me. Her perspective matches mine in various ways, this doesn’t mean I have lived her experience or want to but it does help me understand myself as a woman as it did when I listened in the 1980's and 90’s she articulates so well the nature of being a woman.

I am of course also aware of the dominant narrative that is mediated about her; that she was crazy - if you don’t know what I mean here go ask someone in their 40’s or 50’s what they think of her or know about her. I guess icons of change are not always liked by everyone. As she says in one of her songs:

'God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference' ( Serenity Prayer, Reinhold Niebuhr)

I came to thinking about her again after hearing Jamie Buckley on Radio 4's programme; This Cultural Life, talking about how she prepared for her role in Hamnet and how Sinead O'Connor was a big influence on her. I remembered how influential she was for me; not only for the hairstyle (which I desperately wanted but wasn't allowed) for how she expressed herself so viscerally.

It seems years since you held the baby

While I wrecked the bedroom

You said it was dangerous after Sunday

And I knew you loved me

He thinks I just became famous

And that's what messed me up

But he's wrong

How could I possibly know what I want

When I was only twenty-one?

There's millions of people

To offer advice and say how I should be

But they're twisted

And they will never be any influence on me

But you will always be

You will always be

If I treated you mean

I really didn't mean to

But you know how it is

And how a pregnancy can change you

I see plenty of clothes that I like

But I won't go anywhere nice for a while

All I want to do is just sit here

And write it all down and rest for a while

I can't bear to be in another city

One where you are not

I would return to nothing without you

If I'm your girlfriend or not

Maybe I was mean

But I really don't think so

You asked if I'm scared

And I said so

Everyone can see what's going on

They laugh 'cause they know they're untouchable

Not because what I said was wrong

Whatever it may bring

I will live by my own policies

I will sleep with a clear conscience

I will sleep in peace

Maybe it sounds mean

But I really don't think so

You asked for the truth and I told you

Through their own words

They will be exposed

They've got a severe case of

The emperor's new clothes

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Sinead O'connor

The Emperor’s New Clothes lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

John I Love You, 1994

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Sinead O'connor

John I Love You lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

John I love you

I'm ever so fond of you

Will you wait for me

'Til I am heavenly

Oh there's much work to do

But I love you

Oh you're tender

Your name's a whisper

I let tears fall like rain

Apple-sized they were

All over her

And through all of those times

When you could have died

This is what you find

There's life outside your mother's garden

There's life beyond your wildest dreams

There hasn't been any explosion

We're not spinning like Dorothy

If you look now then you'll see why

Don't be afraid to cry

This time don't let yourself fly

Child

Pick up those dancing shoes

Kick off those wedding blues

These are the ways

You can choose

Child you're tender