Final Blog

 Music and Its Commentary on Reproductive Rights

Musicians have responded to political events with songs for decades, from Childish Gambino singing about racial violence in the 2010's to Bob Dylan singing about the Vietnam War in the 1960's. One crucial event that happened in 2022 was the overturning of Roe V. Wade, a law that made abortion a federally protected right. The states were given the choice to ban or restrict it if they wanted. As a result, 13 states banned abortion, and 7 states put strict gestational rules around it. As a result, maternal and infant death rates increased, and many women were unable to access care that was vital to their own fertility. This was a devastating event for women across America, and several musicians released songs in response and support.

                       

One of those songs was Hozier's "Swan Upon Leda". This song is a folk-hymn style in a minor key that tells a few stories. The first story is the one named in the title, a Greek myth about the god Zeus turning into a swan and raping Leda, the child bride of a King. The line "A crying child pushes a child into the night" calls back to how the overturning of Roe V. Wade made it so children who were raped were forced to carry to term in certain states. Later in the song, he talks about the historic abortion trail in Ireland, a secret pathway they had to take out of the country to get abortions as they were illegal until 2018. Hozier calls from myth, to history, to the present, to portray his point that men have always tried to control women's bodily autonomy, something they have no right to do, and we cannot let them do it again. 

Swan Upon Leda - Hozier

Hozier doesn't use a traditional verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus format; rather, he uses a verse, chorus, verse, chorus, chorus format that sounds similar to a spoken myth or storyline. As the song progresses to the chorus, a simple guitar melody is joined with a symphony of strings, as well as Hozier's voice being accompanied by layered harmonies, belting the lyrics with him as if the many voices of those hurt are yelling with him. One element heavily used in this song is reverb, which makes the song sound cathedral-like, really pulling at the heartstrings. I know for me, this song meant a lot when it came out, as it was a scary time for women, and it was heart-warming to not only hear a man speak out so eloquently, but also someone not from the United States. 

Another song that came out in response to Roe V. Wade by a famous musician is Billie Eilish. She is a popular American singer among teenagers and especially women. This was also released in 2022, following the pandemic and Roe V. Wade, Billie released "TV," a song that commented on many events happening at that time, including isolation, mental health, eating disorders, and public trials. The lyric that stands out to me in this song is:

"The internet's gone wild, watching movie stars on trial while they're overturning Roe v. Wade."

This lyric really speaks to how COVID made the general public so obsessed with social media and following other people's lives that we didn't notice how corrupt the government is around us, and how we aren't fighting hard enough for our own rights and freedom. This is the only song I can find that outwardly calls out the event, forcing listeners to face it.

The song itself is very simple, with just a guitar and light, airy singing that feels repetitive. The song really embodies the feeling of loneliness, boredom, and hopelessness. There are no punchy instruments or strong vocals that give off the feeling of fighting back, just the soft, quiet sorrow that a lot of people felt at that time. The tempo and rhythm are slow and follow the vocals, emphasizing them. At the end of the song, she repeats the lyric "Maybe I'm the problem" and is joined by a large chorus that sounds like her audience joining her, symbolizing how we all are complicit in what's happening around us by following the media, watching the world from our screens. This song felt incredibly relatable when it came for me, as I assume it did for many others. It was comforting to know that even celebrities were struggling as much as ordinary people, and it again felt supportive to hear celebrities speak up about human rights.

TV - Billie Eilish

Personal Reflection

This class has made me dive deeper into the songs I listen to and pay attention to the musical elements in them, making just the simple experience of listening to a song completely different. I notice beats, tempos, and texture now. I've also learned a lot about famous artists and artworks through this class and even dove deeper into works I already loved, making me love them more. 

Sources

Sam. “Hozier’s ‘Swan upon Leda.’” A Long Spoon, 15 Nov. 2022, alongspoon.wordpress.com/2022/11/15/hoziers-swan-upon-leda/. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.

Olson, Samantha. “Billie Eilish References Johnny Depp and Amber Heard Trial and Overturning of Roe v. Wade in New Song, ‘TV.’” Seventeen, 21 July 2022, www.seventeen.com/celebrity/music/a40679904/billie-eilish-tv-lyrics-meaning/.

“The Impact of Restrictive State Abortion Laws: State of the Research Evidence in 2025 | Milbank Memorial Fund.” Milbank Memorial Fund, 29 Oct. 2025, www.milbank.org/quarterly/opinions/the-impact-of-restrictive-state-abortion-laws-state-of-the-research-evidence-in-2025/?utm_source=. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.