Take a Seat, Jess

Every year on the very same date Jess has to stand up and read out a long list of names And every name on that list is one name too many And I dream of the day when she tells us she doesn't have any Empty handed and smiling from ear to ear Take a seat Jess, you've nothing to read out this year Behind every name is a terrible story Events that fill us with sadness and cause us to worry At the world we live in and the direction it's taking And I pray for my daughters and all will see a day when No papers in hand nothing to see here Take a seat Jess, you've nothing to read out this year And will the honourable members please try and remember That every solution that expects women to do all the changing Is shifting the focus and blurring the issue Given your pasts I know it's hard for you But could you just stop all the victim blaming Empty handed and smiling from ear to ear No papers in hand nothing to see here No clapping allowed but by Christ won't there be such a cheer When Jess doesn't stand up cos she's nothing to read out that year When Jess doesn't stand up cos there's nothing to read out that year