MEN feat. JD Samson

MEN is a Brooklyn-based band and art/performance collective that focuses on the energy of live performance and the radical potential of dance music. MEN speaks to issues such as trans awareness, wartime economies, sexual compromise, and demanding liberties through lyrical content and an exciting stage show.

The group began in 2007 as the DJ/production/remix team of Le Tigre members JD Samson and Johanna Fateman. When the duo began to write new songs, it made sense to merge their efforts with JD's other new project, Hirsute. JD and original Hirsute members Michael O'Neill (Princess, Ladybug Transistor) and Ginger Brooks Takahashi (LTTR, The Ballet) then comprised the core of MEN, with Johanna Fateman and artist Emily Roysdon contributing as writers, consultants, and producers. With the release of their debut album Talk About Body in February 2011, Takahashi was subsequently replaced by Tami Hart.

MEN

MAY DAY WORDS

We are a protest band. We are here in solidarity as feminists, queers, and part of the greater 99 percent.

We are here to support immigrant rights, workers rights, AND the occupy movement.

But this is not a day to divide, this is a day to stand as one.

We will not only protest, but make a collective promise that we will never ever back down.

That we will never weaken our intelligent force, and that we will only get stronger.

We must remain simultaneously angry yet hopeful and continue our constant support for each other.

And most importantly give gratitude to this incredible crowd.

We can not do this alone. We need this choir. We need this team.

MAKE HIM PAY VIDEO!

TYLER JENSEN MADE THIS AWESOME VIDEO FOR MAKE HIM PAY!

AND JOHANNA FATEMAN HELPED US MAKE THE SONG SOOOO FUCKING GOOD!

you don’t know you don’t know you don’t know what i am
and if i don’t kiss your ass you think that i’m biting your hand
not gonna ask for your permission just to live in my skin
pretend to play a game that i can never win
you don’t know you don’t know you don’t know that we’ve got a plan
we sit and we wait and we chant you have to choose where to stand
there’s a place we’re gonna meet where we can all say
there’s a place we’re gonna meet where we can all say
make him pay

your tight fists never threw us a bone
now our fists are all that we own and we say
you don’t know you don’t know you don’t know who we are
we’re nobody we’re nobody we’re nobodies and now we’re in charge
there’s a place we’re gonna meet where we can all say
there’s a place we’re gonna meet where we can all say
make him pay

look outside there’s an ocean of hands
but we didn’t march to the tower to catch you man
rockabye baby rockabye we said
your time is up we’re gonna put you to bed