The Ladder

I'm not oblivious to the
Sad, raging irony
Of this hundred-per-cent-majority
A collective, continuing failure to
Open up the floor and strive for equity
Breeds constant catastrophe
No one can do everything
But everyone can do something
This drab cishet boys' club needs to be done with
No one's perfect, but the time has come
To solve the problem, we must accept there is one
'Cause this scene's big enough
For every one of us
Hold the door open
Don't pull the ladder up
Emboldened by toxicity
Why not siphon the poison out and
Legitimately quash misogyny?
Re-evaluate normality
Wield healthy scrutiny for the revered
Delete the code of silence
In just looking for the best
We've let the dirt-worst go over our heads
Rip out rotting foundations, build again
Begin to offset the guilt
From these bleak consequences
Of the walls we've built
Call out the signs when we see them
So don't keep your mouth shut
Don't pull the ladder up
You're part of the problem
Don't pull the ladder up
No diversity, no empathy
So when will we decide
To set our long wrong right?
Products of our conditioning
Even sweethearts have blindspots
Let go of your ego
Don't pull the ladder up
Time's up!
(Don't pull the ladder up)
A perfect time for letting go
(Don't pull the ladder up)
Of this patriarchal stranglehold
(Don't pull the ladder up)
Your dry 'banter' disqualifies
(Don't pull the ladder up)
Be it tongue-in-cheek or otherwise
Responsibility lies with us
A slot monopolised
Perspectives homogenised
High-time we saw the world through someone else's eyes
To fight learned entitlement
We must assume the burden of vigilance
Wanna make a safer space?
Get off the fence!
To let abusers go unchecked
Tells them abuse is something that we accept
Tear out the damn foundations
Build again
This scene's big enough
For every one of us
Hold the door open
Don't pull the ladder up
This scene's big enough
Yeah!
Speak up!
Don't let these creeps go unopposed
In too deep to say that you don't know
Why more different people don't get onboard
Talk to your band, your friends
All hands on deck to treat this sickness
The ship ain't sailed
Don't pull the ladder up
And yes I know how rich this is
But how do we bring change
With only people who
Look like us up on stage?
The disregarded deserve better
It doesn't have to be like this
Together we can start from scratch
Rebuild this wreck and start anew
All hands on deck, the time has come
To solve the problem we must accept there is one
The scene is big enough for every one of us
So hold the door open
Don't pull the ladder up