Emma's Song (A Woman's Crime)

From Witch Hunts to Abortion Bans: The Long War on Women’s Rights Emma's a story, turned into a haunting country ballad, reveals how women have been punished for being “inconvenient” for generations—then and now.

A Voice for the Silenced – Emma’s Song (A Woman’s Crime) In this emotionally charged country ballad styled after Dolly Parton, we tell the real-life story of Emma Averitt, a woman institutionalized for being too strong, too loud, and too female. From witch hunts to modern-day abortion bans, this video connects the centuries-long abuse of women to today's political reality—through melody, memory, and raw truth.

Key Takeaways:
The true story of Emma Averitt, institutionalized twice in Florida
How “female trouble” was used to silence independent women
The haunting legacy of Chattahoochee State Hospital
How modern Republican policies mirror historical control
Why women’s rights are still under threat—and why this story matters

Emma’s Song (A Woman’s Crime)

Verse 1
She stood at the gate in a cotton dress,
Three girls at home and her life a mess.
Her brother said, “She ain’t quite right,”
But it wasn’t madness—just a woman’s fight.
They called it hysteria, whispered with shame,
But sorrow and struggle have another name.

Chorus
Oh, Emma, they locked you away,
For crying too long and gettin’ in the way.
A mother, a fighter, too proud to bend—
But in a man’s world, that’s a cardinal sin.
You weren’t broken, just brave and alone,
And they took your freedom like a dog takes a bone.

Verse 2
They say she was sick, but she just had a fire,
A storm in her heart and a will that won’t tire.
She shook like the leaves but still stood tall,
In a world that was waitin’ to see her fall.
No pills could fix what the world did wrong—
She was punished for livin’ too loud, too long.

Verse 3
Years went by, and her daughters grew,
Learned what the world had taught them to do.
They signed the forms with trembling hands,
Turned her back to the state’s command.
She died in a bed with the curtains drawn,
While the world kept turning and just moved on.

Chorus (repeat)
Oh, Emma, they locked you away,
For crying too long and gettin’ in the way.
A mother, a fighter, too proud to bend—
But in a man’s world, that’s a cardinal sin.
You weren’t broken, just brave and alone,
And they took your freedom like a dog takes a bone.

Credits:
Lyrics and melody by Robert Jennings
Published by InnerSelf Publications
AI-assisted production and vocals
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