Ethel Smyth — The March of the Women

Happy Women's Equality Day—featuring the anthem of the women's suffrage movement in the United Kingdom!

In 1910, Ethel Smyth composed “The March of the Women” for the Women's Social and Political Union, a leading women’s suffrage organization of the time. Here, “The March of the Women” is performed by Virago Symphonic Orchestra, an all-female orchestra, and conducted by Pascale Van Os.

The song begins at 3:25, after an introduction about Smyth; the introduction and song lyrics are both provided below.

Introduction (written by Michèle Delagrange based on texts about and by the composer):

There I am, beating the rhythm of “The March of the Women” with a toothbrush from the window of my cell in Holloway Prison. My fellow suffragettes are dancing and singing around. It's 1912. We're here because we pelted government buildings with stones in our fight for the right to vote. I taught my fellow women how to throw a stone.

I'm a proud, militant suffragette, called Dame Ethel Smyth.

They can't make me feel small.

At a young age, I decided to devote my life to music, against my father's opposition. If someone's trying to make you small, you have to become so big that you're inevitable. So I went to study music in Leipzig, met Brahms, who came to visit often, met Grieg, and Tchaikovsky even advised me to study orchestration. I'm the first woman whose work was played at New York City's Metropolitan Opera. (It wasn't until 100 years later that a woman got that chance again, unfortunately.)

I'm known for many things: I've conducted my own operas. I like sheepdogs. I usually dress in tweed, and I've even performed in it at winter afternoon concerts. I've written books. Delivered speeches. And don't keep my hat straight at all times.

It was also said of me that I compose like a man, that I think in masculine terms: comprehensive and powerful. That I've surpassed my gender.

In reality, I write like a woman: extremely powerful. I'd like to demonstrate that with a stone's throw. Because if you have to make me a man in your head before you can admit I'm good—well, that, ladies and gentlemen, is sexism.

“The March of the Women” was made for the Women's Social and Political Union, but it remains relevant now. Hear my stones and my toothbrush. Hear that you can't lock up a revolution.

Not many composers can say that their work directly has influenced the rights and freedoms of millions of people. I can say that. And I'm a woman.

Lyrics:

Shout, shout, up with your song!
Cry with the wind for the dawn is breaking;
March, march, swing you along,
Wide blows our banner and hope is waking.

Song with its story, dreams with their glory,
Lo! they call, and glad is their word!
Loud and louder it swells,
Thunder of freedom, the voice of the Lord!

Long, long, we in the past,
Cowered in dread from the light of heaven.
Strong, strong, stand we at last,
Fearless in faith and with sight new-given.

Strength with its beauty, Life with its duty,
(Hear the voice, oh hear and obey!)
These, these, beckon us on,
open your eyes to the blaze of day.

Comrades, ye who have dared,
First in the battle to strive and sorrow,
Scorned, spurned, nought have ye cared.
Raising your eyes to a wider morrow.

Ways that are weary, days that are dreary,
Toil and pain by faith ye have borne;
Hail, hail, victors ye stand,
Wearing the wreath that the brave have worn!

Life, strife, these two are one,
Nought can ye win but by faith and daring:
On, on that ye have done,
But for the work of today preparing.

Firm in reliance, laugh a defiance,
(Laugh in hope, for sure is the end)
March, march, many as one.
Shoulder to Shoulder and friend to friend.

The U.S. Library of Congress also has a wonderful post on Smyth’s involvement with the women’s suffrage movement. NPR has an article on Smyth, which touches a little more on the lesbian aspect of her life.

Readers of Lesbian Tune of the Week are likely aware that those of us in the United States have an upcoming election in which women’s rights and independence are on the line. There are plenty of resources for making sure you make use of your right to vote, which was won by women over lifetimes of dedication and suffering. There’s the official vote.gov, the popular non-partisan vote.org, or the DNC-sponsored iwillvote.com. Research has shown that making your vote plan in advance goes a long way in preventing the suppression of your vote; consider setting time aside to vote on your calendar now, or otherwise planning to vote early by mail.

If you’re looking to help other American women vote, Field Team 6 helps register new voters, with women being one of their main target demographics. It costs Field Team 6 about 93¢ to register a new voter. (If you donate, I recommend using an alternate email to avoid future campaign spam. Also, note that only United States citizens or green card holders may donate. Field Team 6 is a partisan organization.)

I’m unfamiliar with voting resources in other countries—if any readers have information in that vein they’d like to share, please feel free to do so! You can send me a message on Substack, or reply to the email your received for this post.