Mary Was An Anarchist
Screeching Weasel · Kill The Musicians [1995]
She was simply fed up
Mary moved out to Berkeley
And stuck pins,, her face as a sort of statement
Against oppression of her sex, yeah
Mary took a walk in the park
With a sign in her hand
Mary threw a rock at a cop
And man she felt like a man
You know the ugliness became her
But now she's gone
She couldn't take it, take it, take it anymore
And what she won
She won a husband who embodies
Everything she hated
And all her friends from years ago
Are selling stocks in IBM right on
Mary finally saw she couldn't
Change the world
Mary often fondly looks back
And pats herself on the back
For a convenient romanticized version
Of the facts of what she'd done
But she didn't change a goddamn single on
Of the oppressive pigs who made her what she was
And the empowerment she felt was just a crumb
Compared to all the butts of jokes that she'd become
And now she's at the kitchen table all alone
And she ended up exactly like her mom
Mary Was An Anarchist
Mary Was An Anarchist stands as a defining track from Screeching Weasel's 1995 album, Kill The Musicians. During this era, the band solidified their reputation within the punk rock genre, blending fast-paced energy with introspective and often humorous lyrical themes. This recording captures the group's signature sound, characterized by Ben Foster's distinctive vocals and tight, melodic instrumentation. The song reflects the band's ability to balance personal observation with broader social commentary, a hallmark of their extensive discography. As part of a prolific body of work that includes early classics like K-Mart Blues, this track demonstrates the group's enduring influence on the punk scene. It remains a notable example of their mid-nineties output, showcasing the dynamic interplay between their energetic delivery and thoughtful songwriting.