Viewing lyrics for Contributory Negligence by Attila the Stockbroker.
From my first album 'Ranting at the Nation..'
In 1982 a High Court Judge called Richards said that a woman who was hitchhiking late at night and was picked up and raped was ‘asking for it’ and guilty of contributory negligence. He let the rapist off with a fine.
I wrote this.
CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE
Hitching up the M11
Coming back from a Dexys gig
Got picked up ‘bout half eleven
By this bloke in a funny wig
Flash Mercedes, new and gleaming
Deep pile seats and deep seat piles
I got in and sat there scheming
While the fat cat flashed me smiles
Told me he was back from sessions
With a load of brain dead hacks
Told be he’d made no concessions
To the bootboys and the blacks
Said he thought that it was stupid
Fuss ‘bout rapists on the news
Bloke was only playing Cupid –
Girls like that they don’t refuse
Asked me if I thought him enemy
Asked me if I bore a grudge
Told me that he came from Henley –
Said he was a High Court judge
I asked him to stop a second
‘Need a slash’ that’s what I said
When he did the anger beckoned
And I smacked him in the head
Took the keys and took his money
Crashed the car into a ditch
Though he moaned ‘they’ll get you, sonny’
Got away without a hitch
I don’t think they’ll ever find me
Cos I’m many miles away
But if one day they’re right behind me
I know what I’m gonna say –
HE ASKED FOR IT! He’s rich and snobbish
Right wing, racist, sexist too!
Fat and ugly, sick and slobbish -
Should be locked in London Zoo!
He wanted me to beat him up!
It was an open invitation!
Late at night he picked me up -
An act of open provocation!
High Court judges are a blight -
They should stay home in nice warm beds
And if they must drive late at night
Should never pick up Harlow Reds!
A five pence fine is right and proper
And to sum up my defence
It was his fault he came a cropper –
CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE!
ATS 1982