christasmall

In this episode, Singer/Songwriter Christa Mae shares the story behind the lyrics to my favorite of her songs, “Diesel”:

I wrote Diesel at a time when I was really disgusted with the way corporations were manipulating people into (becoming) consumers, making the almighty dollar the only contribution we as human individuals can make in this world. I was learning about sales pyshcology in college and was appalled at the levels advertisers would go to attract people’s attention, and harp on their insecurities to get a buck out of them.

For example, making women feel bad about who they are by setting up an unattainable beauty image. No woman can measure up to makeovered-photoshopped-strategically lit photo shoot in everyday life, still she may potentially spend her time and money obssessing over an image that is completely unrealistic. Paying through the teeth to be like these fantastical images on magazine covers. It seemed like a low blow, so I started to write Diesel as a way to say no to that kind of false advertising campaigns.

It’s funny because it sounds a lot like I am putting a man on blast, and I can listen to it like it’s some sort of girl power break-up song even though it wasn’t the intention. Still a comparison can be drawn I think between a woman and an emotional, abusive patriarch. A woman who is being subliminally abused by a system that is set up to keep her down.

Diesel

Stop filling me
Oh stop filling me
up with your gasoline

Your words
pollute the air
when were all just
trying to breathe

Stop taking me
oh stop taking
every mile I’m
willing to go

My spedometer’s
counted the kilometers
and now the mileage
is showin

your heart has it’s place
taped to your iron sleve
and you’ve got your
geers rollin
like a well oiled machine.

Manufacture it
go on and package it
make it quick and so easy

But I ain’t buyin it
so don’t even try it boy

Don’t advertise to me
Don’t advertise to me.