"What It's Like to be Cancelled"

Sometimes people ask me what it's like to be cancelled.

I’m mostly writing songs
Under someone else’s name
When everyone’s a villain
That’s how you play the game
Wear a mask and use a handle
Even living in the city
It’s all about the down low
Anonymity
But sometimes I see
Folks I knew long ago
Who have heard about the chaos
And they’re curious to know
How did we get here
How do you navigate
The world of troll farms
And ragebait

Folks who’ve known me wonder
However could it be
Though you’re an anarchist
They say you’re a Nazi
Though so much of your crowd is trans
They say you’re transphobic
Even though you’re Jewish
They say you’re antisemitic
It all just seems too wacky
Do they listen to your tunes?
Reading about this makes me
Feel like howling at the moon
What the hell is happening
Can you please explain
How did we all end up
On the crazy train?

Sometimes folks ask how
Things are for me now
If I’d take a moment to tell
What it’s like to be cancelled

If you’re looking to do a show
First of all I say
You gotta be careful
What venue you play
Make sure everyone’s aware
Once the word gets round
About the gig, they can expect
It quickly to be found
By the armies of trolls
From the left and from the right
Who will lay into them with insults
Make them fear the night
They booked me to be there
And brought on the attacks
That might make them reconsider
And take it back

Chorus

If the gig still happens
Under all that stress
We can almost guarantee
Poor attendance
It’s not just the promoters
Who receive the awful posts
Among the potential concert-goers
Many, if not most
Have heard so much bile
They don’t know what it’s about
But by the time I’m in town
They’re gonna sit it out
Better to be cautious
Leave that one alone
What’s it like?
It’s like the twilight zone

Chorus