Following Larkin Grimm's open letter accusing Swans founder Michael Gira of sexual assault, the New York singer-songwriter has now delivered a new song called "I Don't Believe." Grimm has dedicated the piece to "all the survivors of abuse."
Describing the intent of the piece, which is available now via Bandcamp, Grimm writes: "This song was written for all the survivors of abuse. You are not alone." The arrangement begins with the lines: "I don't believe you ever could be / So like those men around you / So hungry."
As previously reported, Grimm's Facebook post from last week accused Gira of raping her in 2008, while she was recording her Parplar album for Gira's Young God Records. She added that confronting Gira about the incident, as well as other unwanted advances, led to her being dropped from the label.
The Swans leader first responded on Facebook, calling the accusation "a slanderous lie." Later, an official statement delivered through Gira's publicist had the musician referencing the night in question, calling what happened a "consensual romantic moment that fortunately was not consummated."
Grimm had responded to Gira's account of the incident, saying in a statement to Pitchfork:
In a gentlemanly move he admits the act happened but cannot conceive of himself as a rapist. Thank you Michael Gira for your honesty. This is your truth as you remember it. Unfortunately, this was still rape.
"I Don't Believe" can be purchased now for the price of your choice over here. You'll find a stream of the song, as well as its lyrics, below.
"I Don't Believe":
I don't believe you ever could be
So like those men around you.
So hungry.
I don't believe you ever think about it
But you remember words like they were more than music.
I don't believe you could ever be that way
Addicted to the pleasure, the things that people say.
I wrote this poem for you on your birthday,
Your mother read the poem
And said it couldn't be you
Nothing so beautiful
Could come from something I made.
I don't believe you.
I don't believe you
You hear your mother cry
I wish that I could die
I wish that you would die too
So I could play outside
I could be free with you.
I don't believe you.
I don't believe you need to think about it
But you remember words like they were more than music.
You hear the words I'm speaking as more than poetry.
Describing the intent of the piece, which is available now via Bandcamp, Grimm writes: "This song was written for all the survivors of abuse. You are not alone." The arrangement begins with the lines: "I don't believe you ever could be / So like those men around you / So hungry."
As previously reported, Grimm's Facebook post from last week accused Gira of raping her in 2008, while she was recording her Parplar album for Gira's Young God Records. She added that confronting Gira about the incident, as well as other unwanted advances, led to her being dropped from the label.
The Swans leader first responded on Facebook, calling the accusation "a slanderous lie." Later, an official statement delivered through Gira's publicist had the musician referencing the night in question, calling what happened a "consensual romantic moment that fortunately was not consummated."
Grimm had responded to Gira's account of the incident, saying in a statement to Pitchfork:
In a gentlemanly move he admits the act happened but cannot conceive of himself as a rapist. Thank you Michael Gira for your honesty. This is your truth as you remember it. Unfortunately, this was still rape.
"I Don't Believe" can be purchased now for the price of your choice over here. You'll find a stream of the song, as well as its lyrics, below.
"I Don't Believe":
I don't believe you ever could be
So like those men around you.
So hungry.
I don't believe you ever think about it
But you remember words like they were more than music.
I don't believe you could ever be that way
Addicted to the pleasure, the things that people say.
I wrote this poem for you on your birthday,
Your mother read the poem
And said it couldn't be you
Nothing so beautiful
Could come from something I made.
I don't believe you.
I don't believe you
You hear your mother cry
I wish that I could die
I wish that you would die too
So I could play outside
I could be free with you.
I don't believe you.
I don't believe you need to think about it
But you remember words like they were more than music.
You hear the words I'm speaking as more than poetry.
