Alicia Jo Rabins: I’m Done Dressing Up — A Feminist Folk Song for Vashti

This creative animated music video features Alicia Jo Rabins singing an original fiddle tune based on the midrash that when King Achashverosh commanded Queen Vashti to appear at his feast wearing her royal crown, he really meant for her to wear nothing but her crown. When Vashti refuses, the furious King revokes her status as Queen, calling a nationwide beauty contest to find a replacement queen, where Esther is chosen. The lyrics, provided below, present Vashti as a strong, independent, feminist heroine. Rabins is a writer, musician, composer, performer and Torah teacher. Her work explores the intersection of ancient wisdom texts with everyday life. She is the creator and performer of Girls in Trouble, an indie-folk song cycle about the complicated lives of Biblical women. 

I’m Done Dressing Up

I’m done dressing up for you, I’m done dressing up for you
So long I’m done, I’m done dressing up for you

You gave me a golden crown, you gave me a golden crown
Sometimes a golden crown just wears a person down
I’m done dressing up for you…

You say those people are your friends, you say those people are your friends
Where those people gonna be when the party ends
I’m done dressing up for you…

Go get yourself a pretty new wife, get yourself a pretty new wife
I’ll walk out that door and get myself a life
I’m done dressing up for you…