Raging Grannies International Network · Est. 1987
Welcome, friend The International Disorganization Est. Victoria, BC · 1987

Raging Grannies

Using creative and humorous protests for political education.

From the Songbook

If We Had Healthcare

By Raging Grannies, Guelph · Guelph Gaggle · to the tune of If I Had a Hammer

Chorus We need healthcare that's just and right, For every citizen, day and night, Long-term care, we’ll take a stand, Every senior needs a helping hand. It’s time for change, let’s not delay, Affordable care for all today! From coast to coast, the call is clear, It’s time for change, the time is near, No more waiting, no more strife, A system that gives every life its life! We’ll raise our voices, loud and strong, Let’s fix what's broken, right the wrong, With unity, we’ll make our plea. If we had doctors, close at hand, And nurses strong across the land, We’d keep them here, give them support, So they don’t flee to another port. We’ll stop the burnout, ease the strain, For better care, we’ll break the chain, For everyone, let’s act so fast! If we had long-term care, We’d show our seniors that we care, Give them dignity and a place to share, Their stories, lives, and dreams. We’d support them in their time of need, With facilities that give them peace indeed, A future where our elders beam.
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Who we are

The Raging Grannies are a loose international network of women over fifty who use satirical song and street theater as a tool for political education.

Our autonomous gaggles across North America don flowered hats and show up to sing pointed songs about what the powerful would rather keep quiet. We care about peace and justice and human rights and this battered planet, and use a well-aimed song on the steps of city hall to open ears.

By the numbers
Active gaggles
61
Songs archived
1,471
Issue categories
18
Years singing
39
From the archive

The Origin Story

The Raging Grannies
The Raging Grannies
1987

It started on a damp Tuesday in Victoria, BC when a handful of older women decided the best way to get attention for peace was to put on flowered hats and sing.

Read the full herstory →
On the streets

Dispatches

The songbook · by issue

What We Sing About

Government & Power 560 Human & Civil Rights 473 Environment & Energy 330 War & Peace 318 Business & Economy 280 Local Issues 209 Gender Equity 192 Healthcare 183 Elections & Democracy 178 Labor & Worker Rights 125 Holiday & Celebrations 102 Soldiers & Veterans 94 Education 78 Granny Life 40 Reproductive Rights 6 Guns & Violence 6 Immigration 6 Racism & Social Justice 5
The network

Find Your Gaggle

61 gaggles across the US, Canada, and beyond. Find one near you, or start your own.

Find a gaggle Start a gaggle
Raging Grannies of Madison
Raging Grannies of Madison
About the movement

Older women, flowered hats, sharp lyrics.

We are not a club, a party, or an organization. We are a loose network of autonomous gaggles united by a shared method: writing satirical songs about the issues that matter and singing them in public.

Our herstory Our philosophy

FAQ

The questions we get most, and a few you haven't thought of yet.

Do I have to be a grandmother to join? ▾

Nope. "Granny" is a state of mind. You don't need grandchildren, and you don't even need children. You just need to care about the world they're inheriting.

What issues do the Raging Grannies sing about? ▾

Whatever needs raging about. Peace and anti-militarism (the founding issue), the environment and climate, healthcare, reproductive rights, racism, economic inequality, ageism, and whatever else needs naming this week. Each gaggle picks its own focus based on what's happening locally.

How do I find a gaggle near me? ▾

Check the map on our Find a Gaggle page. If there isn't one nearby, keep reading. The next question is for you.

Are the Raging Grannies affiliated with a political party? ▾

No. We are not a political party and we are not affiliated with one. Individual grannies hold all kinds of political views. What unites us is a commitment to peace, justice, and the belief that ordinary women can make extraordinary noise. We take positions on issues, not personalities.

Why are the Grannies "Raging"? ▾

The "raging" in our name refers to creative rage: a combination of deep compassion, concern for the future, and a willingness to confront social issues with wit and perseverance. We rage because we care. And we do it with song, humor, and a flowered hat, because nothing catches people off guard quite like strong lyrics coming from sweet little old ladies.

More questions? See our full FAQ →