In 1976, three strangers were found not guilty of raping a woman after her husband had told them she was "kinky" and was likely to struggle to get "turned on". The House of Lords confirmed the scandalous state of the law: if a man honestly believes that a woman consents, however unreasonable that belief may be, then he is not guilty of rape. This law was immediately labelled a "Rapist’s Charter", and the new-born Women Against Rape organisation went out in the streets to petition against it.

I honestly believed it, Sir.
With hand on heart I say
I’m not the sort to force a girl
who doesn’t want to play

Her old man told me and the lads
that struggle turned her on,
she’s bound to kick and scream a bit
it won’t do any harm

And so I honestly believed
she willingly consented,
and implications that I "Raped"
are bitterly resented.

I honestly believed it sir,
I’d taken her to the ball
and spent a fortune to make sure
that she enjoyed it all

Your Honour, I work in the City.
Nothing was preventing
a life of joy, she’d have it all --
she’s bound to be consenting

Your Honour, I can see you’re
sympathetic to my plight.
My barrister, her barrister
have clearly seen the light.

All the professionals agree
that "rape’s an easy claim,
hard to disprove". I know you’ll help.
I need to clear my name.

I honestly believed it, Sir
I’d seen her there before
she’s always flirting with the lads
she leads them to the door

And so I honestly believed
she’s not the choosy type
I’ve six mates here to back me up
and put the record right

I honestly believed it, sir
Just look at what she’s wearing
and you can tell a lot, you know,
from a young lady’s bearing

She danced with me,
close up you know
And when I took her home
she asked me up at midnight, sir
for coffee in her room

And so I honestly believed
she willingly consented
her protests, sir, were just for show
her cries of rape, invented.

I honestly believed it Sir,
I thought she lay so still
‘cause her religion banned it,
but really she was thrilled.

Your Honour, all the girls like that,
the colourful ones, let’s say
all like a bit of fun & games, they’re
made that way

I honestly believed it Sir,
experience has taught
that no means yes and every girl
wants what a man has got.

And so I honestly believed
she willingly consented
and implications that I "Raped"
are bitterly resented.

Ruth Hall, January 2001
© Women Against Rape