Sinead O’Connor: I remember visions of you

Last Wednesday afternoon, I felt a sudden urge to listen to Visions of You by Jah Wobble. I particularly wanted to hear Sinead O’Connor’s gorgeous backing vocals. It’s a song that I sink into, feeling my breath deepen and my nerves calm as Jah’s languorous bass line and Sinead’s lilting vocals carry me off to a different place.

I was barely two minutes into the song when a friend messaged me to say that Sinead had died. I sat there stunned, shocked but not surprised. Shakespeare said that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, and Sinead was scorned by so many simply for speaking the truth. I’m not going to recap everything she went through. If you were paying attention, you know, and if not, there are countless articles you can read.

I bought “The Lion and The Cobra” when I was in high school. Sinead was just 21 when she recorded that album. I think of myself when I was 21, uncertain about so much. And I marvel at her strength, because I’m sure she was scared and uncertain too, but she forged ahead anyway.

I think one of the many reasons why her death hits so hard is because it’s about so much more than just losing her immense talent and spellbinding voice. It’s about how hard she fought against the patriarchy and the church in a world that just wanted her to be quiet and obedient. Her struggles were ours too. How many of us feared – and still do fear – that the censure levelled against her is lying in wait for us if we are not quiet and obedient? And how many of us are prepared to fight back anyway, just as she did?

There have been a lot of tributes to her and a lot of people criticizing those tributes, asking why no one was there to support her when she was being pilloried in the press and in the court of public opinion. Some people did speak up and act publicly in support of her – Kris Kristofferson walked onstage and gave her a pep talk while she was being booed. When Sinead was being shunned by everyone at a TV taping, Lou Reed made a point of talking only to her and ignoring everyone else in the room. A few years back, Sinead posted a video of herself in a hotel room, clearly in mental and emotional distress and asking for help. Annie Lennox reached out to her social media network, stating that she was very worried about Sinead and asking if there was anyone who could go and be with her, to offer some support.

I’m sure there were people who reached out privately as well, but what Sinead needed was a deafening public roar of solidarity. Just like the primal roar that came from her throat when she was onstage. What I’m hearing is a rallying cry that we must speak out publicly when we see someone being abused. Especially if you are in a position of power and influence. Now is the time to throw that power behind your words and if enough people do that, maybe the next truth teller will be lauded and supported instead of being torn to shreds.

The world owed Sinead so much more. It should have believed her, defended her for speaking the truth, and worked alongside her to dismantle the systems she fought against. If it had, her voice might still be with us.