Martha And The Muffins first played at a Halloween party in 1977 at the Ontario College of Art in Toronto - the original lineup was David Millar, Mark Gane, Martha Johnson, Carl Finke and Tim Gane. Shortly afterwards, David Millar left and was replaced with Martha Ladly. The band’s self-produced first single in 1978 (Muffin Music 01) contained “Insect Love” and “Suburban Dream” on the flip side - here’s the latter:
In a hundred wars across the earth
Men and guns are thought to prove their worth
Women stay behind and grow the food
Placing soldiers in a dangerous mood
Women around the world at work
Working, working
There's a man who must be sixty-five
Makes his living running other lives
Tells them when they can't and when they can
They're so busy they don't give a damn
Women around the world at work
Working, working
In The Daily X, May '81
Back-page human interest story runs
"Girls of twelve still sold for love today"
Just so men can have their bloody way
Women around the world at work
[ Photos from 1979 and 1984, courtesy Toronto Public Library. ]