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Henrietta Lacks Lyrics by Mal Webb

Not Nor Mal

2016

[Intro]
Well, I propose a toast to the mitosist with the mostest
She’s a ghost who can boast from coast to coast in every HeLa cell
She’s more cultured than Chanel, Cartier or YSL
But she’s tired of being quite so huge and dizzy from the centrifuge
She’s quick frozen, colour-fast
Her prison cell is built to last

[Verse 1}
Dear Henrietta Lacks
Did you know your coffin’s final nail
Is bigger than a blue whale?
A zillion artefacts
Grown as long as cell biologists keep peering at your private bits

[Chorus]
’Cos it’s a grand humiliation
Showing now across the nation
Mutation on a huge scale
Bigger than a blue whale ...
Bigger than a blue whale ...

[Verse 2]
Dear Henrietta Lacks
Did you know that bit you left behind may help to cure its own kind?
So many saintly acts
May claim a little perch in every church for contributions to research

[Chorus]
’Cos it’s a grand humiliation
Showing now across the nation
Mutation on a huge scale
Bigger than a blue whale ...
Bigger than a blue whale ...

[Bridge Part 1]
Well, back in 1953 m’lady had a malady
A cervix abnormality that led to her fatality
Her cells went for a biopsy that showed up the malignancy
But also a propensity to multiply so rapidly
The scientists went on to see what other uses there could be for her expansive quality
They shared her ’round extensively to every good laboratory
Her fame was spreading globally
’Til nowadays she’s said to be the biggest lonely clone there’ll ever be

[Trumpet/ Trombone Solo]

[Bridge Part 2]
Arabidopsis and Drosophila may have advice to offer her
On how it’s best to keep your cool when you’ve become a research tool

[Verse 3]
Dear Henrietta Lacks
Did you know your flock of little vultures divide and conquer lesser cultures?
Not much one to relax
It parties even left out on the shelf
Immortally beside itself

Dear Henrietta Lacks
Did you know that part you left to science is now a giant among giants?
And for a grand climax
Your omnipresent question bids the answer
God’s a black woman’s cancer …

[Chorus]
’Cos it’s a grand humiliation
Showing now across the nation
Mutation on a huge scale
Bigger than a blue whale ...
Bigger than a blue whale ...
Bigger than a blue whale ...
Bigger than a blue whale ...
Credits
Mal Webb

Mal Webb

About “Henrietta Lacks” by Mal Webb

Read the complete lyrics to "Henrietta Lacks" by Mal Webb from the album "Not Nor Mal" in 2016. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Non-Music.

"Henrietta Lacks" is performed by Mal Webb. from the album "Not Nor Mal" in 2016 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Henrietta Lacks", explore more songs by Mal Webb using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

View all songs and biography for Mal Webb · Trending lyrics · Billboard Hot 100

Frequently asked questions

"Henrietta Lacks" is credited to Mal Webb. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Henrietta Lacks" appears on "Not Nor Mal" in 2016.

Visit the Mal Webb artist page at /artist/mal-webb for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.

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