"Baby Doe" was a vocal response to the early 1980 incidents involving the deaths of handicapped newborns that resulted from the withholding of medical treatment. The lyrics go beyond specific criticism to the individuals directly involved in those cases to condemning societal indifference and callousness in general, having lyrics about how "lawyers are bought" and the "presses have run".
"Baby Doe" was a vocal response to early 1980 incidents where handicapped newborns died due to withheld medical care. The lyrics extended beyond specific criticism of those involved to condemn societal indifference and callousness, including references like "lawyers are bought" and "presses have run."