He said, "you've gotten tough"
'cause my tone was curt.
yeah and when i'm approached in a dark alley,
i don't lift my skirt.
in the city, self-preservation is a full time occupation.
i'm determined to survive on this shore.
you know i don't avert my eyes anymore.
in a man's world, i am a woman by birth.
and after nineteen times around,
i have found they will stop what you are worth.
talk to me now.
i played the powerless in too many dark scenes,
and i was blessed with a birth and a death,
and i guess i just wanted some say in between.
dont you understand?
in the day to day and the face to face,
i have to act just as strong as i can
just to preserve a place where i can be who i am.