he said ani, 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 this 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 at nothing once they know 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 want some say in between

don't 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

so if you still know how

talk to me now