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
Or 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
Talk to me now
Oh, if you still know how
You can talk to me now
Oh, if you still know how
You can talk to me now
Oh, if you still know how
You can talk to me now
Oh, if you—
Oh, yeah
Oh
He said, "Honey, 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
♬