giving something up

'76 when a man told his wife baby doll

sorry i can't stay

left with 5 kids she was forced to become superwoman

and go earn some pay

a college educated girl

washing dishes in a man's world

now what good is a degree

when you got mouths to feed

she is that girl maybe you know

maybe you've been

maybe you are today

insert your year where the year is if to this story you can relate

givin' somethin' up

we always givin' something up

we are givin' something up

we always givin something up

'97 a mother has no choice but to go find work

and leave her kids alone

far from heaven so she's gone 5 days out the week

to bring a piece home

her man is off somewhere up some dress

bringin' her back some other woman's sickness

her baby girl is cryin'

mama please

when you're gone the neighbor's chasing me

around the world from pakistan down to soweto back to new york city

insert your year where the year is if to this story you can relate

givin'

tryin'

self-relying

feedin'

teachin'

always reachin'

dreamin'

losin'

being abused and

dyin'

cryin'

sacrificin'

hurtin'

being told we're worthless

birthin'

buried alive in the earth and

hopin'

mendin' spirits broken

smilin' and somehow survivin'