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 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 wanted 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
Talk to me now
I still don't know how you can talk to me now
I still don't know how you can talk to me now
I still don't know how you can talk to me now
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 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