Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
Ani DiFranco
Vocals
Ivan Neville
Piano
Skerik
Saxophone
Terence Higgins
Drums
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Ani DiFranco
Composer
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Ani DiFranco
Producer
Tchad Blake
Mixing Engineer
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
I was done at 16 showing up for class
I was out there in the ring
Learning how to kick some ass
I was done at 16 using my mama's key
It was all on me
It was all on me
[Verse 2]
Weren't no free rides, weren't no IOU's
I pulled my weight
Yes, I paid my dues
And I showed up to enlist on the first day of recruits
How 'bout you?
How 'bout you?
[Verse 3]
I'm my brother's keeper every chance I can
And I pay my taxes
Like any working man
And I feel I've earned my right to choose
You don't get to play God, man, I do
You don't get to play God, man, I do
[Verse 4]
You get to run the world in your special way
You get much more, much more than your say
Government, religion, it's all just patriarchy
I must insist you leave this one thing to me
[Verse 5]
Just leave this one thing to me
Just leave this one thing to me
Just leave this one thing
[Verse 6]
'Cause there's one thing that a man needs to be truly free
This is the modern world
And that one thing is money
But there are two things that a woman needs
Control over her own body
[Verse 7]
Yeah, I pay the price on top of everything
Each month a bill
Each month a reckoning
And each seed that dies, I cry and I bleed
So you can't tell me
You can't tell me
[Verse 8]
Yeah, I am a soldier, it's my blood that flows
I'd give my life
So that this tree can grow
You don't know creation like I know
So you can't tell me
No, you can't tell me
You can't tell me
You can't tell me
[Verse 9]
You get to run the world in your special way
You get much more, much more than your say
Government, religion, it's all just patriarchy
I must insist you leave this one thing to me
[Verse 10]
Just leave this one thing
Just leave this one thing to me
Just leave this one thing
[Verse 11]
'Cause I'm my brother's keeper every chance I can
And I pay my taxes
Like any working man
And I feel I've earned my right to choose
You don't get to play God, man, I do
You don't get to play God, man, I do
You don't get to play God, man, I do
Written by: Ani DiFranco
