Ani Difranco - Talk To Me Now Lyrics

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 the 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 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.

My life

"and when I'm approached in a dark alley, I don't lift my skirt!" At 19!
I play this song most mornings because I need that kind of energy and strength now. @ 38.

I've loved her for so long and she's gotten me through everything I didn't think I could get through. Fuck, almost 30 years now!

"In the 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." best line!

Miss Shannon: why do you presume I'm a man? And tell me, what's wrong with my desire to see an artist I respect grow in new directions? Read my post again, and try to grow beyond your obvious distaste (hatred?) for men. See if you too, can rise above your own built-in knee jerk umbrage. Are you able to see an idea as gender neutral? If so, you'll perhaps see that I wish for you the same growth I wish for Ms. DiFranco. Or are you more comfortable with being a hater rather than a learner?

What is wrong is you're potentially the dullest, most self-important and bland man I've ever had the misfortune to encounter. Fuck off and go play with your toxic masculinity and casual misogyny and let the grown-ups talk

I respect Ms. DiFranco and look forward to the day she begins to write songs about something other than herself, and how aggrieved she feels.

That's precisely what I'd expect a dude to have to say about a woman's experience.

Johnny Guitarra umm you obviously have not been listening she writes about everything.

Ummm Johnny.. that's what most singer songwriters do. Speak from their actual experience. Get a grip.

"...after 19 years around....." She was 19 when she wrote this? Wow. Aww 19 year old ani. So amazing already at that age

Ani is a person that I would look up to she is completely awesome and She is very truthful she is just unbelievably great in her own unique way!!!
love you ani!!!!!!!!!!!

I love Ani! this song is lovely :)

DebzCM911 she speaks for all women

@emmacinque Awww...thank YOU for saying that!!! BTW, I absolutely love this woman too. She is amazing.

@aparna1411 You do? Awesome! Thank YOUZ for listening to the music I upload!

Lovely! I adore her! I love all the music you upload! Thank you!!!