it may have been mind over matter
i was a runt not ready to grow up
couldn’t muscle respect from the alpha males
got pushed around I wasn’t tough enough
my mother was my go to person
to my boyish ways she couldn’t relate
i would never be the daughter Dad wanted
he worried openly I might not be straight

      can’t wipe the stereotypes from their hard drives
      as a man learned not to let them eat me alive
      my androgynous sides once despised
      over time were embraced by admiring eyes

          now with a crooked smile
          i bid my tears goodbye
          and a version of me I won’t miss
          shake off the hurts of the past
          with a wave and a kiss

jumped into dating better late than never
BFF’s gave me confidence to play
having empathy increased my appeal
in time helped bring romance my way
so as far as any simple labels
that to me were misapplied
no one will dictate my value
my self-worth is mine to decide

      repeat pre chorus and chorus

          found men like me to share what they’d endured
          they empowered me to rise and say no more
          i honor them now to mention
          they inspired my reinvention

repeat pre chorus and chorus

my father was a master of put downs
once upon a time
he used to say he never did me wrong
and took away my right to speak my mind
black folks were hired to clean our home
he paid them well to know their place
dad tried to boost his status in life
lording over this race

      let’s call a spade a spade
      and on sin shine redemption’s light
      there are no shades of grey here
      all discrimination’s wrong, that’s black and white
      i’ve never been stopped by a hateful cop nor have any of my next of kin
      but people of color can’t run or hide from the color of their skin
      people of color can’t run or hide from the color from the color of their skin

peace officers start wars
when they commit deadly racial crimes
forever these strong arms of the law
make my heart beat triple time
marching in protest with my feet
is an option I’m slow to move toward
still this call to action has my vote
i’ll give in every way I can afford

      Chorus

          for some whiteness is a false idol
          they are slaves to a one track mind
          in a culture at war with free thinking
          they chase white privilege they’re denied
          these hearts won’t bleed for justice
          that equal rights be shared by Blacks
          so if black lives are to matter
          the rest of us must have their backs

      Chorus