I Am Woman/That’s the Way I Always Heard It Should Be

Lyrics

[MARIANNE, spoken] Little girl, some day you will be like me. A strong, independent career woman. Single... By yourself... All alone... [LISA, spoken] Ma'am, are you-- [MARIANNE] I am woman Hear me roar In numbers too big to ignore And I know too much To go back to pretend 'Cause I've heard it all before And I've been down there On the floor No one's ever gonna Keep me down again Oh, yes I am wise But it's wisdom born of pain Yes, I've paid the price But look how much I've gained If I have to I can do anything I am strong I am invincible I am woman [LISA, spoken] So... you're not getting married because of your career? [MARIANNE, spoken] You are correct [LISA, spoken] Is there any other reason why you don't want to get married? [MARIANNE, spoken] Absolutely not! [LISA, spoken] Okay! [MARIANNE] My father sits at night With no lights on His cigarette glows in the dark The living room is still I walk by, no remark [LISA, spoken] You don't make a remark? Or he doesn't make a remark? Wait a minute... you both don't make a remark? [MARIANNE] I tiptoe past the master bedroom Where my mother reads her magazines I hear her call sweet dreams But I forget how to dream [LISA, spoken] Did anyone ever ask you to marry them? [MARIANNE, spoken] Sure did [LISA, spoken] What'd you say? [MARIANNE, spoken] I said what I was supposed to say... (sung) So you say it's time We moved in together And raised a family of our own You and me Well that's the way I've always heard it should be You want to marry me We'll marry [LISA, spoken] Anyway... [MARIANNE, spoken] What was I saying? (sung) I am woman Watch me grow See me standing toe to toe As I spread my loving arms Across the land (spoken) Sing! [LISA] But I'm still an embryo With a long, long way to go Until I make my brother understand [MARIANNE (FEMALE ENSEMBLE)] Oh yes, I am wise (Yes, I am wise) But it's wisdom born of pain Yes I've paid the price (Yes, I paid the price) But look how much I've gained If I have to (Have to) I can do anything (Anything) I am strong! [LISA & FEMALE ENSEMBLE] Strong [MARIANNE] I am invincible! [LISA & FEMALE ENSEMBLE] Invincible! [MARIANNE] I am woman! I am woman! [LISA] I am woman! [MARIANNE] I am woman! [LISA/MARIANNE] Hear me roar! [ENSEMBLE] I am woman Hear me roar!