No Answer for a Dancer

Lyrics

[Chorus] No answer for a dancer No answer for a dancer [Verse 1] It was after the show and I'm loadin' out the van Could've been anywhere but in this case, Atlanta A woman walks up while I'm packin' She says, "Have you got a minute?", I said, "Yeah, just a second How are you? Did you enjoy the show?" She said, "I did but I still have a question, though 'Cause some of your remarks were confusing 'Specially the ones about pornography and prostitution Now, let me understand this: that for women and children this is violence Well, I appreciate the messages you're giving But I happen to dance for a living And I wanna know why you wanna be my voice Gotta take away that which should be my choice To seek some meaningful and gainful employment Even if it means giving dirty old men enjoyment Now exploitation of anyone is wrong, I agree But this doesn't apply to me I've never been harassed while I work and my bottom line's phat Now, sir, can you deal with that? [Chorus] No answer for a dancer No answer for a dancer [Verse 2] You could already call a situation I wasn't even speculating about her occupation But this debate's insane And I was on the spot so I had to try to explain Her points were intelligent and simple And I'm already feeling like Mr. Guilty-White-Liberal I just try to be sensitive Don't act like I have any advice to give And let me make it clear, I support you In a man's world, a woman does what she's got to If this is your profession, your sexual expression Your internalized oppression, hey, I don't doubt you My only problem is with a society That forces women into sexual commodities Where a third of all women are known To be sexually abused before they're grown The most raped, most homeless, and addicted If this job were described to you, would you have picked it? Average age fourteen, hell yes, obscene Made to look aroused by pain Children being raped with guns and knives That ain't speech, but the taking of innocent's lives And if you happen to be the exception, that's cool But let's consider the overwhelming rule [Chorus] No answer for a dancer No answer for a dancer [Verse 3] We parted ways with no resolution You could go back and forth and never find a solution The only point I wanted to make to her Is while all the liberals and pornographers Decide where the line between porn and erotica is This is what prostitution really is A question of censorship, alright? Of women and children's basic rights And there's no first amendment protection For those unable to raise an objection If they weren't silenced, they'd sound an alarm We'd all know the difference between speech and harm You wanna mutilate yourself on film, that's your choice But can we protect those without a voice? I'd never get your face I just don't want you to end up like Linda Lovelace The bottom line is I'm a man And I listen to you 'cause I could never understand And I haven't got shit to say But if I don't say anything, well, how long will it be this way? [Bridge] And if you want to continue to believe That this is a matter for debate I want to tell you how many women will die During the course of the debate [Chorus] No answer for a dancer No answer for a dancer