When I was young,
they told me “stays on youre toes girl”
so when the trouble came,
my toes carried me out the door.
And I saw things that would make your toes curl,
but I never saw them as so poor.
When I was young
they told me “learn your way girl”
so when the trouble came,
I learned how to live as a deviant.
And I did things that would make your leaves furl,
but they weren’t inconvenient.
When I was young
they said “keep your head up girl”
so when the trouble came I held my own as a rebel.
And I said things that made their minds twirl,
but I never won a medal.
When I am old
they’ll tell me “you lived through a lot girl”
and ill live till I breathe my last.
And Ill know that their words
made my breathing stay
till I found I could face my past.