I was done at 16
Showing up for class
I was out there in the ring
Learning how to kick some ass
I was done at 16
Using my momma's key
It was all on me
It was all on me

Weren't no free rides
Weren't no IOU's
I pulled my weight, yeah
I paid my dues
And I showed up to enlist
On the first day of recruits
How 'bout you?
How 'bout you

I'm my brother's keeper
Every chance I can
I pay my taxes
Like any working man
And I feel I've earned
My right to choose
You don't get to play God, man, I do
You don't get to play God, man, I do

You get to run the world
In your special way
You get much more
Much more than your say
Government, religion
It's all just patriarchy
I must insist you leave this one thing to me
Just leave this one thing to me
Just leave this one thing to me
Just leave this one thing

'Cause there's one thing that a man needs
To be truly free
This is the modern world
And that one thing is money
But there are two things
That a woman needs
Control over her own body

Yeah I pay the price
On top of everything
Each month a bill
Each month a reckoning
And each seed that dies
I cry and I bleed
So you can't tell me
No you can't tell me

I am a soldier
It's my blood that flows
I'd give my life
So that this tree can grow
You don't know creation
Like I know
So you can't tell me
No you can't tell me

You get to run the world
In your special way
You get much more
Much more than your say
Government, religion
It's all just patriarchy
I must insist you leave this one thing to me
Just leave this one thing to me
Just leave this one thing
Just leave this one thing to me

'Cause I'm my brother's keeper
Every chance I can
I pay my taxes
Like any workin man
And I feel I've earned
My right to choose
You don't get to play God, man, I do
You don't get to play God, man, I do
You don't get to play God, man, I do