Amel Larrieux – Giving Something Up lyrics

Verse 1
'76 when a man
Told his wife 'baby doll sorry I can't stay'
Left with 5 kids she was forced to become
Superwoman and go earn some pay
Washing dishes in a man's world
A college-educated girl
Maybe you've been, maybe you are today
Now what good is a degree
When you've got mouths to feed
She is that girl, maybe you know her
Insert your year where the year is
If to this story you can relate
Chorus

Giving something up
We're always giving something up
We're always giving something up
We are giving somethin up
We're always giving something up
We are giving something up
We are giving something up
We're always giving something
We're always giving something up

Verse 2
'97, a mother has no choice
But to go find work and leave her kids alone
Bringing her back some other woman's sickness
Far from heaven, so she's gone
5 days out the week to bring a piece home
Her man is off somewhere up some dress
Her baby girl is crying 'Mama please
Around the world, from Pakistan
When you're gone the neighbor's chasing me'
Down to Soweto, back to New York City
Insert your year where the year is
If to this story you can relate

Chorus

Bridge
Giving, trying, self-relying
(background repeated with each line: Giving, yes, ah)
Feeling, teaching, always preaching
Dying, crying, sacrificing
Hurting, being told we're worthless
Birthing, buried alive in the earth and
Dreaming, losing, being abused and
Hoping, mending, spirits broken
Flying and somehow surviving

Chorus
(repeated with ad libs till end)