Liberated Lady 1999
Shel Silverstein Lyrics

She's a liberated lady and she's lookin' out for herself.
The woman is independent and does not need anyone to take care of her.

And she don't need your protection,
The woman does not want anyone to protect her.

And she does not want your help.
The woman prefers to handle things on her own and does not need anyone's help.

And if you're lookin' for some pretty flower,
If someone is looking for a traditional, delicate and dependent woman, they won’t find it in her.

You better go look somewhere else,
Those who want a dependent woman should go look for one elsewhere.

'Cause I warn you, she's a liberated lady.
She warns people that she is a strong and independent woman and they should not expect anything else.

She got off work at the foundry... she was feelin' kind of beat.
She works in a physically demanding job and was tired after a long day.

On the bus she had to stand and let some fella have her seat.
A man took away her seat on the bus and she had to stand despite being tired.

And she pinched the ass of a guy who passed her walking down the street.
A man who walked by her got his butt pinched by her as a way of feeling empowered.

When he called a cop, she didn't quite understand.
She didn't know why the man called the cops and couldn't understand his point of view.

So she stopped off on the corner for her usual shot of rye.
She stopped by the corner to have a drink.

When some guy lit her cigarette, she punched him in the eye.
A man lit her cigarette and she punched him as a way of feeling empowered and in control.

Then he kicked her in the balls, it was enough to make her cry,
The man retaliated and kicked her in the groin, which was enough to make her cry.

But she stood there and she took it like a man.
Despite being hurt, she stood her ground and refused to back down.

She come home to find her darlin' husband cryin' in distress
When she came home, her husband was crying and upset.

She said, 'Why ain't supper ready and why is this house a mess'.
She questioned why dinner wasn't ready and why the house was messy.

He said, 'The kids have drove me crazy, and I need a brand-new dress.
He explained that the kids drove him crazy and he wanted a new dress.

And how come you don't ever take me dancin'?'
He also questioned why she never took him dancing.

She sat down to smoke her pipe, and she thought back to the time
She sat down, had a smoke, and reminisced about the time when she didn't have such responsibilities.

When she was satin, silk and lace with nothing on her mind.
She thought back to a time when she was young and carefree.

But now she's gotta mow the lawn and pay the bills on time
She laments the responsibilities and chores she has to do now that she's older.

And pray to Mrs. God, she don't get drafted.
She is scared that her country might draft her and force her to participate in the war.

They got into bed that evening, and she strapped her dildo on.
In bed, she used a dildo which was a symbol of her independence.

She climbed on top of him and said, 'Okay, let's get it on'.
She initiated sex and showed the power dynamic in their relationship.

He said, 'You know I've got my period and my headache isn't gone.'
He refused to have sex and made an excuse using a stereotypical gender excuse.

And he fell asleep, the chauvinistic bastard.
He fell asleep without having sex and is belittled for his chauvinistic attitude towards women.

She's a liberated lady, and she smokes them big cigars.
She is not afraid to engage in activities that are typically associated with men.

You're gonna find her drinkin' boilermakers at the corner bar.
She enjoys drinking and enjoys it at a bar.

And in 30 seconds flat, she'll change a flat tire on your car.
She can take care of herself and also can help others with tasks that are traditionally considered masculine.

Look out, she's a liberated lady.
She is a strong and independent woman who does not conform to traditional gender roles.