He said "Ani, you've gotten tough,"
'Cause my tone was curt
Yeah, and when I'm approached in a dark alley
I don't lift my skirt

In this city
Self-preservation is a full time occupation
I'm determined to survive on this shore
You know I don't
Avert my eyes anymore

In a man's world
I am a woman by birth
And after nineteen times around I have found
They will stop at nothing once they know what you are worth
Talk to me now

I played the powerless
In too many dark scenes
But I was blessed with a birth and a death
And I guess I just want some say in between
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/a/ani+difranco/talk+to+me+now_20008064.html ]
Don't you understand
In the day to day
And the face to face
I have to act
Just as strong as I can
Just to preserve a place
Where I can be who I am
So if you still know how
Talk to me now

So if you still know how
You can talk to me now
So if you still know how
You can talk to me now
So if you still know how
You can talk to me now
So if you still know how
You can talk to me now

In this city
Self-preservation is a full time occupation
I'm determined to survive on this shore
You know I don't
Avert my eyes anymore

In a man's world
I am a woman by birth
And after nineteen times around I have found
They will stop at nothing once they know what you are worth
Talk to me now.