[Verse 1]
'76 when a man told his wife, “Baby doll, sorry I can't stay”
Left with five kids she was forced to become superwoman and go earn some pay
A college educated girl washing dishes in a man's world
Now what good is a degree when you got mouths to feed?
She is that girl maybe you know, maybe you've been, maybe you are today
Insert your year where the year is if to this story you can relate

[Chorus]
Giving something up
We always giving something up
We are giving something up
We always giving something up
Giving something up
We always giving something up
We are giving something up
We always giving something - we always giving something up

[Verse 2]
'97 a mother has no choice but to go find work and leave her kids alone
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
Bringing her back some other woman's sickness
Her baby girl is crying, mama please, when you're gone the neighbor's chasing me
Around the world from Pakistan down to Soweto back to New York City
Insert your year where the year is if to this story you can relate

[Chorus]
Giving something up
We always giving something up
We are giving something up
We always giving something up
Giving something up
We always giving something up
We are giving something up
We always giving something - we always giving something up

[Bridge]
Giving, trying, self-relying
Feeding, teaching, always reaching
Dreaming, losing, being abused and
Dying, crying, sacrificing
Hurting, being told we're worthless
Birthing, buried alive in the earth and
Hoping, mending spirits broken
Smiling and somehow surviving
[Chorus]
Giving something up
We always giving something up
We are giving something up
We always giving something up
Giving something up
We always giving something up
We are giving something up
We always giving something - we always giving something up