I Am Woman/That’s the Way I Always Heard It Should Be lyrics

[MARIANNE, spoken]
Little girl, some day you will be like me. A strong, independent career woman. Single...
By yourself...
All alone...

[LISA, spoken]
Ma'am, are you--

[MARIANNE]
I am woman
Hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
And I know too much
To go back to pretend

'Cause I've heard it all before
And I've been down there
On the floor
No one's ever gonna
Keep me down again

Oh, yes I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I've gained
If I have to
I can do anything
I am strong
I am invincible
I am woman

[LISA, spoken]
So... you're not getting married because of your career?

[MARIANNE, spoken]
You are correct

[LISA, spoken]
Is there any other reason why you don't want to get married?

[MARIANNE, spoken]
Absolutely not!

[LISA, spoken]
Okay!

[MARIANNE]
My father sits at night
With no lights on
His cigarette glows in the dark
The living room is still
I walk by, no remark
[LISA, spoken]
You don't make a remark? Or he doesn't make a remark? Wait a minute... you both don't make a remark?

[MARIANNE]
I tiptoe past the master bedroom
Where my mother reads her magazines
I hear her call sweet dreams
But I forget how to dream

[LISA, spoken]
Did anyone ever ask you to marry them?

[MARIANNE, spoken]
Sure did

[LISA, spoken]
What'd you say?

[MARIANNE, spoken]
I said what I was supposed to say...

(sung)
So you say it's time
We moved in together
And raised a family of our own
You and me
Well that's the way
I've always heard it should be
You want to marry me
We'll marry

[LISA, spoken]
Anyway...

[MARIANNE, spoken]
What was I saying?

(sung)
I am woman
Watch me grow
See me standing toe to toe
As I spread my loving arms
Across the land

(spoken)
Sing!

[LISA]
But I'm still an embryo
With a long, long way to go
Until I make my brother understand

[MARIANNE (FEMALE ENSEMBLE)]
Oh yes, I am wise (Yes, I am wise)
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes I've paid the price (Yes, I paid the price)
But look how much I've gained
If I have to (Have to)
I can do anything (Anything)
I am strong!

[LISA & FEMALE ENSEMBLE]
Strong

[MARIANNE]
I am invincible!

[LISA & FEMALE ENSEMBLE]
Invincible!

[MARIANNE]
I am woman!
I am woman!

[LISA]
I am woman!

[MARIANNE]
I am woman!

[LISA/MARIANNE]
Hear me roar!

[ENSEMBLE]
I am woman
Hear me roar!