I Am Woman

Album: I Don't Know How To Love Him (1971)
Charted: 1
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  • I am woman, hear me roar
    In numbers too big to ignore
    And I know too much to go back an' 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 gained
    If I have to, I can do anything
    I am strong (strong)
    I am invincible (invincible)
    I am woman

    You can bend but never break me
    'Cause it only serves to make me
    More determined to achieve my final goal
    And I come back even stronger
    Not a novice any longer
    'Cause you've deepened the conviction in my soul

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

    I am woman, watch me grow
    See me standing toe to toe
    As I spread my lovin' arms across the land
    But I'm still an embryo
    With a long, long way to go
    Until I make my brother understand

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

    I am woman (I am woman)
    I am invincible
    I am strong

    I am woman (I am woman)
    I am invincible
    I am strong
    I am woman Writer/s: Helen Reddy, Ray Burton
    Publisher: Royalty Network, Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 15

  • Man Cave from Detroit Mi"As a feminist would say' worsted Song Ever!! Don't forget where you got your RIB!! Lol
  • Sonia Bennett from Seven Hills, Nsw. 'I am Woman' was a real breakthrough for women especially women like myself who play an instrument. I am a singer/songwriter/Botanical artist. I also play good guitar. I have been singing and playing for as long as Helen. I chose to write songs about the environment. I still write,sing and paint. My most rrequested song is the the 'Wollemi Pine'. I wrote and recorded this song and the ABC played it a few times. But like so many artists in this country no one cares a stuff about artists like myself. Helen was very lucky to get recognised and be in the right place. My song about the world famous tree is found in Australia. My story about the tree is too long to tell here. Its about the 100 million tree that was found by David Noble who was the first human to walk in that area and found this 30 foot tree. A great story. By the way the male and female cones grow on the tree. Its to do with survival. The tree is also bi-sexual. My song is all about the celebration of this tree a great Australian national treasure. Sonia Bennett. Singer/songwriter/botanical artist. Seven Hills, NSW. Australia.
  • Ray from Gold Coast, AustraliaGoogle Search: Ray Burton I Am Woman
    http://www.google.com.au/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENAU347&q=i+am+woman+ray+burton&aq=0v&aqi=g-v1&aql=&oq=+i+am+woman+ray+burton
  • Diann from Evansville, InFirst off THANK YOU HELEN REDDY for your strength, hard work and perseverance. I have a friend going through a divorce after 22 years. I sent her this song to remind her of who she is. I said to sing out loud and enjoy being a strong, liberated woman. I reminded her of the days when women and their children were shun by society if they were divorced or single parents. Many women put up with undesirable situations because of the stigma put upon women, many (including myself) weren't encouraged to get an education and couldn't get a decent paying job. Thanks to the many wonderful people like Helen Reddy, I was able to leave an undesirable situation and get a descent paying job and raise two children as a single parent (that was 20 years ago). I find strength in being a strong and invincible woman. No need for anyone (male or female) to be threatened by someone having self-worth.
  • Mike from Matawan, NjMy response to this song? "You're a feminist? That's ADORABLE!!!"
  • Farrah from Elon, NcAlthough I'm not a feminist per say, I think this song is absolutely fabulous.
  • Darrell from EugeneI am Darrell. Hear me roar at Jehovah's Witnesses who come to my door during my whisky-on-the-rocks hour! (My interpretation of the first line of "I Am Woman" by Helen Reddy.)
  • Chris from Saline, MiHelen also pushed some buttons with religious conservatives when she won the Best Female Pop Vocal Grammy in 1973 for "I Am Woman" and, in her acceptance speech, made it a point to thank God "because She makes all things possible."
  • Ray from Gold Coast, AustraliaThank you so much SONG FACTS for revealing the truth. It's about time all of you good people out there knew the truth about the song "I AM WOMAN". Please understand that due to the feminine subject matter of the song I was pushed way into the background. Savvy?
    You can also find out a lot more about me at www.myspace.com/rayburtonmusic if you wish. See you there!

    Many cheers and a beautiful life for everybody,

    RAY CHARLES BURTON

    [Australia - September 2006]
  • Ray from Gold Coast, AustraliaHi, just a brief message from Ray Burton the GUY who co-wrote the song "I AM WOMAN" for Helen Reddy.
    I hope you are doing fine. I just wanted to let you know that my web-sites are coming together.
    There is still work yet to be done on my main site www.rayburtonmusic.com such as adding the showcase page of my demo songs but as I said it IS coming together so please stay tuned from time to time to catch up with the latest RB site developments.
    There are song samples on the RB's Music page of my main site above and also at the My Space site listed below.
    Most musicians that I have worked with in the studio are mentioned on my main site above and those musicians who submitted their web-sites early to RBmusic@bigpond.net.au appear on my links page.
    Check it all out now at www.rayburtonmusic.com you may find my life and career an interesting story.

    Thanks a million and have yourself a great one whatever you are doing.
    Cheers,
    Ray Burton Websites:
    http://www.rayburtonmusic.com

    http://www.myspace.com/rayburtonmusic

    http://www.songwritersdirectory.com/artistpage.cfm?writerid=262
  • Ray from Gold Coast, AustraliaI find it incredible that Helen Reddy chooses never to mention my name as being the co-writer of I AM WOMAN. I suppose for Helen's credibility it just wouldn't look good for a MAN to have had anything to do with this song. So be it! At least all of my peers in the music industry know the truth.

    RAY BURTON
    Rayburtonmusic.com
  • Mark from Lancaster, OhIt must have been getting close to a deadline when Ms Reddy came up with a couplet that I've always admired:

    "But I'm still an embryo
    Wieh a long long way to go"
  • Rob from Vancouver, CanadaI was too young to recognize the irony at the time, but it wan't uncommon the hear this back to back with 'your havin' my baby'.
  • Howard from St. Louis Park, MnOne of the most memorable songs on the womens lib movement. Fortunately her lyric change catapaulted the song from oblivion to one of the top hits of late 1972 and early 1973 and made Helen Reddy a household name.
  • Ted from Loveland, Cofrom "Helen Reddy's Greatest Hits": EMI ST 11467
    -peak Billboard position # 1 for 1 week in 1972
    -Words and Music by Helen Reddy and Ray Burton

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