Bitch

Okay, right around when I was eleven-years-old I started listening to the radio. It's not like I'd never owned a radio I just never really paid attention to what was playing. But, somewhere in my pre-teen angst I discovered Top 40 and its endless catalog of cheesy love songs.

I was one of those that would press her ear against the speaker in hopes of deciphering lyrics. I'd play a tape, listen to the words, pause the tape, scribble down lyrics, rewind the tape, play it, listen, pause, scribble, rewind . . . over and over until I had all the lyrics written down. You know, so I could sing along without stumbling over some critical phrasing.

Since then, I've always paid attention to lyrics.

There are some people out there that can just listen to a song and appreciate it for its musicality.

I'm not one of those people.

I like to listen to the story. Which is probably why I have such a fondness for country music.

Anyway, one of the songs that I really hung on to, for much longer than is cool, is Meredith Brooks' Bitch. Check out the lyrics:

I hate the world today
You're so good to me I know, but I can't change
Tried to tell you
But you look at me like maybeI'm an angel underneath
Innocent and sweet
Yesterday I cried
Must have been relieved to see
The softer side
I can understand how you'd be so confused
I don't envy you
I'm a little bit of everything
All rolled into one

Chorus:
I'm a bitch, I'm a lover
I'm a child, I'm a mother
I'm a sinner, I'm a saint
I do not feel ashamed
I'm your hell, I'm your dream
I'm nothing in between
You know you wouldn't want it any other way

So take me as I am
This may mean
You'll have to be a stronger man
Rest assured that
When I start to make you nervous
And I'm going to extremes
Tomorrow I will change
And today won't mean a thing

Chorus
Just when you think, you got me figured out
The season's already changin
I think it's cool, you do what you do
And don't try to save me

Chorus
I'm a bitch, I'm a tease
I'm a goddess on my knees
When you hurt, when you suffer
I'm your angel undercover
I've been numb, I'm revived
Can't say I'm not alive
You know I wouldn't want it any other way

I really like the chorus because that's just how I am sometimes. Bitch, lover, child, mother, sinner, saint, tease, goddess on my knees . . . all those things rolled into one and changing constantly from one to the other.

At least this won't be boring.

You know you wouldn't want it any other way.