Amendment Lyrics - Which Side Are You On - Ani Difranco

Wouldn't it be nice if 

We had an amendment 

To give civil rights to women 

To once and for all just 

Really lay it down from 

The point of view of women 

I know what you're thinking 

That's just redundant 

Chicks got it good now 

They can almost be president 

But it's worker against worker 

Time and time again 

Cause the rich use certain issues as a tool 

When I say we need the E.R.A ain't cause I'm a fool 

It's cause without it nobody can get away 

With anything cruel 

And you don't need to go far like 

Just over to Canada 

To feel the height and sense of 

Live and let live 

What is it about Americans 

Like so many pit-bulls 

Trained to attack them 

To never give 

We gotta put down abortion 

Put it down in the books for good 

As central to the civil rights 

Of women 

Make diversity legal 

Make it finally understood 

Through the civil rights of women 

And if you don't like abortion 

Don't have an abortion 

And teach your children 

How they can avoid them 

But don't treat all women 

Like they are your children 

Compassion has many faces 

Many names 

And if men can kill and be decorated 

Instead of blamed 

Then a woman called upon to mother 

Can choose to refrain 

And contrary to eons 

Of old time religion 

Your body is your only 

True dominion 

Nature is not here to serve you 

Or at any cause to preserve you 

That's just some preacher man's 

Old time opinion 

Life is sacred 

Life is also profane 

A woman's life 

It must be hers to name 

Let out an amendment 

Put this brutal game to rest 

Trust, women will still take you 

To their breast 

Trust, women will always 

Do their best 

Trust, our differences make us stronger 

Not less 

In this amendment shall be 

Family structure shall be free 

We'll have the right to civil our unions 

With equal rights and 

Equal protection 

Intolerance finally 

Ruined 

And then there's the kids rights 

They'll naturally be on board 

The funnel through which 

Women's lives are poured 

Our family is so big 

And we're all so very small 

Let a web of relationship 

Be laid over it all 

Over the strutter of power piled up to the sky 

Over the illusion of autonomy on which it relies 

Over any absolute that nature does not supply 

And the birthing woman shall regain her place 

In a circle of women, in a sacred space 

Turn off the machines, put away the knifes 

This amendment shall deliver from bondage midwives