[Verse 1] Seven in the evening, kettle on the stove A door half-closed, she’s done being told Keys in her pocket, coat over one arm No one gets to call that wandering wrong She learned the bus routes, learned the back roads too Learned how to leave when the room went cold and rude Not asking for permission, not nodding along Just taking up her name and singing her own song [Chorus] Let the women breathe, let the women move Let them keep their money, let them keep their groove No more hands on the wheel, no more lines to obey Freedom ain’t a favor, it’s a door swung open all the way Let the women speak, let the women rise With their own damn plans and the fire in their eyes From the corner booth to the avenue They’ve got a right to go where they want to [Verse 2] Marlene at the factory, Vera at the bar Nia with a baby and a beat-up car They trade tips in the parking lot after shift change How to keep the laugh when the whole world acts strange One says, “I’m not built to be quiet for long” One says, “I know where I came from, I know where I belong” One shuts the door, one leaves it wide All of them walking with a little more pride [Chorus] Let the women breathe, let the women move Let them keep their money, let them keep their groove No more hands on the wheel, no more lines to obey Freedom ain’t a favor, it’s a door swung open all the way Let the women speak, let the women rise With their own damn plans and the fire in their eyes From the corner booth to the avenue They’ve got a right to go where they want to [Bridge] Slow bass walking, brushed snare, low horn sigh She don’t need a reason just to say, “I’m leaving this place tonight” Not your muse, not your helper, not your little secret Just a woman with a name, and she means to keep it [Chorus] Let the women breathe, let the women move Let them keep their money, let them keep their groove No more hands on the wheel, no more lines to obey Freedom ain’t a favor, it’s a door swung open all the way Let the women speak, let the women rise With their own damn plans and the fire in their eyes From the corner booth to the avenue They’ve got a right to go where they want to [Outro] Five-minute song, slow and steady swing Let that freedom hang on every ringing string If you hear her laugh, if you hear her say She’s taking back the night in her own way
