Seventeen Dollars and a Dream

[Verse] We go marching down the street With our shoulders back And my mother taught me to stand tall She said "Honey Use your backbone" Because she taught me when I was small All of this was built on my ancestors' lives It wasn't built for me And everything it takes to tear it down Takes everything in me [Chorus] And she taught me to save my energy Because some things are better left in a dream And she taught me to be ruthless Because those big white teeth were meant to be I'm saving my life Because some things are more important than a dream And if that doesn't work Make a wish and dream [Refrain] And these girls will know What we've been through [Bridge] Don't break my heart Sweetheart [Refrain] She knows what we've been through My baby girl will know She knows what we've been through And these boys will know And these girls will know