Revisiting Sade

Jezebel

Jezebel wasn't born with a silver spoon in her mouth
She probably had less than every one of us
But when she knew how to walk she knew
how to bring the house down
Can't blame her for her beauty
She wins with her hands down

Jezebel, what a belle
Looks like a princess in her new dress
How did you get that?
Do you really want to know she said
It would seem she's on her way
It's more, more than just a dream
She put on her stockings and shoes
had nothing to lose - she said it was worth it

Reach for the top
and the sun is gonna shine
Every winter was a war she said
I want to get what's mine

Jezebel, Jezebel
won't try to deny where she came from
You can see it in her pride
and the raven in her eyes
Try show her a better way
she'll say you don't know what you've been missing
by the time she blinks you know she won't be listening

Reach for the top she said
the sun is gonna shine
Every winter was a war she said
I want to get what's mine

I want to get what's mine

This has always been one of my favorite songs by her. Today it means so much more. There are so many songs that I can think of right now that talk about the struggling girl. La Villerita by Mercedes Sosa, La Nina by Lila Downs, Essa Mulher by Elis Regina and the list goes on and on. Men have also recorded songs about women who struggle, who are powerful, who suffer, who are go getters. I see so much of my own ghosts in these songs.