Thankyous - Janis Ian

Mama gave me soul

Brother gave me reaching out to hold

Teachers gave me license

Learning set me free

Schooling gave me nothing

Music showed me how to live

Papa gave me want-to-be

Brother gave me empathy

Mama gave me woman

But that isn’t all I need

I have lived in houses

I have lived in homes

Eaten off of tables made of wood or stone

Through the trials and tribulations

I’ve never known

How to say I love you

And let my feelings show

So thank you for the music

Thank you for the songs

Bless you for the freedom

In knowing right from wrong

I thank you for the laughter

The heartaches and the tears

It’s a blessing to grow

It’s a goodness to be here

You give me want-to-be

You give me sympathy

You give me woman

Thank you for loving me

And letting it show

It’s a pleasure to be here

So bless us, every one