I Am Woman - Helen Reddy - Breast Cancer Awareness

I Am Woman

It was 1972 when Helen Reddy blew our socks off with I Am Woman. The #1 hit and national anthem for the women's movement was liberating. We sang it in the shower, the car, everywhere really, and we sang it loudly. It's one of those songs that stays with you forever. Quite an impact!

For you young gals who weren't born yet, the lyrics are below, and you can find Helen singing it on You Tube. You won't remember the days when men said, as one Washington Post writer said to me when I told him I wanted to be a journalist, "That's not a profession for women."

As each year's Breast Cancer Awareness campaign grows bigger than the last, I am reminded of I Am Woman. Businesses everywhere (men and women), including skin and health care companies, do amazing things to promote Breast Cancer Awareness Month and raise money to fight this deadly disease. You can do your part by spending money! Promote pink!

Many beauty companies are offering Pink Ribbon products...Bobbi Brown, Estee Lauder, Clinique, Clarisonic, Sonia Kashuk, RevitaLash - the list seems endless. Given the choice, I'm supporting other women (and men) by purchasing the promotional items. A portion of my purchase goes to fight breast cancer. Now, for those inspiring lyrics...

I am woman, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
And I know too much to go back an' pretend
'cause I've heard it all before
And I've been down there on the floor
No one's ever gonna keep me down again

CHORUS
Oh yes I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to, I can do anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman

You can bend but never break me
'cause it only serves to make me
More determined to achieve my final goal
And I come back even stronger
Not a novice any longer
'cause you've deepened the conviction in my soul

CHORUS
I am woman watch me grow
See me standing toe to toe
As I spread my lovin' arms across the land
But I'm still an embryo
With a long long way to go
Until I make my brother understand

Oh yes I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to I can face anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman
Oh, I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong

FADE
I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong
I am woman

Lyrics and music by Helen Reddy and Ray Burton