When I was a young girl, 'bout twelve years old I couldn't do nothing to save my doggone soul My mama told me the day I was born She says "Sing the blues child, sing it from now on" I'm a woman, I can sing the blues I'm a woman, I can change old to new I'm a woman, when I'm down to the wire I'm a woman, I'm a ball of fire Well, I'm goin' down yonder, behind the sun Gonna do somethin' for you, ain't never been done Gonna hold back the lightnin', with the palm of my hand Shake hands with the devil, make him crawl in the sand I'm a woman, I can sing the blues I'm a woman, I can change old to new I'm a woman, when I'm down to the wire I'm a woman, I'm a ball of fire When I was just a young girl, 'bout twelve years old I couldn't do nothing to save my doggone soul My mama told me the day I was born She says "Sing the blues child, sing it from now on" I'm a woman, W O M A N I'm a woman, woman to the end