I was jogging with my boyfriend around a track
when a college woman watching me faked a heart attack,
looked me up and down from leg hair to toe,
and in a loud, scornful voice, so I was sure to know,
said, "Poor guy. What you put him through!
You are revolting. I’ve never seen someone like you."
And I replied, I wish you wouldn’t be mean, but it’s true,
I am revolting and I hope you’ll be revolting, too, because...
I’m revolting. I’m revolting against
you critics of a woman’s body
who say there’s something wrong with a healthy part of me.
I’m revolting. I’m revolting against
your culture of discrimination.
I stand for human liberation.
I was going to go swimming in the public pool
when I noticed the lifeguards behind me looking cruel.
They were smirking and pointing and staring at me,
a woman with all her hair, a freak, an oddity,
but I said, it’s okay, take a look and see
the hair that’s part of our mammalian biology.
I’m sorry you’ve been taught that women ought to hate their hair,
and it’s revolting if they keep it, but I’m brave enough to dare, because...
I’m revolting. I’m revolting against
critics of a woman's body
who say there’s something wrong with a healthy part of me.
I'm revolting. I’m revolting against
gender discrimination.
I stand for human liberation.
CHORUS 1:
You can take your shallow love
where others tell you who to be,
but I accept and love myself
and I found someone who loves all of me.
We were holding our baby, enjoying the fact
he was healthy and whole and would be staying intact
with all the parts inherited through evolution,
when a relative called to tell us what should be done.
She said, "For shame! You should circumcise.
It is revolting not to, so just ignore his cries."
And I replied I wish you wouldn’t be mean, but it’s true,
I am revolting and I hope you’ll be revolting, too, because...
I’m revolting. I’m revolting against
critics of the human body
who say there’s something wrong with my healthy child and me.
I’m revolting. I’m revolting against
genital mutilation.
I stand for human liberation.
I was sitting on a park bench quietly reading,
while my child, now a toddler, was breastfeeding,
when I man walking by saw us resting there
and in a loud, cold voice, to ensure I was aware,
said, "Good God, you should stay out of view.
You are revolting. I’ve never seen the likes of you."
And I replied, I wish you wouldn’t be mean, but it’s true,
I am revolting and I hope you’ll be revolting, too, because...
I’m revolting. I’m revolting against
you critics of the human body
who say there’s something wrong with my healthy child and me.
I’m revolting. I’m revolting against
opposition to lactation.
I stand for human liberation.
CHORUS 2:
You can take your fragile love
from those who don’t like what they see,
but I respect and I’ll protect
what nature gave to you and me.
And it’s a funny irony
that by living naturally
and doing nothing at all
you’ll be revolutionary.
We were petting a calf in a state fair stall.
People eating ice cream didn’t notice him at all.
He was a dairy breed and soon was doomed to die,
so I turned to the farmer and asked him why,
and he said, "Oh Lord, are you one of those
revolting vegans unaware this is just how life goes."
And I replied, I wish you wouldn’t be mean, but it’s true,
I am revolting and I hope you’ll be revolting, too, because...
I’m revolting. I’m revolting against
your self-serving lack of mercy.
I stand for letting sentient beings be.
I’m revolting. I’m revolting against
your cruelty and domination.
I stand for animal liberation.
CHORUS 3:
You can take your false love
from those who bend you to their will.
They say they care for you and share with you,
but their intent is just to kill.
And it’s a funny irony
that by living naturally
and hurting no one at all
you’ll be revolutionary.
I was looking in vain for a role model,
a woman unafraid of being natural
who embraces her body and earth’s children, too,
and tells them all I love all of you.
But I found no teacher or movie star,
no leader who loves herself and others as they truly are.
I realized I was going to have to stand up alone.
If I want a role model I’ll need to be my own, so...
I’m revolting. I’m revolting
against critics of our human body
who say there’s something wrong with my healthy child and me.
I’m revolting. I’m revolting
against callousness and exploitation.
I stand for love and liberation.