Ladies Don't Do Those Things copyright 2000 by Michelle Dockrey Dm Dm I was born of a storm as my kind tend to be Dm7 F Am But I'd never look more than mere woman to thee Dm Dm For "woman" in this world means captive and slave Dm7 Am Dm But freedom's the power that my heritage gave F F 'Twas in my first lifetime it came to a head F C Am When the man I called father would force me to wed F F "But it's travel I want, and to see the wide world!" F Dm I still hear him now, saying Dm C "Ladies don't do those things!" Dm Dm Ah, no they don't, but then dragonets do! Dm7 F Am "Stay hidden 'til nightfall, and I'll come for you." Dm Dm And when he awoke, missing Mother and I Dm7 F Am He never did think to look up to the sky. Dm Am Dm What had married him, he never knew. [repeat last three lines instrumental with recorder solo] Now the Circle grows stronger as time rushes by For the centuries pass in the blink of an eye So my sisters and I saw the Kings come and go 'Til a Queen came to pow'r it was worthy to know When I and my kind offered aid to the Queen, To glean information as travelers unseen, The men of her cab'net were shocked and appalled And spluttered and stalled, saying "Ladies don't do those things!" Ah, no they don't, but then little birds do! I suppose you'd say that to Elizabeth, too? Well she never resented the help that we gave Perhaps you'd have rather seen England enslaved? You'd allies that you never knew. Now in lifetimes, you see, we all wed now and then So to blend unsuspected among mortal men And when the New World sang its pleasures unknown 'Twas still a rare woman could live on her own. He was decent enough, but society-bred With ideas of obedient wives in his head I'd go out unescorted to visit my kin As my husbands before him, said "Ladies don't do those things!" Ah, no they don't, but then summer winds can And the fire that warms you can burn in your hand. We'll meet on the hilltops, and when we are through, We'll tend to your hearths as we've promised to do Just don't ask too much, my good man.