Lyrics

Verse 1
A man can leave at midnight
Come home wearing someone’s name
His friends will call him restless
Like betrayal is a game
But let a woman seek attention
After years of being denied
They forget what drove her lonely
And condemn the way she survived
I am not defending damage
Wrong is wrong on either side
But don’t praise him for the freedom
That you punish me to find
Chorus
They call it different
When a woman does the same
He becomes a man of experience
She becomes a name of shame
They call it different
Though the wound cuts just as deep
If respect belongs to everybody
Then the rules should equally keep
Don’t excuse him
Then accuse me
Truth should never change its face
They call it different
But the wrong remains the same
Verse 2
He can raise his voice in anger
They say pressure made him hard
When she finally speaks with power
They say she has gone too far
He can put his dreams before her
And be called a driven man
When she protects her own ambition
They say she won’t understand
I spent years making myself smaller
So his pride could fill the room
Now I’m done asking permission
To become what I was born to do
Chorus
They call it different
When a woman does the same
He becomes a man of experience
She becomes a name of shame
They call it different
Though the wound cuts just as deep
If respect belongs to everybody
Then the rules should equally keep
Don’t excuse him
Then accuse me
Truth should never change its face
They call it different
But the wrong remains the same
Bridge — Gospel Responses
Lead: I can love without surrendering
Background: Keep your dignity
Lead: I can leave what keeps dishonoring me
Background: You have every right
Lead: I can build a life beside a man
And still possess my name
Background: Still possess your name
Lead: If freedom makes him powerful
It should not make me ashamed
Final Chorus
They call it different
But I will not wear their blame
I will answer for my choices
Not the judgment of my name
They call it different
I call fairness what I seek
A woman should not lose her honor
For demanding equal peace
Don’t excuse him
Then accuse me
Use one measure for us both
They call it different
But I finally know the truth
Outro — Restrained Ad-libs
I am still a woman
Still deserving
Still responsible
Still free
Don’t give him every road
Then tell me where
I’m allowed to be