The Theme for 2022 Woman’s History Month 2022 “Women Providing Healing and Promoting Hope” is, of course, quite appropriate in light of women’s contribution globally during the global pandemic and beyond. The theme has given me pause this year as I reflect on the many influences in all the women before me and current who have made me develop and define the woman I am today. I also know I have the choice and capacity to continue to transform. The women who have impacted my life over the years – brave, smart, funny, insightful, Godly, strong yet fragile women who constantly encouraged me to seek, dig, let go, embrace and challenge the norm. I’d say I have tried to stay on the path of transformation. My beautiful Mother Vernice was never afraid to speak her mind “just like a woman” and encouraged me to do so.
One of my favorite songs Just Like a Woman was written by the songwriter Bob Dylan and performed by him and several of my favorite vocalists – Joe Cocker, Robert Flack, Howard Hewitt and Nina Simone. There are some revisions to the original written by Bob Dylan but the essence of the song remains. Some of the lyrics go “She takes Just like a woman Yes she does and she makes love Just like a woman And she aches Just like a woman But she breaks Like a little girl”.
As I began to ponder the song and particularly the lyrics – “she breaks like a little girl” I explored some background on the song.
In 1971 New York Times writer Marion Meade wrote “there’s no more complete catalogue of sexist slurs,” and went on to note that in the song Dylan “defines women’s natural traits as greed, hypocrisy, whining and hysteria.” Oh wow!
A Music critic writes a central theme of the song is the power that the woman described in the lyrics has over Dylan, as evidenced by the lines “I was hungry, and it was your world.” Yes!
It is also curious numerous female artists have included Just Like a Woman in their songbook. Stevie Nicks, a painful version by Norwegian jazz singer Radka Toneff. Did any of the female vocalists consider the song lyrics filled with “greed, whining, hypocrisy and hysteria”? Hmm.
Interestingly I became a huge fan of the song when I heard both the Roberta Flack and Nina Simone versions – It never occurred to me the lyrics were anything other than listing some very descriptions of what I know to be “Just like a Woman”. I also know when I listen to versions of Just Like a Woman by Howard Hewitt and Richie Havens – I become more enamored by the song to hear the tones and inflections of male voices. Could it be just a great song? I think so.
Bill Janovitz, music critic noted that “in the context of the song, “Dylan apparently matured a little and saw through “her fog, her amphetamine, and her pearls” to be referring to a woman who occasionally plays the “little girl card” – “Someone who has times when she regresses to being childlike—who can’t live up to the best part of herself.” Hmm – I did not know there was a little girl card. However, I can recall times I did not live up to or display the best part of myself. I am Just Like a Woman – sometime confident other times uncertain – it’s enlightening when I can hear music that help me to reflect on my gender.
Another favorite song of mine is It’s A Man’s World by James Brown went on to be one of the best sold and performed by the singer. The performance with he and Opera singer Luciano Pavarotti highlighted for me what an integral part of the world I am as a woman. “It’s A Man’s World BUT it would be nothing without a woman or a girl” are lyrics I have certainly hummed over the years and never tire of hearing a great vocalist nail it – like Seal.
I am Just Like a Woman living, loving, being, searching, engaging, healing and hoping in a Man’s World.