We are ruled by our brothers We are ruled by our husbands We jump at the voices of our masters And do what they say We are bartered and traded Along with cattle and cotton We have to be beautiful And it helps to have a dowry of some kind We have to show humility And have the presence of mind To never complain And they say it's our fault We were thrown out of Eden To be turned into salt But there is a way back to paradise, there is a way Study all men, learn what they lack Sweeten and stroke before you attack Put up a front, and then slip through the back Be on your way back to paradise Long ago, back in Eden (Eden) When we didn't need husbands (Husbands) We danced to the voices in the garden And had our own way We were taught by our mothers Along the river of knowledge (By the river of knowledge) Our garden was beautiful Until the angels came to call And on the wings of jealousy They brought down the fall And gave the garden to men (Ah) And put it out of our touch (Ah) We were thrown out of Eden (Ah) For knowing to much But there is a way back to paradise, there is a way Bide your time (Bide your time) Be clever and wise (Clever and wise) When you look at a man (When you look at a man) Look him straight in the eyes (Straight in the eyes) Do not be seduced, tell him elegant lies Be on your way Be on your way back to paradise