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This song, “I Will Survive,” was written before today’s teenagers were born, but is still going strong in the name of female emancipation. The artist, Gloria Gaynor, was born as Gloria Fowles, on September 7, 1949 in Newark, New Jersey.
In 1979, “I Will Survive” was introduced as a single and became the #1 song on the HOT 100 Billboard in the same year. Gaynor's success with this song placed her as one of the best-known female disco artists from the ‘70s. More than a half dozen major motion pictures featured this song on their soundtrack. Additionally, Gloria Gaynor was honored by VH-1 for holding down the number one spot during their countdown of the Top 100 Dance Records of All Time for "I Will Survive". In 2005, Gaynor was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame in the Artist Inductees category while her classic anthem, "I Will Survive", was inducted under the Records Inductees category.
Riding on this popular them, Gaynor wrote an autobiography of the same name where she speaks about her own personal struggles.
This song, as mentioned before, is an anthem for female emancipation. Any woman who has ever tried to leave her partner, can identify with the strength that Gaynor portrays as she keeps it real. Girls who are sex trafficked, in Brooklyn and beyond, find themselves emotionally attached to their trafficker as well as at a crossroads. Disgruntled, they can bravely choose to leave with a broken heart; or stay and feel the "love" they are accustomed to - even if it means risking future injuries to self and body. The emotional hold is intense and makes many a girl falter.
Gaynor’s chorus begins with her telling her former man to “go on now go walk out the door, just turn around now, 'cause you're not welcome anymore.” You can just feel her strength and seriousness. She’s done!
Find the lyrics below the support box, and listen to the song in the video box on the left.
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Click here for a list of other articles on the subject of sex trafficking in Brooklyn, written by Kinyofu Mlimwengu.
For additional empowerment, visit The Self Reflection Blog at The Women’s Empowerment Center
Lyrics
I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
First I was afraid
I was petrified
Kept thinking I could never live
without you by my side
But I spent so many nights
thinking how you did me wrong
I grew strong
I learned how to carry on
and so you're back
from outer space
I just walked in to find you here
with that sad look upon your face
I should have changed my stupid lock
I should have made you leave your key
If I had known for just one second
you'd be back to bother me
Go on now go walk out the door
just turn around now
'cause you're not welcome anymore
weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye
you think I'd crumble
you think I'd lay down and die
Oh no, not I
I will survive
as long as i know how to love
I know I will stay alive
I've got all my life to live
I've got all my love to give
and I'll survive
I will survive
It took all the strength I had
not to fall apart
kept trying hard to mend
the pieces of my broken heart
and I spent oh so many nights
just feeling sorry for myself
I used to cry
Now I hold my head up high
and you see me
somebody new
I'm not that chained up little person
still in love with you
and so you felt like dropping in
and just expect me to be free
now I'm saving all my loving
for someone who's loving me
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