You Don't Get To Decide

Lyrics

[Verse 1] You said, “Keep your voice down,” while the boys took the floor I had the right answer, still you asked me for more They wrote my name smaller on the chart by the door Then called it a lesson when I questioned the score [Pre-Chorus] But I know what I saw And I know what I’m worth You can’t make me less By deciding first [Chorus] This is injustice, dressed up as “just how it goes” A rule with two faces, a door that won’t open We’re done being patient, done waiting our turn Girls are not asking permission to learn Say it plain, say it loud, let the whole room know: You don’t get to decide how far we can go [Verse 2] You praised my good manners when I swallowed the truth Said “be nice” to the girl, never once to the boys At the bus stop, at practice, in the principal’s room We keep carrying weight that was never ours to assume [Pre-Chorus] But I know what I saw And I know what I’m worth You can’t make me less By deciding first [Chorus] This is injustice, dressed up as “just how it goes” A rule with two faces, a door that won’t open We’re done being patient, done waiting our turn Girls are not asking permission to learn Say it plain, say it loud, let the whole room know: You don’t get to decide how far we can go [Bridge] For the girl with her hand up, still holding it high For the one told to shrink when she reaches the sky For the names left off lists, for the work overlooked We’re writing it back in the margins and books [Final Chorus] This is injustice; we’re calling it out No more quiet corners, no swallowing doubt We’re done being patient, done waiting our turn Girls have the right to be heard and to learn Say it plain, say it loud, let the whole room know: You don’t get to decide how far we can go [Outro] You don’t get to decide How far we can go