If I’d Been a Man

[ELIZABETH]
If I had my say
If I could wish the time away and rewind my life somehow
Who would I be now
If I'd been a man?
Nothing to lose
No role to choose
Because a man on the move doesn't need to prove his worth
Knows his place from birth
Since the world began

A man can set aside his feelings
Be a shark in business dealings
Rise above the weak and small
And reach for all he can
I alas am neither either or
And so my guy walked out the door
Could I bear it more
If I'd been a man?

[HELENA]
Though I made my name
Became tops at my gamе in a field I nearly own
Would I sleep alone
If I'd been a man?
I'd makе the rules
Suffer no fools
In full command of my ship
Like a captain at the helm
Monarch of my realm
Master of my plan

A man can be an absent parent
Stray the way a woman daren't
Build an empire for his sons
And everyone's his fan
I love only men I can't caress
Two sons ashamed of my success
Would they loathe me less
If I'd been a man?

[ELIZABETH]
Not a chump, a contender

[HELENA]
If I'd been a man

[ELIZABETH]
It's the curse of my gender

[BOTH]
What man has half the balls that I have?
Rides the peaks and falls that I have?
Why are they the proud and tall
And I'm the also-ran?

[HELENA]
Though I've come a long, long way, I know

[ELIZABETH]
And have the scars for it to show

[HELENA]
How far could I go
If I'd been a man?

[ELIZABETH]
If I'd been a man

[BOTH]
If I'd been a man
Could I win if I had been a man?