I've Never Been To Me

Artist: Charlene, Songwriters: Ron Miller/Kenneth Hirsch, Single released: 1977

Hey lady, you lady, cursing at your life,
You're a discontented mother, and a regimented wife.
I've no doubt you dream about the things you never do,
But I wish someone had a talk to me like I wanna talk to you.

Oh I've been to Georgia and California and anywhere I could run,
Took the hand of a preacher man and we made love in the sun.
But I ran out of places and friendly faces, because I had to be free,
I've been to paradise, but I've never been to me...

Please lady, please lady, don't just walk away,
'Cause I have this need to tell you why I'm all alone today.
I can see so much of me still living in your eyes,
Won't you share a part of a weary heart that has lived a million lives?

Oh I've been to Nice and the isle of Greece, when I sipped champagne on a yacht,
I moved like Harlow in Monte Carlo and showed them what I've got.
I've been undressed by kings, and I've seen some things that a woman ain't s'pose to see,
I've been to paradise, but I've never been to me...

Hey, you know what paradise is?
It's a lie, a fantasy we created about people and places, as we like them to be.
But you know what truth is? It's that little baby you're holding,
And it's that man you fought with this morning,
The same one you are gonna make love to tonight, that's truth, that's love.

Sometimes I've been to crying for unborn children that might have made me complete,
But I, I took the sweet life, I never knew I'd be bitter from the sweet.
I spent my life exploring the subtle whoring, that costs too much to be free,
Hey lady, I've been to paradise, but I've never been to me...

I've been to paradise, but I've never been to me...