back when 
i was a little girl 
the teacher caught me writing 
a nasty note to some dear friends of mine 
i explained to her that my note was merely 
a reply to another note that i had received previously 
she didn't believe me 
and neither did my parents 
as my father beat me 
i screamed for the lord 
but he didn't come (at least not to my knowledge) 
he didn't even help me rub some of the circulation 
back into my legs 
and i sat there moanin' 
and tryin' to rub the sting away 
thinkin' about how 
a girl can't depend on nobody 
but herself