Learning through songs is a great way to learn English! This song contains some interesting things for beginner, intermediate and advanced English learners.

International Women’s Day is on
March 8. On this day, many people speak and sing about women’s lives.

This song from MILCK (Connie Lim) is about a woman who decides to speak about the problem of sexual assault of women.

Advanced students may want to read or listen to this NPR story: https://www.npr.org/2019/01/14/683694934/milck-quiet-womens-march-american-anthem

Notes:

• [You] put on your face=apply facial makeup

• place=status, position

• shut up=do not speak

• Don't spread your legs=do not sit with your legs open

• I could do that=it is possible for me to act in that way

• She asks, "Would I be that monster,, scare them all away." This means, if she speaks, will other people think that she is a monster? Will she scare, or frighten, other people?

• I can’t=I cannot; I am not able to

• keep quiet= be quiet, be silent, remain quiet

• a one-woman riot=one woman making a disturbance

• ‘cause=because

• dry blue pill-in the movie, The Matrix, taking a blue pill allows a person to live in a pleasant fantasy rather than seeing the unpleasant truth.

I Can’t Keep Quiet - Lyrics

Put on your face

Know your place

Shut up and smile

Don't spread your legs

I could do that

But no one knows me, no one ever will

If I don't say something, if I just lie still

Would I be that monster, scare them all away

If I let them hear what I have to say

I can't keep quiet,

no-oh-oh-oh-oh

I can't keep quiet, no-oh-oh-oh-oh

A one-woman riot, no-oh-oh-oh-oh

I can't keep quiet for anyone, not anymore

'Cause no one knows me, no one ever will

If I don't say something, take that dry blue pill

They may see that monster, they may run away

But I have to do this

I can't keep quiet, no-oh-oh-oh-oh

I can't keep quiet, no-oh-oh-oh-oh

A one woman riot, no-oh-oh-oh-oh

Oh, I can't keep quiet

(There'll be someone who understands)

There'll be someone who understands