Paid My Dues
Anastacia · Freak of Nature
Spoken:
You can say what you want about me
Wanna do what you want to me
But you can not stop me
I've been knocked down
It's a crazy town
Even got a punch in the face in LA
Ain't nothing in the world that you keep me from doing what I wanna do
'Cause I'm too proud, I'm too strong
Life by the code that you gotta move on
Feel excited for yourself
and got nobody no way
so I...
(Held my head high)
Knew I (Knew I survive)
Well I made it (I made it)
I don't hate it (Don't hate it)
That's just the way it goes
Yeah
I done made it through
Stand on my own two
I paid my dues, yeah
Tried to hold me down
You can't stop me now
I paid my dues
Spoken:
So like i told you
You cannot stop me
I paid my dues
Now I'm still tested every day
people try to mess with Anastacia
gotta another thing comin'
cause I handle mine
and I thought I better let you know
I'm no punk I can't get down
I don't give a damn about abuse around
that was just fine 'til now
So I...
(Held my head high)
Knew I (Knew I survive)
Well I made it (I made it)
Oahh (Don't hate it)
That's just the way it goes
Yeah
I done made it through
Stand on my own two
I paid my dues
Yeah yeah
Tried to hold me down
you can't stop me now
I paid my dues, yeah
yeah yeah yeah
Took so long to get me here
But I won't live in fear
You try to steal my shine
But first they wanna build you up
Then they tear you down
It's a struggle, you try to bubble
so I...
(Held my head high)
Knew I (Knew I survive)
Oahh (I made it)
(Don't hate it)
Said that's just the wayyyyy
(I done made it through)
(Stand on my own two)
I said I paid my, I paid my dues
Yeahhhhh
(Tried to hold me down)
But you can't stop me now (you can't stop me now)
(I paid my dues) I paid my, paid my dues
(I done made it through) oahhh
(Stand on my own two) oh
(I paid my dues) I paid my, I paid my dues
yeahh
(Tried to hold me down)
But you can't stop me now (you can't stop me now)
(I paid my dues) I paid my dues
You can say what you want about me
Wanna do what you want to me
But you can not stop me
I've been knocked down
It's a crazy town
Even got a punch in the face in LA
Ain't nothing in the world that you keep me from doing what I wanna do
'Cause I'm too proud, I'm too strong
Life by the code that you gotta move on
Feel excited for yourself
and got nobody no way
so I...
(Held my head high)
Knew I (Knew I survive)
Well I made it (I made it)
I don't hate it (Don't hate it)
That's just the way it goes
Yeah
I done made it through
Stand on my own two
I paid my dues, yeah
Tried to hold me down
You can't stop me now
I paid my dues
Spoken:
So like i told you
You cannot stop me
I paid my dues
Now I'm still tested every day
people try to mess with Anastacia
gotta another thing comin'
cause I handle mine
and I thought I better let you know
I'm no punk I can't get down
I don't give a damn about abuse around
that was just fine 'til now
So I...
(Held my head high)
Knew I (Knew I survive)
Well I made it (I made it)
Oahh (Don't hate it)
That's just the way it goes
Yeah
I done made it through
Stand on my own two
I paid my dues
Yeah yeah
Tried to hold me down
you can't stop me now
I paid my dues, yeah
yeah yeah yeah
Took so long to get me here
But I won't live in fear
You try to steal my shine
But first they wanna build you up
Then they tear you down
It's a struggle, you try to bubble
so I...
(Held my head high)
Knew I (Knew I survive)
Oahh (I made it)
(Don't hate it)
Said that's just the wayyyyy
(I done made it through)
(Stand on my own two)
I said I paid my, I paid my dues
Yeahhhhh
(Tried to hold me down)
But you can't stop me now (you can't stop me now)
(I paid my dues) I paid my, paid my dues
(I done made it through) oahhh
(Stand on my own two) oh
(I paid my dues) I paid my, I paid my dues
yeahh
(Tried to hold me down)
But you can't stop me now (you can't stop me now)
(I paid my dues) I paid my dues
Paid My Dues
Anastacia's 'Paid My Dues' stands as a defining track from her 2001 album 'Freak of Nature,' blending R&B sensibilities with pop-rock energy. The song captures the raw vulnerability and resilience of a woman navigating personal turmoil, delivered through Anastacia's distinctive, raspy vocal delivery. As a centerpiece of her debut major-label effort, the recording showcases her ability to merge soulful grit with mainstream appeal, establishing her as a formidable force in early 2000s music. The track remains a testament to her signature style, characterized by emotional intensity and a refusal to conform to traditional pop structures, cementing its place in her discography as a bold and memorable statement.