Reddy or not

(originally posted 6/26/2012)

For decades there has been an adage that has completely encapsulated the male spirit. A saying so powerful that it has been passed down from generation to generation. It has outlived dozens of similar catchphrases and has put men in the rarified air of coolness that women could not dream of.

The expression I’m referring to?

Rock out with your cock out.

Women have never had its equal. When a man decided that he was going to rock out with his cock out women has no way of following him into those rough yet exhilarating waters. While they may have been in the mood to rock out they always found themselves one cock short.

Then I heard it.

It was in a bad movie, whose name escapes me at the present, and when I heard the idiom spoken out loud it was like the Virginia Slim’s “You’ve come a long way baby” ad and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (as adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1979) all rolled into one!

It was a symphony to my ears. A sexual call to arms that said to the woman “I am here! I am queer…” wait a second. I think I have the wrong expression.

For was it not Helen Reddy who sang?:

I am woman hear me roar in numbers too big to ignore and I know too much to go back and pretend, cause I’ve heard it all before and I’ve been down there on the floor and no one’s ever going to keep me down again. Oh, yes I am wise but it’s wisdom born of pain yes I paid the price but look how much I gained, if I have to … I can do anything! I am strong, I am invincible

I am woman You can bend but never break me cause it only serves to make me more determined to achieve my final goal and I’ll come back even stronger Not a novice any longer cause you’ve deepened the conviction in my soul Oh, yes I am wise but it’s wisdom born of pain Oh, yes I’ve paid the price but look how much I gained If I have to I can do anything I am strong,  I am invincible

I am Woman I am woman watch me grow See me standing toe to toe, as i spread my loving arms across the land, but I’m still an embryo with a long, long way to go until i make my brother understand Oh, yes I am wise but it’s wisdom born of pain- Oh, yes I’ve paid the price but look how much I gained If I have to I can do anything I am strong, I am invincible I am woman

I wanted to use just a little snippet of the song but I couldn’t bring myself to edit out a single word. I mean… look at that song! It’s almost as beautiful as the phrase I heard in the movie.

The reply to the male battle cry “Rock out with your cock out!”.

Are you ready for it?

Jam out with your clam out.

I honestly have my suspicions about whether or not it was Helen Reddy herself who coined that gem. It is I Am Woman boiled down to 6 words.

Six beautiful words.

I had tears streaming down my face upon hearing it for the first time.

You go sisters! While I rock out with my cock out I’ll be happy to look over and see you standing proudly next to me… with your clam out.