Filk: It Takes A (Warrior) Woman
to the tune of "It Takes A Woman" from the Broadway musical "Hello, Dolly!")
Music and original lyrics © 1963 by Jerry Herman.

by Phil D. Hernández

Copyright 1999


(to be sung by Joxer, Autolycus and a chorus of anyone handy; can also be sung solo)

(moderately, in 2)

Autolycus:
It takes a woman
Who's not into gowns
To fight off the warlord
And rescue the town,
Joxer:
And it takes an angel
who swings a mean Gabstaff
To guard all the children
And flatten the riff-raff!

All:
Yes, it takes a woman,
A fighting woman,
A Xena or a Gabrielle.
Oh, yes, it takes a woman,
A warrior woman,
To make everything turn out swell!

Joxer:
That sweet young Gabby
Who carries a sai,
Will beat bullies up and
Cut them down to size.

Autolycus:
And it takes a Xena
Who carries a chakram
To stand up to armies
And scare off the Persians.

All:
Yes, it takes a woman,
A fighting woman,
A Xena or a Gabrielle.
Oh, yes, it takes a woman,
A warrior woman,
To make everything turn out swell!

(slower; instant glee club)

Their lines are bound throughout infinity;
Each lifetime they'll fight Alti!

(shouted, as cheerleaders)

X-E-N-A!
G-A-B-
R-I-E-
L-L-E!

Xena: (spoken:) Knock it off!

(Gabrielle tweaks Joxer's nose.)

Joxer: OW!

Autolycus (a tempo):
And girls like Minya
Who crack a long whip
Will keep all the bad guys
From giving the slip.

Joxer:
And it takes a woman
Who's proud and who's so strong
To live in the forest
As an Amazon!

Both:
To those mighty women,
Those Amazon women,
Like Ephiny and Amarice.
Oh, yes, it takes a woman,

Autolycus:
A leather-clad woman,

Both:
To wage war in the name of peace!

All:
Oh, yes, it takes a woman,
A fighting woman,
A Xena or a Gabrielle.
Oh, yes, it takes a woman,
A warrior woman,
To make everything turn out swell!