I only note spending time away
I only note the truth is spoken
Best when brutally so honestly
I'll let you know you set
The standards lyrically for me
One single middle finger
Say raise it up
My speech will always be free
Like Martin Luther King
You had meaning to me
Single-handedly saving music starving industry
A hip hop legend was skinned like invisible ink
Like even though he was whiter than me
He was the first to be colorless
Speaking for all of us
Then you let us into your family
Mother father brother sister wife daughter
Damn right in front of me

That's when I miss my daughter desperately
Your mocking bird puts dents in me
While touring press and reliving my song "Hate Me"
I was losing custody
I never even saw that shit
How she played me
And planned and sought it fit
To turn that trick and financially she would benefit
My first and probably only billboard hit
Was gonna pay for my two year old's college
I should have hid that shit
So she couldn't spend that shit
It took twenty years of working
Just to earn that shit
Now word for word I've listened
heard and I'm done
Done

Like you don't know
You act like you believe it
That you're in control
It's just your legal system though
They don't think about it
No they don't care about it
Now every man in America take back your control

So I kept my business quiet
Just like my lawyer said
And I tried to focus on
My anger and my work instead
I was succeeding at self reliant
But inside my soul is dead
I had to be the sole provider
But not allowed to be the dad
Literally they took her from me
Legally they did! They did!
But I'm not a fucking book
So fuck your book and leaking I said
Fuck the judge. Fuck that county
Fuck your family too
Yeah fuck everybody that took my baby girl, Blue
I'm way too strong
I work my ass off all day long
And I'm gone for months at a time
And you keep sitting there in line
Bitching "Come back home"
I hate you, hate you! God!
And then you came back home
And filed for another fucking divorce
I'm sick of her I'm sick of you
I'm not sick up in my head
Any other man in American can get screwed just like me

Like you don't know
You act like you believe it
That you're in control
It's just your legal system though
They don't think about it
No, they don't care about it
Now every man in America take back your control

(Ray C):
You won't understand, probably never will
Listen slowly I'll let you know the deal
Lying ass play the judge with your crying ass
You had your nose wide open when you saw the cash
Grimy bitch growing tired of you trying shit
Women run the courts, men provide the chips
Well eat up bitch until you had enough bitch
But take my kids, you can kiss both my nuts bitch
Telling lies cause daddy's always on the road
But you the one fucking like a groupie at a show
Money hungry so you try to take my youngest from me
You a dummy honey I'll chase you across the country
Bring the drama to you mama and you mama's mama
Cause we all know you chasing after commas
Couple checks few houses and Gucci blouses
You changing dicks like you changing outfits
Constitution now a day's got the daddies losing
Lot of fathers getting fucked by the constitution

Like you don't know
You act like you believe it
That you're in control
It's just your legal system though
They don't think about it
No, they don't care about it
Now every man in America take back your control


Lyrics submitted by marqupton

Any Man In America song meanings
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7 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment

    This song left me with a bad taste in my mouth. 'Every man in America take back your control'? 'Women run the courts'? 'kiss my nuts bitch'? Wow. How deluded can you be? I know he personally had a bad time with custody but that level of misogyny is something else. Neither is it true that men in general get screwed over in custody cases, that's like MRAs' favourite myth to pull out so that they can feel oppressed.

    Rockechoon December 13, 2012   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    yeah hekifer,idk what you are talking about..Sure its not their best album,But i wouldnt go as far as saying it was a disappointment..I felt the album was very dark and depressing like a good blue october album should be.

    Ahdamnon November 21, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I really like this song, but it makes me so uncomfortable. Courts actually tend to favor men in custody cases, when both parents fight equally. I'm not saying Justin's individual case wasn't judged unfairly, but the last thing we need is a song liberating men to "take back [their] control." They are still very much in control of our society.

    CrayonPrinceon July 08, 2013   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I happen to be catching up on the newer Blue October Material. its excellent needless to say. But this particular song just described my marriage.

    darkhorse2000on March 05, 2014   Link
  • -1
    General Comment

    Anyone here going through a custody battle or divorce? WELL, if you were you would know how this album becomes the only thing keeping you from giving up. When you need strength, turn this album on... When you are wondering if you are making the right decision for your children... Turn this album on. If you had the slightest clue what it's like to go through this event with a woman like the one described here ( trust me she took me for everything i was worth and still is to this day and its been over a year and a half!) Losing ALL custodial rights to my daughter because it's a fucking game to people like that. Seeing the pain in your daughters eyes when she sees you go and BEGGING to stay with you because her mother doesn't put half the effort into raising her as you do. You would know why he felt it was imperative to make this album for the soul purpose of helping others in his situation. It is nothing short of a complete masterpiece that is so unrealized I cant believe the rest of the fans cant put themselves in this position when Justin is bearing his soul for all of us. He actually says just that in "for the love". so give the musician and lyrical genius he is a god damn break and chalk it up to you not being able to comprehend having that much pain for losing the only thing life is meant living for. And take your shitty criticism to a fucking nickelback song where it belongs :).

    Much love

    PS. Justin if you ever read this I want you to know you are saving me every single day when it comes to the decisions I must make for my family. I think you are an amazing father and as a person you have come so far to be taken advantage of by (if you dont mind me saying this about the mother of your daughter and ex wife) a greedy, emotionless, sorry excuse of a mother for even thinking removing a father from his daughter and vis versa is a decision she has the right to make. Pathetic. I have pretty close to the same person as my daughters mother and this woman thinks she is going to be a police officer! I cannot express enough the words, the emotions, or how many times I have cried along side you in the worry list, the feel again (stay) and for the love. I have sat trying to sing while crying and it sounds the exact same as you (or as close to your amazing voice as I can). People don't appreciate the heart, soul and pain you put into this record and it is unmatched to anything this world has ever seen. So let the naysayers say and please keep giving us this music because songs may help, songs may inspire but a look into a fathers life and soul will never match the impact it has on dads who take the time to be just that and fight every day to earn the title "Daddy". I personally thank you for putting your life on display without fear of judgment, criticism or understanding. I understand you and accept you as the person and father you are, I don't judge you for the battles lost or battles won, I have the same internal battles for sanity and doubt, I fight the same fight for the same reasons as you and you have made an undeniable positive impact in my life. Isn't that the only thing that matters? And if you are ever looking for material inspiration I would love to show you my fight on paper the way I express it best; from TRUE artists like you that will never be replaced in my eyes.

    Taveryon January 01, 2013   Link
  • -1
    General Comment

    Smh. People need to stop living in their pasts and blaming everyone in the world for their own issues.

    Sweetlove311on April 15, 2013   Link
  • -3
    General Comment

    I must admit this album was pretty underwhelming, but this song was pretty good. Justin's obviously going through a tough time, and he vented out in this song with lyrics fueled by anger and heart-ache. I liked how there wasn't much singing as there was rhythmic speaking, and a decent attempt at rap by Ray. C. It's pretty cruel how woman always have the upper hand in court when it comes to battles for custody, but I think I'll just leave it at that.

    The problem with this latest album though is it's all about Justin's divorce, and the loss of his daughter. I know he has every right to pour his heart and soul out through his music, but it doesn't make for a very good listening experience for the fans. Here's hoping the next album they can get back on track.

    hekifieron November 02, 2011   Link

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