The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
So, what, am I not supposed to have an opinion?
Should I keep quiet just because I'm a woman?
Call me a bitch 'cause I speak what's on my mind
Guess it's easier for you to swallow if I sat and smiled
When a female fires back
Suddenly big talker don't know how to act
So he does what any little boy would do
Makin' up a few false rumors or two
That for sure is not a man to me
Slanderin' names for popularity
It's sad you only get your fame through controversy (so, so sad)
But now it's time for me to come and give you more to say
This is for my girls all around the world (around the world)
Who have come across a man that don't respect your worth (woah)
Thinkin' all women should be seen not heard (woah)
So what do we do, girls? Shout louder
Lettin' 'em know we're gonna stand our ground (stand our ground)
So lift your hands higher and wave 'em proud (woah)
Take a deep breath and say it loud (woah)
Never can, never will, can't hold us down (woah)
Nobody can hold us down (hold us down)
Nobody can hold us down (hold us down)
Nobody can hold us down (hold us down)
Never can, never will
So, what, am I not supposed to say what I'm sayin'?
Are you offended with the message I'm bringin'?
Call me whatever 'cause your words don't mean a thing
'Cause you ain't even a man enough to handle what I sing
If you look back in history
It's a common double standard of society
The guy gets all the glory, the more he can score
While the girl can do the same and yet you call her a whore
I don't understand why it's okay
The guy can get away with it, the girl gets named
All my ladies come together and make a change
And start a new beginnin' for us, everybody sing
This is for my girls all around the world ('round the world) (yeah)
Who have come across a man that don't respect your worth (respect your worth)
Thinkin' all women should be seen not heard (you can't get rid of us)
So what do we do, girls? Shout louder
Lettin' 'em know we're gonna stand our ground (we standin' our ground on this one)
So lift your hands higher and wave 'em proud (woah)
Take a deep breath and say it loud
Never can, never will, can't hold us down (check it)
Here's somethin' I just can't understand
If a guy have three girls then he's the man
He can even give her some head and sex her raw
If a girl do the same, then she's a whore
But the table's 'bout to turn, I'll bet my fame on it
Cats take my ideas and put they name on it
It's aight though, you can't hold me down (oh no)
I got to keep on movin'
To all my girls with a man who be tryna mack
Do it right back to him and let that be that
You need to let him know that his game is whack
And Lil' Kim and Christina Aguilera got your back
You're just a little boy
You think you're so cute, so coy
You must talk so big
To make up for smaller things
Said you're just a little boy
All you do is annoy
You must talk so big
To make up for smaller things
This is for my girls, oh
This is for my girls all around the world
Who have come across a man that don't respect your worth (respect your worth, oh)
Thinkin' all women should be seen not heard
So what do we do, girls? Shout louder (shout louder)
Lettin' 'em know we're gonna stand our ground (we stand our ground)
So lift your hands higher and wave 'em proud (oh, ooh-ooh)
Take a deep breath and say it loud
Never can, never will, can't hold us down (oh-ooh)
This is for my girls all around the world (for my girls)
Who have come across a man that don't respect your worth (around the world)
Thinkin' all women should be seen not heard (yeah)
So what do we do girls? Shout louder
Lettin' 'em know we're gonna stand our ground (stand our ground)
So lift your hands higher and wave 'em proud (woah)
Take a deep breath and say it loud
Never can, never will, can't hold us down
Uh, oh-oh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh
Spread the word
Can't hold us down
Yeah, we here, we back again
Yeah, Lil' Kim and Christina Aguilera
Yeah
Can't hold us down, uh, uh
Should I keep quiet just because I'm a woman?
Call me a bitch 'cause I speak what's on my mind
Guess it's easier for you to swallow if I sat and smiled
When a female fires back
Suddenly big talker don't know how to act
So he does what any little boy would do
Makin' up a few false rumors or two
That for sure is not a man to me
Slanderin' names for popularity
It's sad you only get your fame through controversy (so, so sad)
But now it's time for me to come and give you more to say
This is for my girls all around the world (around the world)
Who have come across a man that don't respect your worth (woah)
Thinkin' all women should be seen not heard (woah)
So what do we do, girls? Shout louder
Lettin' 'em know we're gonna stand our ground (stand our ground)
So lift your hands higher and wave 'em proud (woah)
Take a deep breath and say it loud (woah)
Never can, never will, can't hold us down (woah)
Nobody can hold us down (hold us down)
Nobody can hold us down (hold us down)
Nobody can hold us down (hold us down)
Never can, never will
So, what, am I not supposed to say what I'm sayin'?
Are you offended with the message I'm bringin'?
Call me whatever 'cause your words don't mean a thing
'Cause you ain't even a man enough to handle what I sing
If you look back in history
It's a common double standard of society
The guy gets all the glory, the more he can score
While the girl can do the same and yet you call her a whore
I don't understand why it's okay
The guy can get away with it, the girl gets named
All my ladies come together and make a change
And start a new beginnin' for us, everybody sing
This is for my girls all around the world ('round the world) (yeah)
Who have come across a man that don't respect your worth (respect your worth)
Thinkin' all women should be seen not heard (you can't get rid of us)
So what do we do, girls? Shout louder
Lettin' 'em know we're gonna stand our ground (we standin' our ground on this one)
So lift your hands higher and wave 'em proud (woah)
Take a deep breath and say it loud
Never can, never will, can't hold us down (check it)
Here's somethin' I just can't understand
If a guy have three girls then he's the man
He can even give her some head and sex her raw
If a girl do the same, then she's a whore
But the table's 'bout to turn, I'll bet my fame on it
Cats take my ideas and put they name on it
It's aight though, you can't hold me down (oh no)
I got to keep on movin'
To all my girls with a man who be tryna mack
Do it right back to him and let that be that
You need to let him know that his game is whack
And Lil' Kim and Christina Aguilera got your back
You're just a little boy
You think you're so cute, so coy
You must talk so big
To make up for smaller things
Said you're just a little boy
All you do is annoy
You must talk so big
To make up for smaller things
This is for my girls, oh
This is for my girls all around the world
Who have come across a man that don't respect your worth (respect your worth, oh)
Thinkin' all women should be seen not heard
So what do we do, girls? Shout louder (shout louder)
Lettin' 'em know we're gonna stand our ground (we stand our ground)
So lift your hands higher and wave 'em proud (oh, ooh-ooh)
Take a deep breath and say it loud
Never can, never will, can't hold us down (oh-ooh)
This is for my girls all around the world (for my girls)
Who have come across a man that don't respect your worth (around the world)
Thinkin' all women should be seen not heard (yeah)
So what do we do girls? Shout louder
Lettin' 'em know we're gonna stand our ground (stand our ground)
So lift your hands higher and wave 'em proud (woah)
Take a deep breath and say it loud
Never can, never will, can't hold us down
Uh, oh-oh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh
Spread the word
Can't hold us down
Yeah, we here, we back again
Yeah, Lil' Kim and Christina Aguilera
Yeah
Can't hold us down, uh, uh
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Can't Hold Us Down Lyrics as written by Matthew Wilder Christina Aguilera
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing, Anthem Entertainment, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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