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Neneh Cherry – Manchild Lyrics 14 years ago
enamorata, your interpretation is kind of harsh. The meaning of the song is more clear if you have heard the Old School Mix of the song, which begins like this:

Working, day in, day out
they got you working, day in day out
making your living chained to the payroll
you got so tired you lost your soul
all your dreams and all your aspirations
have turned into frustrations
you can't admit to what you really feel
so you've been acting weird
your ego makes you nasty
the lady that you really love
went out with another guy
the kind of guy you wanna be
the kind of guy you really are
if you would have treated her right
she wouldn't have left you, right
the simple things in life will bring you happiness
nothing you can buy will get rid of your loneliness
treat the one you love with a lot of respect
and maybe then you can love yourself
(turn around and ask yourself)

So, the singer is an outside observator, not a love interest. The manchild in the song is someone who loves his girlfriend, but hides his feelings by being tough and unfeeling and acting weird towards her. That's why this girl has left him and is now on a date with another guy who treats her right. The singer is trying to convoy a message that the manchild should stop playing games, start communicating his feelings and being more honest, therefore being the hero he longed to be all along. The singer is actually very encouraging: "just take it in, right, and go tell your friend". I think this song sends a very positive and empowering message to everyone who is afraid to express their feelings honestly ("the mike is easy, just believe that all you need is the air that you breathe").

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