In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
"You must talk so big, to make up for smaller things"
BEST line hahahaha
to all you fucks who said you loved this song, yet called christina a whore...you're all ignorant assholes..because the point of the song is that guys can do whatever they want, and then girls get the double-standard..and then all you crazy fucks are sitting here doing the same thing to her because she wants to express her freedom of speech... fuck most of you who replied to this song. she and all women can do whatever they please, and to be throwing around the words: slut, whore, hoe, etc. is just plain going against what this song is supposed to represent. thank you and good night.
THANK YOU!<br /> COMPLETELY 100% AGREE.<br /> Ignorant haters stfu, plz & ty.
This song is like a modern day version of 'I will survive.' I love the fact that it points out how guys get praised for being players, and how girls are just thought of as sluts. And I love what lil kim says. Especially: "Here's something I just can't understand, If a guy have 3 girls than he's the man, he can even give her some head and sex her raw, if a girl do the same than she's a whore." It's so true-- It's a girls anthem.
I hate the fact that there is a double standard. Men know that they can do whatever they want to and not get hollered at. That is a load of crap. I'm so glad that this song points it out. It's bout time that women had their own anthem. Thank you Christina!
This song has a true meaning to it! I love it! If only she didn't act like such a trashy slut, it would be even better!
i dont really ike christina but this song is great it really puts men in their place!!!! just wear some clothes please!!
pegz...., now that christina has started wearing clothes..., im not too sure i like it! shes supposed to be this brilliant, sexual girl and now shes like...., not
well if you watch this video the guy aint sayion nothing bout her having an opinion i meen like come on i like her and all but she was walking down a fake ghetto looking like a hooker.....no disrespect to x-tina or anything but she needs to think before she makes the video next time
This song is crap. OK, it's got a good beat, I'll give it that--I actually do enjoy listening to it, but it bothers me. The lyrics I mean. The song starts out nicely, with noble aspirations, but then the whole point of the song is basically "Guys can't be sluts, so we should be able to be them too." Like, there's this double standard--and instead of taking the high road and trying to change it, they take the low road, like "Well if they can do it so can I." That's the response children make.
It bothers me because they have an opportunity to actually say something, and they totally blow it. "I bet my fame on it," "We standing our ground on this one!" What, women's lib isn't enough for you? Female genital mutilation of honor killings or the extreme lack of women in elected office doesn't register up there with, "I wanna screw a bunch of guys"?!
This song lyrically just shoots itself in the foot.
"If you look back in history, it's a common standard of mediocrity. Why aim high when you can aim low. Some want to come, but I want to go."
obvioulsy people wont respect her if she dresses like a hooker