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


Lyrics submitted by ruben

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

Can't Hold Us Down (feat. Lil' Kim) song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

40 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment

    but isn't it a matter of the mind not an outfit?

    Chamigaon January 07, 2005   Link

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

Album art
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
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.
Album art
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere. In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
Magical
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Album art
Blue
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.