Hair

After looking through and reading all of these comments and people's idea of the meaning of the song, I was really surprised that no one even brought up the very obvious religious reference, that's what shocked me most, but we'll get to that in a second. I think that this song and this whole album is very largely dedicated to talking about self-acceptance, and self-esteem. Gaga has come to terms with herself, and she wants the same for all of her "little monsters," so she made this album to help people really. Another thing is, people don't realize it because it's hidden deep in the heavily metaphorical lyrics and pounding dance beats of her songs, but Gaga LOVES to "mock" if you will, all of the horrible things that are glorified in society these days. For example, the main things she sings about and really just makes fun of are religion, female empowerment, SEX, and money. I know that people noticed the religious references in some songs on this album, but they are in EVERY song on this album, and sprinkled into her other albums as well, you just have to hunt.

This song is more obviously about self-acceptance. About just understanding that not everyone is going to like you, but you just have to put yourself out there, and live free. One of the first things you notice on a person is their hair. You interpret that the way you want. However, a lot of people do their hair for others, they do their hair and fix it so that other people will be impressed. When do you ever hear of someone doing their hair just entirely for themselves? That's I think where the line "I've had enough, this is my prayer, that I'll die livin' just as free is my hair" really came from. The line that follows "I've had enough, I'm not a freak, I'm just here fighting to stay cool on the streets," is more about doing your hair to show other people what you've got. It's not necessary, but it's expected.

I think that choosing a metaphor like hair was really genius because think about it. Hair is something that a lot of people obsess over, it can make or break someone's popularity. It can be someone's trademark, I'm sure you know someone who you distinctly remember mostly by their hair. Whether it was really great hair that everyone envied, or maybe it was nasty and split-ends, etc. We as humans give hair way too much power! What is hair? Just dead cells. Something as silly as cells hanging off your head is so glorified. "It's all the glory that I bear." I don't know, do with it what you will, I may be totally off base here, I have been known to over-think things...

A lot of people don't like this song because it seems "childish," but there are some things you don't let go of. And it's really special to a teen, or an adult who has never gotten over a bad childhood experience, to be reassured and inspired by a song. I think this is one of those songs, even though it is from a teenagers point of view, hey, we were all teenagers at one point! We all went through stages like this, and lots of adults are constantly going through changes, in fact it's healthier to be going through changes instead of in the same old pattern. It's comforting to hear such inspirational music like this.

Now onto the basis of this song. We all know that Gaga loves to use all kinds of religious material and metaphors in her songs, and one of the most meaningful ones is this song I think. She stole this directly out of the bible! Corinthians 11:14-15 "Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering." The rest of the verses go on to talk about how it's wrong for a woman to pray with no head covering, etc., etc. Basically, the entire section, and the chapters around this one are all about the customs married women must assume. They need to do this, they need to do that, just to be a good wife. Just the fact that in a Christian religion, a woman should not cut her hair, because it's her glory. I think that Gaga was focusing on some of the more absurd parts of the bible. There is many double standards, for men and women. And Gaga is always so focused on people being more androgynous, paying less attention to gender, race, age, sexual orientation, monetary status, social class, etc., etc., all those things people focus on but that just don't matter.

Please reply and tell me what you think after you read this bible section, and my take on it!

thanks, and may God and Gaga be with you ;)

These lyrics need to be updated to be complete; here's what I feel is most accurate (I could be wrong in a few places);

"Whenever I'm dressed cool, My parents put up a fight. And if I'm a hot shot, Mom will cut my hair at night. And in the morning, I'm short of my identity. I scream Mom and Dad, Why can't I be who I wanna be?

I just wanna be myself, And I want you to love me for who I am. I just wanna be myself, And I want you to know, I am my hair.

I've had enough, this is my prayer, That I'll die living just as free as my hair. I've had enough, this is my prayer, That I'll die living just as free as my hair. I've had enough, I'm not a freak, I'm just here trying to (play/stay?) cool on the streets I've had enough, enough, enough, And this is my prayer, I swear, I'm as free as my hair. I'm as free as my hair. I am my hair. I am my hair.

As free as my hair, hair, hair, Hair, hair, ha-ha-ha-hair, Hair, hair, hair, Hair, hair, ha-ha-ha-hair. As free as my hair, hair, hair, Hair, hair, ha-ha-ha-hair Hair, hair, hair, Hair, hair, ha-ha-ha-hair.

(Sometimes I waltz around, Put on red highlights/Sometimes I want some rocket/rockin' red highlights?) Just because I want my friends, To think I'm dynamite. And on Friday rocks in, High school dance. I got my bangs too hot, That I don't stand a chance.

I just wanna be myself, And I want you to love me for who I am. I just wanna be myself, And I want you to know, I am my hair.

I've had enough, this is my prayer, That I'll die living just as free as my hair. I've had enough, this is my prayer, That I'll die living just as free as my hair. I've had enough, I'm not a freak, I'm just here trying to (play/stay?) cool on the streets I've had enough, enough, enough, And this is my prayer, I swear, I'm as free as my hair. I'm as free as my hair. I am my hair. I am my hair.

As free as my hair, hair, hair, Hair, hair, ha-ha-ha-hair, Hair, hair, hair, Hair, hair, ha-ha-ha-hair. As free as my hair, hair, hair, Hair, hair, ha-ha-ha-hair Hair, hair, hair, Hair, hair, ha-ha-ha-hair. Ha-ha-ha-hair.

I just want to be free, I just want to be me And I want lots of friends who invite me to their parties. I don't wanna change, and I don't wanna be ashamed. I'm the spirit of my Hair, it's all the glory that I bare.

I am my hair, I am my hair I'm my hair, I am my hair I am my hair, I am my hair I am my hair, I am my hair (It's all the glory that I bare)

I am my hair, I am my hair It's all the glory that I bare I am my hair, I am my hair I'm my hair, yeah, yeah (All the glory that I bare) I'm my hair, yeah, yeah (All the glory that I bare) I'm my hair, yeah, yeah (All the glory that I bare) I'm my hair, yeah, yeah, yeah

I've had enough, this is my prayer, That I'll die living just as free as my hair. I've had enough, this is my prayer, That I'll die living just as free as my hair. I've had enough, I'm not a freak, I'm just here trying to (play/stay?) cool on the streets I've had enough, enough, enough, And this is my prayer, I swear, I'm as free as my hair. I'm as free as my hair. I am my hair. I am my hair."

I'm not sure on the things in parenthesis with question marks (my friends and I have a few differing opinions on those); if there are official lyrics out already, then feel free to disregard this; it's late and I just wanted to see them up here, hahah.

As far as the song goes: this is basically my anthem. I love it so, so much. Another success!

SO good. Third favorite, only after the amazing weird European stuff (Government Hooker and Schei?e). Much better anthem than BTW, although that's grown on me for it's sheer insanity.

But this song came out on a bad hair day for me...:P

Lady Gaga on her facebook: "I wrote HAIR about how my parents used to get pissed at my outfits and my hair when I was a kid."

Perhaps hair is a resemblance of freedom of the self or soul, and that a person is tired of having their image altered, & is tired of having his or her freedom taken away from them; so they pray that they get acceptance for who they are, or they die as they are without the acceptance, and leave behind the falsity of expectation .

AWESOME! At first I wasn't too fond of the song, but after listening to the album over and over in order, I fell in love with it. It's great, catchy and has a great meaning. And on that note, I relate soo much to what she is saying. Speaking as a black Latina girl, it's expected for girls to have long, strait hair rather than kinky and curly and ever since I cut my permed hair off, and left it short and wild, my parents and family have been on my case. Whenever I listen to this song, it brings tears to my eyes because it's exactly how I feel. :) I love singing to this while dancing with my hair all wild and in tight curls!

I don't agree with certain things Lady Gaga does, but that is my opinion. However, Lady Gaga can sing! I recently heard her sing "The lady is a tramp" and was sooo impressed with her voice! She also has a beautiful personality!

Please don't get mad at me but I think this song is about being transgendered.

This part spoke to me a lot:

I just wanna be myself/And I want you to love me for who I am/I just wanna be myself/And I want you to know, I am my hair

Identity in this song is associated with hair, which, as JessalynW said, is genius. But let's analyze the metaphor for a second: what else is hair usually associated with?

Gender.

Long hair (which the singer is implied to have, because it can be cut, and cut when she is asleep) is associated with femininity. My brother (not trans) had long hair for YEARS and was confused for a girl on a daily basis. Hair is a HUGE projection of identity for anyone, and this song uses that fact really well in conveying whatever message you hear in this. As for the part that says "I just wanna be myself/And I want you to love me for who I am", along with the fact that this girl's mother cut her freaking hair as she slept, it is clear that the girl in question wants her parents to accept her for who she is and how she identifies. This song is so much more meaningful and powerful than Born This Way. It's so much more emotional! Well, it evokes emotion in me...

Basically, her parents don't want her to look like an idiot in public, so she's going to rebel and put on ridiculous hairdos and outfits so that friends "invite [her] to their parties." And she's twenty-five years-old.

I know exactly how she feels... even though the song comes from a situation a teenager can relate to... I understand Gaga's need to vent! You don't get over things like that.. I wasn't a cool kid in school either. My mom wouldn't let me do anything with my hair until I was 18. Even though I am 26 now I can still relate to it... this is a great song. The way she sings some parts in this song it reminds me of old-school whitney houston.