So this has been.my favorite song of OTEP's since it came out in 2004, and I always thought it was a song about a child's narrative of suffering in an abusive Christian home. But now that I am revisiting the lyrics, I am seeing something totally new.
This song could be gospel of John but from the perspective of Jesus.
Jesus was NOT having a good time up to and during the crucifixion. Everyone in the known world at the time looked to him with fear, admiration or disgust and he was constantly being asked questions. He spoke in "verses, prophesies and curses". He had made an enemy of the state, and believed the world was increasingly wicked and fallen from grace, or that he was in the "mouth of madness".
The spine of atlas is the structure that allows the titan to hold the world up. Jesus challenged the state and in doing so became a celebrated resistance figure. It also made him public enemy #1.
All of this happened simply because he was doing his thing, not because of any agenda he had or strategy.
And then he gets scourged (storm of thorns)
There are some plot holes here but I think it's an interesting interpretation.
Girls, we run this mutha (yeah)
Girls, we run this mutha (yeah)
Girls, we run this mutha (yeah)
Girls, we run this mutha, girls
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run this mutha? Girls
Who run this mutha? Girls
Who run this mutha? Girls
Who run this mutha? Girls
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Some of them men think they freak this
Like we do, but no they don't
Make your check, come at they neck
Disrespect us, no they won't
Boy, don't even try to touch this (touch this)
Boy, this beat is crazy (crazy)
This is how they made me (made me)
Houston, Texas, baby
This goes out to all my girls
That's in the club rocking the latest
Who will buy it for themselves and get more money later
I think I need a barber (barber)
None of these niggas can fade me (fade me)
I'm so good with this, I remind you, I'm so hood with this
Boy, I'm just playing
Come here, baby
Hope you still like me, F you, pay me
My persuasion
Can build a nation
Endless power
With our love we can devour
You'll do anything for me
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run this mutha? Girls
Who run this mutha? Girls
Who run this mutha? Girls
Who run this mutha? Girls
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
It's hot up in here, DJ, don't be scared to run this, run this back
I'm repping for the girls who taking over the world
Help me raise a glass for the college grads
41' Rollie to let you know what time it is, check
You can't hold me (you can't hold me)
I work my nine to five, better cut my check
This goes out to all the women getting it in, you on your grind
To all the men that respect what I do, please accept my shine
Boy, you know you love it
How we smart enough to make these millions
Strong enough to bear the children (children)
Then get back to business
See, you better not play me (me)
Oh, come here, baby
Hope you still like me
F you, pay me
My persuasion
Can build a nation
Endless power
With our love we can devour
You'll do anything for me
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run this mutha? Girls
Who run this mutha? Girls
Who run this mutha? Girls
Who run this mutha? Girls
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who are we?
What we run?
The world
Who run this mutha? Yeah
Who are we?
What we run?
The world
Who run this mutha? Yeah
Who are we?
What do we run?
We run the world
Who run this mutha? Yeah
Who are we?
What we run?
We run the world
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Girls, we run this mutha (yeah)
Girls, we run this mutha (yeah)
Girls, we run this mutha, girls
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run this mutha? Girls
Who run this mutha? Girls
Who run this mutha? Girls
Who run this mutha? Girls
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Some of them men think they freak this
Like we do, but no they don't
Make your check, come at they neck
Disrespect us, no they won't
Boy, don't even try to touch this (touch this)
Boy, this beat is crazy (crazy)
This is how they made me (made me)
Houston, Texas, baby
This goes out to all my girls
That's in the club rocking the latest
Who will buy it for themselves and get more money later
I think I need a barber (barber)
None of these niggas can fade me (fade me)
I'm so good with this, I remind you, I'm so hood with this
Boy, I'm just playing
Come here, baby
Hope you still like me, F you, pay me
My persuasion
Can build a nation
Endless power
With our love we can devour
You'll do anything for me
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run this mutha? Girls
Who run this mutha? Girls
Who run this mutha? Girls
Who run this mutha? Girls
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
It's hot up in here, DJ, don't be scared to run this, run this back
I'm repping for the girls who taking over the world
Help me raise a glass for the college grads
41' Rollie to let you know what time it is, check
You can't hold me (you can't hold me)
I work my nine to five, better cut my check
This goes out to all the women getting it in, you on your grind
To all the men that respect what I do, please accept my shine
Boy, you know you love it
How we smart enough to make these millions
Strong enough to bear the children (children)
Then get back to business
See, you better not play me (me)
Oh, come here, baby
Hope you still like me
F you, pay me
My persuasion
Can build a nation
Endless power
With our love we can devour
You'll do anything for me
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run this mutha? Girls
Who run this mutha? Girls
Who run this mutha? Girls
Who run this mutha? Girls
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Who are we?
What we run?
The world
Who run this mutha? Yeah
Who are we?
What we run?
The world
Who run this mutha? Yeah
Who are we?
What do we run?
We run the world
Who run this mutha? Yeah
Who are we?
What we run?
We run the world
Who run the world? Girls (girls)
Lyrics submitted by RoboEric, edited by htylerz
Run The World (Girls) Lyrics as written by Beyonce Gisselle Knowles Adidja Palmer
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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The video is full of interesting imagery that makes it fun to watch. I would love to point out all of that I can think of but, it's a lot of work to logically interpret all the frames of a video in an interesting manner. The initial seconds when Beyonce is riding the horse...
As the horse rears itself, the scene makes a transition as the horse is in the air. This pose is an emphasis of power and dominance, in my opinion, made immortal in a portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte as he rests on a horse in a similar manner.
The lingerie with capes also implies that women are super heroes but at the same time are sexual. Women are not whores but rather, humans that must perform superhuman tasks every day while remaining "dominant" sexually and utilize it to their advantage.
Biologically, in most cases when one is not dealing with a rapist or misogynist, women control their relationships and have humanity's chances of survival in a vice. They are half the genes for a child and they birth the damn thing. If all women suddenly stopped having children, humanity would be extinct in a century. Men may have imposed the image of dominance but the idea of the "woman behind the man" is everpresent.
Finally, although I missed a lot and forgot a lot of what I want to say... Women demonstrate their control in purposely acting submissive or giving into the demands of men. They constantly manipulate the male gender but carefully utilize all that they have to do so. This form of sacrifice is experienced by almost every strong woman and is exemplified in Zora Neale Hurston's "Their Eye's Were Watching God" as Janie willingly accepts a beating from Teacake with no fuss to empower him rather than fighting back as most women would.
This sacrifice is shown at the end in the video. Although the men are fearful of the power of women, the women have a sudden change of face. As Teddy said, speak softly but carry a large stick. Further emphasizing the idea of a superhero, women live lives as normal people until they must break out the capes and demonstrate their superhuman powers.
I am a man and have a passion for all things beautiful and women are especially fierce and enthralling. I do not care much for the supposed Illuminati imagery since it's silly stuff, I am actually more curious about the people who continually proliferate those ideas on the internet.
c:
Shrug. I liked the song and video.