American woman, stay away from me
American woman, mama, let me be

Don't come hanging 'round my door
I don't wanna see your face no more
I got more important things to do
Than spend my time growing old with you

Now, woman, stay away
American woman, listen what I say

American woman, get away from me
American woman, mama, let me be

Don't come knocking 'round my door
I don't wanna see your shadow no more
Colored lights can hypnotize
Sparkle someone else's eyes

Now, woman, get away
American woman, listen what I say

American woman, I said get way
American woman, listen what I say

Don't come hanging 'round my door
Don't wanna see your face no more
I don't need your war machines
I don't need your ghetto scenes
Colored lights can hypnotize
Sparkle someone else's eyes

Now, woman, get away
American woman, listen what I say

American woman, stay away from me
American woman, mama, let me be

I gotta go
I gotta get away
Babe, I gotta go
I wanna fly away
I'm gonna leave you, woman
I'm gonna leave you, woman
I'm gonna leave you, woman
I'm gonna leave you, woman
A-bye-bye, a-bye bye
Bye-bye, bye-bye

(American woman)
You're no good for me
And I'm no good for you
(American woman)
I look you right straight in the eye
And tell you what I'm gonna do
(American woman)
I'm gonna leave you, woman
You know I gotta go
(American woman)
I'm gonna leave you, woman
I gotta go
(American woman)
I, I gotta go
I gotta go, American woman, yeah


Lyrics submitted by Dinny2K1

American Woman Lyrics as written by Gary Peterson Burton Cummings

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

American Woman song meanings
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10 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    The Guess Who originally recorded the song.

    PGMon April 10, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    i actually have never heard the original gotta go check it out now ,, but i admit i love this version especially with lenny singing it !mmm

    Beckster90son October 06, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    As a cover song, I think he really butchers it. I don't remember who originally did it. Also, with the last verse and the last parts of the song - he could have recorded them better? It is all distorted like an amateur recording where the person has the recording volume up to high. Why, Lenny, why?

    stoolhardyon December 20, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is a great one to wake up to if you're on the road. The end( where he says a couple lines) is incredibly funny, it's so lame, makes me crack up every time. I find it a decent song though besides that last part.

    Timesamython March 17, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    actually, it wasn't Guess Who; it was this group called Bachman, Randy & Cummings, Burton...

    great song, i love it

    thelighthousestaleon January 20, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    actually, it was The Guess Who.. Randy Bachman is their guitarist and Burton Cummings the singer. They later covered it.

    nachozon May 02, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song kicks!!!!! I think is perfect to amuse your man with a lap dance..... =P

    RamImpulseon November 11, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    or maybe a little striptease XD

    Annalyne17on January 31, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Its a political song and its really good but it is not flattering to americans or american women. I think all people hear is the beat, american woman, and the bit about sparkling someones eyes and not paying attention to what he's saying.

    "Go away.. I don't want to see your face" Now really?? Women are taking this as a compliment?

    chaidrinkeron April 30, 2011   Link
  • 0
    Memory

    im a chick and i love this song this is my 8 ball-pool song,i dont know but if im about to take a shot in pool i put this song on and for some reason i play better pool sounds crazy but 3 times i have now won a pool game when i played this song in the last few shots so much so the boys request i no longer play pool when i play this song.

    happyloveon January 17, 2013   Link

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