I think this song also alludes to broader social concepts, chiefly the woman being held down by man in society - "Woman in Chains."
It suggests elements of abuse, which can be taken indivudually or culturally. "Calls her man the Great White Hope" - this is an allusion to boxing, which in this case suggests physical abuse of women.
It also alludes to prostitution as perhaps the worst example - "Trades her soul as skin and bone, sells the only thing she owns." This can be taken literally, or figuratively in the case of a relationship where a woman feels she's "selling herself" to a man who beats her down (emotionally and/or physically) and doesn't truly care for her.
"You better love loving, you better behave" - suggests something like, "You're here for sex, so you should get used to it and like it." A truly disgusting line, yet sadly very true in the minds of many men, and very important in introducing the message of the song.
"Men of Stone" - "Stone" can refer to the hearts of men who keep the women down, who indulge in them for superficial pleasures, who don't treat them as humans. "Stone" also refers to what the chains are tied to - Woman is tied to Man.
"And I feel hopelessly weighed down by your eyes of steel" - I think this refers to what the woman feels on the receiving end, never getting a chance to voice herself, and it also applies to any men who understand her plight and agree something should be done (namely, the songwriter)
"It's a world gone crazy keeps Woman in Chains" - People see this in society, men and women alike, yet since it is just one of a multitude of serious social problems, they just let it happen.
"Well I feel lying and waiting is a poor man's deal" - in other words, if we understand what's going on, men and women alike, and we do nothing about it, we are "poor" - in other words, poor in spirit, poor in integrity.
"I will not accept the Greatness of Man" - This is the songwriter saying, "I don't care that man has achieved so much in society if it means that he has to keep woman down." Or in other words, something must be done about this.
"So Free Her" .... a hopeful ending to a very beautiful, and sadly very true, song.
I think this song also alludes to broader social concepts, chiefly the woman being held down by man in society - "Woman in Chains."
It suggests elements of abuse, which can be taken indivudually or culturally. "Calls her man the Great White Hope" - this is an allusion to boxing, which in this case suggests physical abuse of women.
It also alludes to prostitution as perhaps the worst example - "Trades her soul as skin and bone, sells the only thing she owns." This can be taken literally, or figuratively in the case of a relationship where a woman feels she's "selling herself" to a man who beats her down (emotionally and/or physically) and doesn't truly care for her.
"You better love loving, you better behave" - suggests something like, "You're here for sex, so you should get used to it and like it." A truly disgusting line, yet sadly very true in the minds of many men, and very important in introducing the message of the song.
"Men of Stone" - "Stone" can refer to the hearts of men who keep the women down, who indulge in them for superficial pleasures, who don't treat them as humans. "Stone" also refers to what the chains are tied to - Woman is tied to Man.
"And I feel hopelessly weighed down by your eyes of steel" - I think this refers to what the woman feels on the receiving end, never getting a chance to voice herself, and it also applies to any men who understand her plight and agree something should be done (namely, the songwriter)
"It's a world gone crazy keeps Woman in Chains" - People see this in society, men and women alike, yet since it is just one of a multitude of serious social problems, they just let it happen.
"Well I feel lying and waiting is a poor man's deal" - in other words, if we understand what's going on, men and women alike, and we do nothing about it, we are "poor" - in other words, poor in spirit, poor in integrity.
"I will not accept the Greatness of Man" - This is the songwriter saying, "I don't care that man has achieved so much in society if it means that he has to keep woman down." Or in other words, something must be done about this.
"So Free Her" .... a hopeful ending to a very beautiful, and sadly very true, song.