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!
I'm glad someone else was able to make the same conclusions I came too with this song. I agree, many people write the song off because it seems so childish, but if you think about it a person's hair is such a main link to their self-identity. People put SO much emotion into it, look at the way certain girls burst out into tears when you cut their hair. It makes me think of the Buddhist idea of hair, that it is VANITY. That's why they shave their heads.
But ultimately, hair is something that always grows back. When Lady GaGa...
I'm glad someone else was able to make the same conclusions I came too with this song. I agree, many people write the song off because it seems so childish, but if you think about it a person's hair is such a main link to their self-identity. People put SO much emotion into it, look at the way certain girls burst out into tears when you cut their hair. It makes me think of the Buddhist idea of hair, that it is VANITY. That's why they shave their heads.
But ultimately, hair is something that always grows back. When Lady GaGa equates herself to her hair she is saying that her identity is as flexible as her hair, as all hair is. It is a ultimately a statement that I am, and yet am not, my hair.
What a beautiful message to interweave into a song directed directly at teenagers and young adults who strive to utilize their hair in creative ways as identity markers. I remember how upset I'd get when my family would discourage me to dye my hair blue, or whatever else I wanted to do with it. It was so important to me. Our hair is so important to us, and yet it's as equally important for us to realize how unimportant it really is.
She performed "Hair" on the piano on a British talk-show where she was "bald" and her wig was sitting in front of her. Absolutely beautiful, brought tears to my eyes.
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 ;)
I'm glad someone else was able to make the same conclusions I came too with this song. I agree, many people write the song off because it seems so childish, but if you think about it a person's hair is such a main link to their self-identity. People put SO much emotion into it, look at the way certain girls burst out into tears when you cut their hair. It makes me think of the Buddhist idea of hair, that it is VANITY. That's why they shave their heads. But ultimately, hair is something that always grows back. When Lady GaGa...
I'm glad someone else was able to make the same conclusions I came too with this song. I agree, many people write the song off because it seems so childish, but if you think about it a person's hair is such a main link to their self-identity. People put SO much emotion into it, look at the way certain girls burst out into tears when you cut their hair. It makes me think of the Buddhist idea of hair, that it is VANITY. That's why they shave their heads. But ultimately, hair is something that always grows back. When Lady GaGa equates herself to her hair she is saying that her identity is as flexible as her hair, as all hair is. It is a ultimately a statement that I am, and yet am not, my hair. What a beautiful message to interweave into a song directed directly at teenagers and young adults who strive to utilize their hair in creative ways as identity markers. I remember how upset I'd get when my family would discourage me to dye my hair blue, or whatever else I wanted to do with it. It was so important to me. Our hair is so important to us, and yet it's as equally important for us to realize how unimportant it really is.
She performed "Hair" on the piano on a British talk-show where she was "bald" and her wig was sitting in front of her. Absolutely beautiful, brought tears to my eyes.