I'm coming up man-sized skinned alive
I want to fit I've got to get
Man-sized I'm heading on
Handsome got my leather boots on
Got my girl and she's a wow
I cast my iron knickers down
Man-sized no need to shout
Can you hear can you hear me now
I'm man-sized

Man sized
I'll measure time I'll measure height
I'll calculate my birthright
Good Lord I'm big I'm heading on
Man-sized got my leather boots on
Got my girl and she's a wow
I cast my iron knickers down
Man-sized no need to shout
Can you hear, can you hear me now
My babe looking cool and neat
I'm pretty sure good enough to eat
I'm man-sized no need to shout
Let it all, let it all hang out
I'm man-size, man size
Man size, man size, man size, man size
Man size, man size

Silence my lady head
Get girl out of my head
Douse hair with gasoline
Set it light and set it free
Silence my lady head
Get girl out of my head
Douse hair with gasoline
Set it light and set it free


Lyrics submitted by shut

Man-Size Lyrics as written by Polly Jean Harvey

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Man-Size song meanings
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    General Comment

    I agree with honeyweed, it's definitely a feminist song. What she's trying to get at beyond that, though, escapes me. I think lines like

    "I've got to get/ Man-sized" "I'll calculate my birthright" and "No need to shout/ Can you hear can you hear me now"

    are all expressing pretty general feminist ideals. There's an element of fitting in to society and being able to compare with everyone else and that hinges on your "man-size" and lack of femininity. In that sense it does sound a lot like penis comparisons... But obviously there's a female sensibility and an over-awareness of the male-ness in the song. It's not simply written from a man's POV, but written in a man's voice but with female comments.

    stealtheharmonyon April 26, 2012   Link

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