I'm out that H-town coming coming down
I'm coming down, drippin' candy on the ground
H, H-Town, Town, I'm coming down
Coming, coming down, dripping candy on the ground
I know when you were little girls
You dreamt of being in my world
Don't forget it, don't forget it
Respect that, bow down bitches (Crown!)
I took some time to live my life
But don't think I'm just his little wife
Don't get it twisted, get it twisted
This my shit, bow down bitches
Bow down bitches, bow bow down bitches (Crown)
Bow down bitches, bow bow down bitches (Crown)
H-Town vicious
H, H-Town vicious
I'm so crown crown, bow down bitches
I'm out that H, town, coming coming down
I'm coming down, drippin' candy on the ground
H, H-town town
I'm coming down
Coming, coming down
Drippin' candy on the ground
We teach girls to shrink themselves
To make themselves smaller
We say to girls,
"You can have ambition
But not too much
You should aim to be successful
But not too successful
Otherwise you will threaten the man."
Because I am female
I am expected to aspire to marriage
I am expected to make my life choices
Always keeping in mind that
Marriage is the most important
Now marriage can be a source of
Joy and love and mutual support
But why do we teach girls to aspire to marriage
And we don't teach boys the same?
We raise girls to see each other as competitors
Not for jobs or for accomplishments
Which I think can be a good thing
But for the attention of men
We teach girls that they cannot be sexual beings
In the way that boys are
Feminist: the person who believes in the social
Political, and economic equality of the sexes
You wake up, flawless
Post up, flawless
Ridin' round in it, flawless
Flossin' on that, flawless
This diamond, flawless
My diamond, flawless
This rock, flawless
My rock, flawless
I woke up like this
I woke up like this
We flawless, ladies tell 'em
I woke up like this
I woke up like this
We flawless, ladies tell 'em
Say I look so good tonight
God damn, God damn
Say I look so good tonight
God damn, God damn, God damn
Momma taught me good home training
My Daddy taught me how to love my haters
My sister told me I should speak my mind
My man made me feel so God damn fine, I'm flawless!
You wake up, flawless
Post up, flawless
Riding round in it, flawless
Flossing on that, flawless
This diamond, flawless
My diamond, flawless
This rock, flawless
My rock, flawless
I woke up like this
I woke up like this
We flawless, ladies tell 'em
I woke up like this
I woke up like this
We flawless, ladies tell 'em
Say I look so good tonight
God damn, God damn
Say I look so good tonight
God damn, God damn, God damn
Beyonce has always been an advocate for women's rights and this song reflects that. I adore this song so much because it discusses issues that I have always felt very passionate about. The speaking portion in the middle asks questions that I have been wondering what the answers are for years. It asks why men are threatened by a successful woman. Why can't women be just as successful as men? Oh, that's right, because "we teach girls to aspire to marriage," but why do we not teach boys the same? This song does not put down the idea of marriage because it can be a great thing, but we need to be teaching our boys and girls the same thing. My favorite part of this song is when the term feminist is defined as "the person who believes in the social political, and economic equality of the sexes". Sometimes, people believe a feminist is a "man-hater" which is not true. All I want, which the song reflects, is gender equality while diminishing typical gender stereotypes. Beyonce addresses these issues with her catchy, upbeat tune.
I love this song and your insight on it! Most of her lyrics are so true. I find it so sad that girls (and boys too) are socialized to go down certain paths in life. So much so, that Google just released an initiative to get girls into STEM fields because the men are no longer enough (in number) of a workforce for them. They realized that they need women, too. Thankfully someone acknowledged this!
ReplyDeleteAnd she makes such a valid point that even when we are excited about events in our life, they are typically centered around a man, and this is really reflected in movies. I definitely think that it's society's doing. My only complaint with her lyrics is the use of the word "bitch". It's so commonly used to bring women down, that I wish she wouldn't have included it. It seems to promote girl hate. Other than that minor detail it's an awesome song!
I really enjoyed your post. Women have always been oppressed in many other areas besides economically. I like the line "We teach girls that they cannot be sexual beings In the way that boys are" because I find it very ironic how society is okay in some ways with promiscuity in men but are completely against it with women. Hopefully one day there will no longer be gender discrimination in any aspects of life.
ReplyDelete