Rebel was your middle name
When you were a young girl
Living free in the '60s
Black boots, mini-skirt, blonde curls
Then when you went to art school
Breaking hearts and all the rules
You met the man of your dreams
To society, he was unconventional
But you didn't mind being outside

Times have really really changed, changed
Yet they always stay the same, same woo ooh
Never really get to walk away, do you?
Who will be the ones to walk away with you?

Hustle was your middle name
When you were a young man
Living to breathe in the '60s
Black-picked, flared fit, bongos
Then when you went to art school
Pushing back crackie and June
Witnessing this side of blue
You knew that you'd be nothing but a number
Thrown in the back

Time hasn't even, time hasn't even changed, changed
Is it always gonna stay the same way? Woo-ooh
You don't really get to walk away, do you?
Who will be the ones to walk with you?
Times should really, really change, change
Yet the always stay the same way to you
You don't really get to walk away do you?
Who will be the ones to walk with you?

Overall Meaning

In Kelsey Lu's song "Rebel", the lyrics describe two individuals who were rebels in their youth but faced the harsh realities of society's constraints as they grew older. The first verse describes a young woman who lived freely in the 60s, breaking hearts and all the rules while embracing her rebellious nature. However, as she got older, she met the man of her dreams who was unconventional to society's standards, but she didn't mind being outside of society's norms. The second verse describes a young man who was also a rebel in his youth. He too lived in the 60s and went to art school where he witnessed the harsh realities of society's systems, but despite this, he remained resilient and continued to push back against the status quo.

Both individuals grew up in different times and faced different struggles, yet the underlying message of the song is that despite the passage of time, some things never change. The lyrics signify the struggle that many face when trying to stay true to themselves and their beliefs while trying to navigate through society's many constructs. The question of "who will be the ones to walk with you?" suggests that the path of being a rebel is not always easy or popular, but it is important to find those who will support and stand along with you.

Overall, "Rebel" is a poignant song that highlights the importance of maintaining individualism and resisting the pressures of conformity. No matter what age, race, or gender you are, the desire to be true to oneself and break free from societal norms will always be relevant.

Line by Line Meaning

Rebel was your middle name
You were always one to go against the norm and defy expectations.

When you were a young girl
This quality was present in you from a young age.

Living free in the '60s
You grew up in a time of cultural changes and revolutions.

Black boots, mini-skirt, blonde curls
Your style was a reflection of your free spirit and individuality.

Then when you went to art school
You pursued your passion for artistic expression and creativity.

Breaking hearts and all the rules
Your rebellious nature led you to take risks and live life on your own terms.

You met the man of your dreams
You found love with someone who shared your nonconformist values.

To society, he was unconventional
Others may have judged or criticized your relationship, but you didn't care.

But you didn't mind being outside
You were comfortable being different and going against the crowd.

Times have really really changed, changed
The world has undergone significant transformation since the '60s, but some things remain the same.

Yet they always stay the same, same woo ooh
Despite progress and advancements, certain societal issues and biases persist.

Never really get to walk away, do you?
It's hard to escape these issues and their impact on our lives.

Who will be the ones to walk away with you?
Finding like-minded individuals to walk alongside you can help you face these challenges together.

Hustle was your middle name
You were driven and focused on achieving your goals.

When you were a young man
Your ambition and work ethic were present from a young age.

Living to breathe in the '60s
You were influenced by the revolutionary attitudes and ideas of the era.

Black-picked, flared fit, bongos
Your style reflected your artistic and bohemian lifestyle.

Pushing back crackie and June
You resisted societal pressure and expectations to conform.

Witnessing this side of blue
You were exposed to struggles and hardships, but remained resilient.

You knew that you'd be nothing but a number
You recognized the dangers of becoming another statistic in an oppressive society.

Thrown in the back
You were at risk of being left behind or forgotten in the fight for change.

Time hasn't even, time hasn't even changed, changed
While some things have improved, many issues persist just as strongly.

Is it always gonna stay the same way? Woo-ooh
It can be discouraging to see how little has changed despite efforts to improve the world.

Times should really, really change, change
The need for change is urgent and critical.

Yet the always stay the same way to you
Despite recognizing the need for change, you are confronted with the harsh reality of ongoing oppression.

You don't really get to walk away do you?
It's hard to escape the impact that societal issues have on our lives.

Who will be the ones to walk with you?
Finding allies and supporters is critical in fighting against injustice and oppression.

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