Here is some background information on Alabama Shakes from the Hold On Songfacts: The R&B-inspired Rock band Alabama Shakes originated when lead singer/guitarist Brittany Howard approached bassist Zac Cockrell during a high school psychology class in Athens, Alabama and the pair began meeting after school to write songs. Howard and Cockrell then approached Punk-Rock drummer Steve Johnson, who was working at a local music store, to join the band. The trio recorded some of their songs in a studio in Decatur, Alabama and subsequently recruited guitarist Heath Fogg on his return to Athens from college in Tuscaloosa. Originally christened "The Shakes," the band later renamed themselves The Alabama Shakes in order to differentiate themselves from other bands with their original name.
The Alabama foursome gained widespread media attention after releasing a self-titled four-song EP in September 2011 and Rough Trade Records in the United Kingdom and ATO Records in the United States signed them two months later. Hold On was released as the first single from their debut album, Boys & Girls .
Boys
Alabama Shakes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Best friends anymore?
They say a friend
Ain't to be
Between a girl and a boy
I don't know who said it
Or why it got to be so wrong
Don't you care anymore
It's not fair
Don't let them get you
It took us both and now I got to fix you
Well I don't know how to fix you
You say it's just the way it's got to be, but how so?
Why
Is an awful lot of questions
And I can't give me no answer
I keep wondering on
Oh why can't you see
That I'm not trying to be
No kind of bother
I'm just trying to say what was left between you and me
And where we left it before they took it
And you know they took it all
And took off
Oh why did I let them drive a wedge between
Well I watched it and I didn't say nothing
And now I'm crying when I sleep
Now I'm saying, I'm praying, to that sweet melody in my soul
Why
Is an awful lot of questions
And I can't give me no answer
I keep wondering on
I wanna know who said it
Who said it, oh Lord
The lyrics to Alabama Shakes's song Boys & Girls express the heartache of a friendship that has been broken because of societal norms that dictate that a girl and a boy can't be best friends. The singer laments the loss of the friendship, wondering why they can't be best friends anymore. She questions why it's wrong for a boy and girl to be friends, and why the other person doesn't call or care anymore. She notes that it's not fair that the friendship was taken away, and wonders why she let others drive a wedge between them.
The singer also expresses a desire to fix the broken friendship, but doesn't know how. She acknowledges that the other person thinks it's just the way it has to be, but questions why it has to be that way. She pleads with the other person to see that she's not trying to be a bother, but just wants to pick up where they left off before the friendship was taken away.
The lyrics evoke a sense of frustration, regret, and sorrow over a lost friendship. They also challenge societal norms that dictate who can be friends with whom. The song offers insight into the complexities of relationships and the impact of societal expectations on them.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh why can't we be
Questioning why their friendship has changed
Best friends anymore?
Wondering why they can't be as close as they used to be
They say a friend
Referring to a statement that the singer disagrees with
Ain't to be
Implying that it is wrong for a boy and a girl to just be friends
Between a girl and a boy
Further clarifying the statement that the artist disagrees with
I don't know who said it
Expressing confusion about the source of the statement
Or why it got to be so wrong
Questioning why society has deemed such friendships as wrong
Oh why don't you call
Asking why the person has stopped contacting them
Don't you care anymore
Questioning if the person still has feelings for the artist
It's not fair
Feeling like the situation is unjust
Don't let them get you
Advising the person not to let others influence their decisions
It took us both and now I got to fix you
Feeling responsible for helping the other person through their pain
Well I don't know how to fix you
Admitting that the singer doesn't know how to help the person
You say it's just the way it's got to be, but how so?
Asking for an explanation as to why there is such a societal pressure against male-female friendships
Why
Continuing to ask why things have changed
Is an awful lot of questions
Commenting on the frequency of the unanswered questions
And I can't give me no answer
Admitting that the artist doesn't know the answers to the questions they have
I keep wondering on
Continuing to question and think about the situation
Oh why can't you see
Wondering why the person doesn't understand the singer's perspective
That I'm not trying to be
Ensuring the person that the artist isn't trying to cause any trouble
No kind of bother
Trying to illustrate that the artist simply wants to clear the air
I'm just trying to say what was left between you and me
Expressing a desire to resolve any remaining tension between the two
And where we left it before they took it
Referring to the societal pressure as 'they' who have interfered with their friendship
And you know they took it all
Believing that the societal pressure has destroyed their bond
And took off
Implying that whoever 'they' are, they have completely removed themselves from the situation
Oh why did I let them drive a wedge between
Blaming oneself for not fighting back against the societal pressure sooner
Well I watched it and I didn't say nothing
Acknowledging that the singer didn't do enough to prevent the situation from escalating
And now I'm crying when I sleep
Being emotionally affected by the loss of the friendship
Now I'm saying, I'm praying, to that sweet melody in my soul
Finding solace and comfort in music and spirituality
I wanna know who said it
Continuing to question the origination of the societal pressure
Who said it, oh Lord
Expressing a sense of helplessness towards the situation
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Zachary Riley Cockrell, Heath Allen Fogg, Brittany Amber Howard, Steven William Johnson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@iambmccoullum
America is not ready for real music. She is what we need in an era where people feel the need to have a brand.
@linkfamilymusic
Thank you! Yes. So true!
@juniorkelly7794
As a white guy from Scotland can we still enjoy ? this is excellent.
@evelynklebowski
I'm in America, and my husband and and I love her music!!! She is real music with a real voice. Absolutley beautiful
@normadavis9825
@@taity2k3 no
@normadavis9825
@@evelynklebowski hi
@lizherchen2861
I absolutely love this 💞..its like Otis Redding and Janis Joplin had a baby. Beautiful!
@sengashahid
L Herchen Amy winehouse as well
@zeblackfox
That part ........ truth is she is that type of baby too
@msladybirddream3451
First heard this song on the Luther Tv show sound track. Beautiful voice, Beautiful words in the song!
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