Roar
Alan Matheus Lyrics

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I used to bite my tongue and hold my breath
Scared to rock the boat and make a mess
So I sit quietly, agree politely
I guess that I forgot I had a choice
I let you push me past the breaking point
I stood for nothing, so I fell for everything

You held me down, but I got up

Already brushing off the dust
You hear my voice, you hear that sound
Like thunder gonna shake the ground
You held me down, but I got up
Get ready ′cause I've had enough
I see it all, I see it now

I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire
′Cause I am a champion and you're gonna hear me roar
Louder, louder than a lion
'Cause I am a champion and you′re gonna hear me roar
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
You′re gonna hear me roar

I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire
'Cause I am a champion and you′re gonna hear me roar

Louder, louder than a lion
'Cause I am a champion and you′re gonna hear me roar

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Alan Matheus's song "Roar" is a powerful anthem about finding one's voice and embracing the courage to speak out against oppression. The first stanza speaks of how the persona has lived in a state of fear and compromise, afraid to speak up and be true to oneself. He admits to having forgotten that he has a choice and has allowed people to walk all over him, being passive and standing for nothing.

The chorus is a rallying cry, a statement of intent to stand up for oneself and fight back against those who have held the persona down. He declares that despite being pushed to the breaking point, he has managed to get back up again and brush off the dust. The metaphor of thunder shaking the ground is used to describe the persona's newfound strength and conviction.

In the second stanza, the persona reinforces their resolve to be a champion and roar like a fierce animal. The image of the eye of the tiger is meant to symbolize the fierce determination and will to never give up. The persona aims to inspire others to join him in his fight against oppression, knowing that he won't be silenced anymore.

Line by Line Meaning

I used to bite my tongue and hold my breath
I used to keep my opinions and feelings to myself and avoid any conflict.

Scared to rock the boat and make a mess
I was afraid to take risks and make mistakes that could potentially cause problems.

So I sit quietly, agree politely
I would remain quiet and go along with others, even if I didn't agree with them or lacked confidence in my own ideas.

I guess that I forgot I had a choice
I realized that I had been allowing others to control me and make decisions for me, without recognizing my own ability to choose and make my own path.

I let you push me past the breaking point
I allowed others to treat me badly and push me beyond my limits, until I couldn't handle it anymore.

I stood for nothing, so I fell for everything
I didn't have any strong beliefs or values, so I was vulnerable to being easily influenced by others and their opinions or actions.

You held me down, but I got up
Even though you tried to keep me down and control me, I was able to rise above and overcome your influence.

Already brushing off the dust
I am ready to move on from the past and forget about any negativity or obstacles I faced.

You hear my voice, you hear that sound
I am not afraid to speak up and make my voice heard, and you will notice the power and confidence behind it.

Like thunder gonna shake the ground
My presence and boldness are going to have an impact and create change around me.

Get ready ′cause I've had enough
I am done with being controlled and mistreated, and I am ready to take action and stand up for myself.

I see it all, I see it now
I have a clear perspective on my past experiences and how they have shaped me, and I am motivated to use that knowledge to create a better future for myself.

I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire
I have the fierce determination and resilience of a tiger, and I am able to push through any challenges or obstacles in my path.

′Cause I am a champion and you're gonna hear me roar
I have the strength and confidence of a true champion, and I am going to make sure that everyone knows it.

Louder, louder than a lion
My roar is powerful and loud, like a lion's, and it demands attention and respect.

You're gonna hear me roar
I am not going to be silenced or held back any longer, and everyone is going to hear me make my presence known with a fierce roar.

Writer(s): Lukasz Gottwald, Bonnie Leigh Mckee, Henry Russell Walter, Max Martin, Katy Perry

Contributed by London N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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