Skin Trade
Anakelly Lyrics

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Working on the weekend baby
She's working all through the night.
A jump into the deep end,
Gave her the evidence she required.
Take five, she's got pearls,
Don't fake it when it comes to making money -
So... she smiles, but that's cruel
If you knew what she'd think, if you knew what she was after...

Sometimes she wonders... and she laughs in her frustration

Would someone please explain...
The reason for this strange behaviour
In exploitation's name...
We must be working for the skin trade.

Doctors of the revolution gave us, the medicine we desired.
Besides being absolutely painless it's a question of compromise
You've got steel, it's so cool,
Get angry at the weekend then go back to school
So big deal, it's what rules
When it comes to making money, say yes, please, thank you...

Sometimes you wonder, and you ask yourself the question

Would someone please explain (someone please explain)
The reason for this strange behaviour
In exploitation's name...
We must be working for the skin trade.

I know the answer... but I'm asking you the question...

Would someone please explain...
The reason for this strange behaviour
In exploitation's name...
We must be working for the skin trade.

Would someone please explain
(The reason for this)the reason for this strange behaviour

In exploitation's name...
We must be working for the skin trade.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Skin Trade" by Anakelly talk about the dark side of the job market, where people are exploited and forced to work long hours with little respite. The singer of the song is a woman who works all weekend and through the night. She's determined to make a living, and is willing to do whatever it takes to succeed. Despite her tough exterior, she's struggling on the inside, pondering the reason for her strange behavior and the exploitative nature of her job.

The song seems to be a commentary on the harsh realities of the job market, where people are often forced to work long hours with minimal pay or benefits. The lyrics suggest that those in power are exploiting workers for their own gain, without any regard for the consequences. The singer's frustration and sadness are palpable, and the song seems to be a call for change and social justice.

Line by Line Meaning

Working on the weekend baby
She's working hard and constantly hustling to make money, even on weekends and nights.

A jump into the deep end,
She took a risk and dove headfirst into this line of work without knowing exactly what she was getting herself into.

Gave her the evidence she required.
She learned from her experiences and knows what it takes to succeed in this business.

Take five, she's got pearls,
She's accomplished a lot in her work and has earned valuable rewards and assets.

Don't fake it when it comes to making money -
She knows the importance of being genuine and not pretending to be something she's not in order to earn a paycheck.

So... she smiles, but that's cruel
She puts on a facade to maintain appearances and keep business flowing, but it's emotionally taxing and even cruel to herself.

If you knew what she'd think, if you knew what she was after...
If people really knew what she was thinking or aiming for, they would likely judge her harshly or pity her.

Sometimes she wonders... and she laughs in her frustration
She reflects on her work and the risks she's taken, and while it can be frustrating, she finds humor in it.

Would someone please explain...
She's questioning why this work exists and why it's so normalized.

The reason for this strange behaviour
She's trying to understand why people engage in such exploitative and risky work.

In exploitation's name...
She recognizes that many who work in this industry are exploited and undervalued for their efforts.

We must be working for the skin trade.
She acknowledges that the work is often superficial and focused on appearances rather than genuine human connections.

Doctors of the revolution gave us, the medicine we desired.
Those in charge of the industry market the work as a solution to financial struggles or lack of stability.

Besides being absolutely painless it's a question of compromise
While the work may not be physically painful, it still requires compromise and sacrificing values or dignity for money.

You've got steel, it's so cool,
Success in this industry requires a certain level of toughness and resilience.

Get angry at the weekend then go back to school
Workers often compartmentalize their emotions and reserve anger or frustration for their days off rather than letting it affect their work.

So big deal, it's what rules
Making money and maintaining the image of success is the most important thing in this industry.

When it comes to making money, say yes, please, thank you...
Being agreeable and putting on a pleasant facade is crucial to success in this industry, even if it's insincere.

I know the answer... but I'm asking you the question...
The singer knows the dark truth behind this industry, but is still trying to understand why it's so prevalent and normalized.

Contributed by Elijah Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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