Angel Olsen (born January 22, 1987) is an American singer-songwriter and mu… Read Full Bio ↴Angel Olsen (born January 22, 1987) is an American singer-songwriter and musician from St. Louis, Missouri[4][5] who currently lives in Asheville, North Carolina. She has recorded and toured as a backing singer with Bonnie 'Prince' Billy & The Cairo Gang, before embarking on her own career.

To date, Olsen has released six studio albums: Half Way Home (2012), Burn Your Fire for No Witness (2014), My Woman (2016), All Mirrors (2019), Whole New Mess (2020) and Big Time (2022).

Woman
Angel Olsen Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You can leave now if you want to
I'll still be around
This parade is almost over
And I'm still your clown

I've been thinking
How your smile seems to last forever
Even if it's just a while

We are there together
There together

With no promise of the future
Am I not allowed
To think kindly of a stranger
Who reflects the sound
Of my heartache
As it's beating
My life to the ground
To the ground
To the ground
To the ground
To the ground

And I could still breathe for you
Open up and scream for you
Tell me what I wouldn't do
Tell me that love isn't true
Tell me that love isn't true
Tell me that love isn't true

I dare you to understand
What makes me a woman
What makes me a woman
What makes me a woman

I'd do anything
To see it all
The way that you do

I'd do anything
To see it all
The way that you do

But I'd be lying

Baby
But I'd be lying to you

Overall Meaning

The song "Woman" by Angel Olsen is a powerful and reflective piece that explores the complexities of relationships and the perception of womanhood. In the opening lines, the singer acknowledges that the relationship is coming to a close, but despite this, she is still invested in the person and is willing to remain in their life. The metaphor of being a clown suggests that the singer may feel like a spectacle, performing for the other person's amusement or perhaps even subverting her own desires in order to keep the relationship going.

The second verse contains a poignant reflection on the fleetingness of happy moments and the pain that comes with them. The singer acknowledges the lack of any promise for the future with the other person, but still finds worth in the beauty of the present moment and the shared experience of heartache. This sentiment is underscored by the repetition of the phrase "to the ground," emphasizing the weight of both love and sadness.

The chorus shifts in tone somewhat, with the singer expressing a willingness to do anything for the other person, but then ultimately conceding that she would be lying if she claimed to see the world in the same way. The final verse with the repeated lines "I'd do anything to see it all / The way that you do" adds an additional layer of yearning and regret, while the final line "But I'd be lying, baby" suggests that honesty and self-awareness are important to the singer.

Overall, "Woman" is a moving and introspective song that explores the messy, complicated nature of relationships and the complexities of personal identity.

Line by Line Meaning

You can leave now if you want to
If you want to go, it's okay, and I won't blame you.

I'll still be around
Even if you leave, I'll still be here.

This parade is almost over
The show is almost done.

And I'm still your clown
I'm still here to entertain you.

I've been thinking
I have something on my mind.

How your smile seems to last forever
The happiness that your smile brings seems to never fade.

Even if it's just a while
Even if it's only for a short time.

We are there together
We are connected.

With no promise of the future
Without any indication or assurance of what's to come.

Am I not allowed
Can I not have permission.

To think kindly of a stranger
To have sympathetic thoughts towards someone unknown.