When the English singer-songwriter Anna Calvi decided to go for a flamenco … Read Full Bio ↴When the English singer-songwriter Anna Calvi decided to go for a flamenco dancer style in her stage outfits in order to represent the passion of her music, she opted for a man's red colored high trousers and blouse with matching lipstick instead of the traditional frilly dress that female flamenco dancers usually wear. Calvi explores this dipping between the two genders in this song from her self-titled debut album. She explained to the NME: "I think everyone has a masculine and feminine side. Maybe it's just me but sometimes I feel like a boy and sometimes I feel girly, and I like the fluidity of that."

I'll Be Your Man
Anna Calvi Lyrics

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The birds can't lie with my collar in my teeth
No one knows you like no one knows me
Wait for a day, you will never, never know the way
How it feels

I'll be your man
I'll be your man
I'll be your man

I'll be your man

Walking hand in hand by the side of the road
Heaven knows what we could have been
But somehow we wait and a little bit falls away
Do you feel?

I'll be your man
I'll be your man
I'll be your man
I'll be your man

In the day, i can be your lover
In the night, these words are true
And we wait, wait forever
For night, i can find

Why don't you wait
Won't you tell me what it is
Do you feel?

I'll be your man
I'll be your man

I'll be your man
I'll be your man

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Anna Calvi's "I'll Be Your Man" speak about a relationship that is not quite clear, perhaps undefined, and the struggles that come with it. The line "The birds can't lie with my collar in my teeth" reveals a feeling of being stuck and restrained, not being able to communicate fully. The singer of the song knows their partner very well, but they still have to wait for something that may never come. As the song progresses, the lyrics express a desire to be a reliable partner in both the daytime and nighttime, someone whom the addressee can count on. The line "And we wait, wait forever/ For night, I can find" could refer to a longing for intimacy, emotional or physical, that can only be satisfied in the dark, hidden from the judgmental eyes of society.

The repetition of "I'll be your man" is a declaration of loyalty and affection, but it is also a plea for recognition and validation. The song seems to be written from a queer perspective, with lines such as "No one knows you like no one knows me" implying that the bond between the two people is not conventional or easily understood by others. Nonetheless, the singer wants to be acknowledged as a partner and not just a casual fling. The phrase "Do you feel?" is repeated several times, possibly indicating a need for confirmation or reassurance regarding the feelings of the other person.

Line by Line Meaning

The birds can't lie with my collar in my teeth
I am hiding something from the world, so only the birds can witness my true self.

No one knows you like no one knows me
Our connection is so unique that nobody can understand it except for the two of us.

Wait for a day, you will never, never know the way How it feels
There are experiences that we can never fully understand or empathize with, no matter how hard we try.

I'll be your man
I will be there for you in any way that you need.

Walking hand in hand by the side of the road Heaven knows what we could have been But somehow we wait and a little bit falls away Do you feel?
We have the potential to achieve great things, but our hesitance and inability to act makes it difficult to fully realize our potential.

In the day, I can be your lover In the night, these words are true And we wait, wait forever For night, I can find
Our love exists in both the light and the dark, and we are willing to wait as long as it takes to fully embrace it.

Why don't you wait Won't you tell me what it is Do you feel?
Let's slow down and try to understand each other better. Are you truly feeling what you say you are?

I'll be your man
Once again, I will always be here for you, no matter what.

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

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