Glow
Aretha Henry Lyrics

In the lyrics of "Glow" by Aretha Henry, the singer addresses someone who has been talking negatively about them to their friends. The opening lines, "Keep runnin' your mouth / To all your friends / Laughin' bout / How I could never win," suggest that the subject of the song is being belittled behind their back. The person being spoken about feels like they are being underestimated and perhaps underestimated by the person talking about them.

The lyrics go on to express that the person talking negatively felt like they had "dodged a bullet" by leaving or ending things with the singer. This sentiment is echoed in the lines, "Oh, you dodged a bullet / That's what you said ain't it / Said I had it comin' / You said I had it comin'," indicating that there may have been some conflict or tension in the past. Despite this, the singer asserts their newfound confidence and resilience with the repeated refrain of "glow, glow, glow."

As the song progresses, the singer questions the meaning behind the other person's actions and words, asking, "You can't figure it out / It's hard to explain / After all your talkin' / Yeah, what does it mean." This shows a sense of frustration and confusion towards the mixed signals coming from the person they are addressing. The singer challenges the other person to maintain their negative narrative about them as they continue to shine and thrive in their own light.

The final verses of the song reveal a reversal of power dynamics, with the singer proclaiming, "It was I / Who got away / It was I / Who dodged the bullet." This shift in perspective suggests that the singer has come out stronger and better off after the perceived betrayal or negativity from the other person. The closing lines, "So don't cry now / You, don't cry," indicate a sense of closure and finality, with the singer no longer interested in dwelling on the past and instead choosing to focus on their own growth and radiance.