Willis was born in Idar-Oberstein, Germany, the son of a Kassel-born German mother, Marlene, who worked in a bank, and David Willis, an American soldier. Willis was the oldest of four children. After being discharged from the military in 1957, Willis's father took his family back to Penns Grove, New Jersey, where he worked as a welder and factory worker. His parents separated in 1971 while Willis was in his early teens. He was always an outgoing youngster, although he grew up with a stutter. Willis attended Penns Grove High School in his hometown. Finding it easy to express himself on stage and losing his stutter in the process, Willis began performing on stage and his high school activities were marked by such things as the drama club and school council president.
Rather than go to college after graduation, Willis became a blue-collar worker, transporting work crews at the DuPont Chambers Works factory in Deepwater, New Jersey. He decided to quit after a colleague was killed on the job, and thereafter became a regular at several bars. Willis also discovered an innate knack for playing harmonica and joined an R&B band called Loose Goose. After a stint as a private investigator (a role he would play in the television series Moonlighting as well as in the 1991 film, The Last Boy Scout), Willis returned to his original passion of acting. He enrolled in the drama program at Montclair State University, where he was cast in the class production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with Jack Prince as Big Daddy, William Applegate as the doctor, and Kevin J. Lynch as the Rev. Tooker. Willis left school during his junior year and moved to New York City.
Willis returned to the bar scene, only this time for a part-time job and as a way to meet New York celebrities. After countless auditions, Willis made his theater debut in the off-Broadway production of Heaven and Earth. He gained more experience and exposure in Fool for Love, an appearance on television's Miami Vice, and in a Levi's commercial.
Respect Yourself
Bruce Willis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That you run in to
How in the world do you think
Anybody's s'posed to respect you
If you don't give a heck 'bout the man
With the Bible in his hand
Just get out the way
You the kind of gentleman
That want everything your way
Take the sheet off your face, boy
It's a brand new day
Respect yourself, respect yourself
If you don't respect yourself
Ain't nobody gonna give a good cahoot, na na na na
Respect yourself, respect yourself
If you're walking 'round
Think'n that the world
Owes you something
'Cause you're here
You goin' out
The world backwards
Like you did
When you first come here
Keep talkin' 'bout the president
Won't stop air pollution
Put your hand on your mouth
When you cough, that'll help the solution
Oh, you curse around women folk
And you don't even know their names
And you dumb enough to think
That'll make you a big ol man
Respect yourself, respect yourself
If you don't respect yourself
Ain't nobody gonna give a good cahoot, na na na na
Respect yourself, respect yourself
Respect yourself, respect yourself
The song "Respect Yourself" by Bruce Willis is a remake of the classic soul song originally recorded by the Staples Singers. It has a clear message about the importance of respecting oneself and others. The opening lines emphasize the idea that if you disrespect somebody who you come across, it is impossible to expect them to have respect for you. This sentiment is reinforced throughout the song, as the lyrics touch on the importance of being respectful towards others and oneself.
The chorus of the song, "Respect yourself, respect yourself, if you don't respect yourself, ain't nobody gonna give a good cahoot," serves as a clear reminder that self-respect is crucial. Bruce Willis uses a combination of soulful and rock 'n' roll elements to make the song his own while still capturing the essence of the original tune. The song encourages people to remove the veil of racism and ignorance and join the modern world, where every individual has their unique place regardless of their race, color, or creed.
Overall, "Respect Yourself" is a timeless piece that reminds us to treat others and ourselves with respect. The lyrics emphasize the importance of self-respect, and how it leads to respect from others. Bruce Willis delivers the message with a rocking energy that brings a fresh take to the classic tune.
Line by Line Meaning
If you disrespect anybody
That you run in to
How in the world do you think
Anybody's s'posed to respect you
If you treat others without respect, how can you expect them to show you respect in return?
If you don't give a heck 'bout the man
With the Bible in his hand
Just get out the way
And let the gentle man do his thing
If you don't care about someone's beliefs, just let them be and don't interfere.
You the kind of gentleman
That want everything your way
Take the sheet off your face, boy
It's a brand new day
If you're someone who always wants things your way, it's time to let go of your biases and embrace change.
Respect yourself, respect yourself
If you don't respect yourself
Ain't nobody gonna give a good cahoot, na na na na
Respect yourself, respect yourself
You need to respect yourself before you can expect others to respect you.
If you're walking 'round
Think'n that the world
Owes you something
'Cause you're here
If you feel entitled to things just because you exist in the world, you need to re-evaluate your expectations.
You goin' out
The world backwards
Like you did
When you first come here
If you're not evolving and growing as a person, you're essentially regressing.
Keep talkin' 'bout the president
Won't stop air pollution
Put your hand on your mouth
When you cough, that'll help the solution
Talking about problems won't solve them. But you can take small actions to make a difference.
Oh, you curse around women folk
And you don't even know their names
And you dumb enough to think
That'll make you a big ol man
Using inappropriate language around anyone, especially women, is not a sign of strength or maturity.
Respect yourself, respect yourself
If you don't respect yourself
Ain't nobody gonna give a good cahoot, na na na na
Respect yourself, respect yourself
You need to respect yourself before you can expect others to respect you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Luther Thomas Ingram, Mack Rice
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind