Can't Hold Us Down
Christina Aguilera Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

So, what, am I not supposed to have an opinion?
Should I keep quiet just because I'm a woman?
Call me a bitch 'cause I speak what's on my mind
Guess it's easier for you to swallow if I sat and smiled
When a female fires back
Suddenly big talker don't know how to act
So he does what any little boy would do
Makin' up a few false rumors or two
That for sure is not a man to me
Slanderin' names for popularity
It's sad you only get your fame through controversy (so, so sad)
But now it's time for me to come and give you more to say

This is for my girls all around the world (around the world)
Who have come across a man that don't respect your worth (woah)
Thinkin' all women should be seen not heard (woah)
So what do we do, girls? Shout louder
Lettin' 'em know we're gonna stand our ground (stand our ground)
So lift your hands higher and wave 'em proud (woah)
Take a deep breath and say it loud (woah)
Never can, never will, can't hold us down (woah)

Nobody can hold us down (hold us down)
Nobody can hold us down (hold us down)
Nobody can hold us down (hold us down)
Never can, never will

So, what, am I not supposed to say what I'm sayin'?
Are you offended with the message I'm bringin'?
Call me whatever 'cause your words don't mean a thing
'Cause you ain't even a man enough to handle what I sing
If you look back in history
It's a common double standard of society
The guy gets all the glory, the more he can score
While the girl can do the same and yet you call her a whore
I don't understand why it's okay
The guy can get away with it, the girl gets named
All my ladies come together and make a change
And start a new beginnin' for us, everybody sing

This is for my girls all around the world ('round the world) (yeah)
Who have come across a man that don't respect your worth (respect your worth)
Thinkin' all women should be seen not heard (you can't get rid of us)
So what do we do, girls? Shout louder
Lettin' 'em know we're gonna stand our ground (we standin' our ground on this one)
So lift your hands higher and wave 'em proud (woah)
Take a deep breath and say it loud
Never can, never will, can't hold us down (check it)

Here's somethin' I just can't understand
If a guy have three girls then he's the man
He can even give her some head and sex her raw
If a girl do the same, then she's a whore
But the table's 'bout to turn, I'll bet my fame on it
Cats take my ideas and put they name on it
It's aight though, you can't hold me down (oh no)
I got to keep on movin'
To all my girls with a man who be tryna mack
Do it right back to him and let that be that
You need to let him know that his game is whack
And Lil' Kim and Christina Aguilera got your back

You're just a little boy
You think you're so cute, so coy
You must talk so big
To make up for smaller things
Said you're just a little boy
All you do is annoy
You must talk so big
To make up for smaller things
This is for my girls, oh

This is for my girls all around the world
Who have come across a man that don't respect your worth (respect your worth, oh)
Thinkin' all women should be seen not heard
So what do we do, girls? Shout louder (shout louder)
Lettin' 'em know we're gonna stand our ground (we stand our ground)
So lift your hands higher and wave 'em proud (oh, ooh-ooh)
Take a deep breath and say it loud
Never can, never will, can't hold us down (oh-ooh)

This is for my girls all around the world (for my girls)
Who have come across a man that don't respect your worth (around the world)
Thinkin' all women should be seen not heard (yeah)
So what do we do girls? Shout louder
Lettin' 'em know we're gonna stand our ground (stand our ground)
So lift your hands higher and wave 'em proud (woah)
Take a deep breath and say it loud
Never can, never will, can't hold us down

Uh, oh-oh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh
Spread the word
Can't hold us down
Yeah, we here, we back again
Yeah, Lil' Kim and Christina Aguilera




Yeah
Can't hold us down, uh, uh

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Christina Aguilera's song Can't Hold Us Down is all about female empowerment and sexism in society. Christina Aguilera is tired of being silenced and not being taken seriously because she is a woman. She believes that just because she is not a man does not mean she cannot have opinions, speak her mind or express herself freely. The lyrics suggest that men feel intimidated when women speak up and as a result, try to put them down, spread false rumors or say derogatory things to push them to the background. Christina Aguilera calls for all women across the world who do not feel appreciated or respected by their counterpart (man) to stand their ground, shout louder, lift their hands higher, and wave them proud, saying “never can, never will, can't hold us down”. She and Lil' Kim have got their back, and they will take no disrespect from men.


Furthermore, the lyrics draw attention to the double standards of society when it comes to male and female sexual activity. Men are praised for having sexual relations with women, while women that do the same are labeled whores. Christina Aguilera questions why this is allowed and calls for all ladies to come together and make a change. She disputes why guys can get away with it but girls are named, and she believes it is time for women to start a new beginning and put an end to this unfair treatment. Therefore, the song is a feminist anthem that puts women in the driver's seat to take control of their lives and fend off any negative energy targeted at them by men.


Line by Line Meaning

So, what, am I not supposed to have an opinion?
Is it not allowed for me to express my thoughts and ideas?


Should I keep quiet just because I'm a woman?
Am I expected to remain silent solely due to my gender?


Call me a bitch 'cause I speak what's on my mind
Labeling me as derogatory terms because I express my truthful opinions.


Guess it's easier for you to swallow if I sat and smiled
It would be more comfortable for you if I stayed quiet and did not assert myself.


When a female fires back
When a woman responds to criticism or injustice.


Suddenly big talker don't know how to act
The person who was confident in attacking me loses composure when I respond with confidence.


So he does what any little boy would do
Reacting in a childish manner, akin to how young children typically respond to frustration.


Makin' up a few false rumors or two
Spreading unverified and untrue gossip to hurt my reputation.


That for sure is not a man to me
That is not the behavior of someone deserving respect, in my eyes.


Slanderin' names for popularity
Defaming my character to gain attention or status among others.


It's sad you only get your fame through controversy (so, so sad)
It is unfortunate that you resort to creating chaos as a means of gaining notoriety.


But now it's time for me to come and give you more to say
I am going to show you that I am not someone who can be silenced easily and will continue to assert myself.


This is for my girls all around the world (around the world)
This song is dedicated to all of the women everywhere.


Who have come across a man that don't respect your worth (woah)
Who have encountered men that do not recognize their value or worth.


Thinkin' all women should be seen not heard (woah)
Believing that women should be visually present but not allowed to express their opinions.


So what do we do, girls? Shout louder
How should we respond? By asserting ourselves even louder.


Lettin' 'em know we're gonna stand our ground (stand our ground)
Making it clear that we are going to remain steadfast in our beliefs and refuse to be silenced.


So lift your hands higher and wave 'em proud (woah)
Raise your hands even higher and show your confidence and strength.


Take a deep breath and say it loud (woah)
Pause for a moment and then confidently express yourself in a clear and forceful manner.


Never can, never will, can't hold us down (woah)
No one can ever suppress us, not now and not ever.


Nobody can hold us down (hold us down)
No one has the power to silence or put us in our place.


Here's somethin' I just can't understand
I don't comprehend the hypocrisy and double standards that exist.


If a guy have three girls then he's the man
Men are often celebrated for having multiple partners.


He can even give her some head and sex her raw
He is allowed to receive and engage in sexual activity without criticism or judgment.


If a girl do the same, then she's a whore
Women are often stigmatized and labeled negatively for the same actions that men undertake.


But the table's 'bout to turn, I'll bet my fame on it
The situation is about to change, and I am willing to stake my reputation on it.


Cats take my ideas and put they name on it
Others use my successful and unique ideas and claim them as their own.


To all my girls with a man who be tryna mack
This is for all the women who have encountered men trying to pressure them or dominate them.


Do it right back to him and let that be that
Respond in kind and show him that you will not be a victim to his attempts at control.


You need to let him know that his game is whack
Make it clear to him that his attempts and strategy are ineffective and trivial.


And Lil' Kim and Christina Aguilera got your back
We are here to support and stand up for you, in solidarity.


You're just a little boy
Your actions and behavior are immature and unbecoming of an adult.


You must talk so big
The reason you overcompensate by speaking so confidently is due to the lack of substance behind what you say.


To make up for smaller things
You are trying to compensate for your shortcomings or inadequacies.


Spread the word
Help share this message with others.


Can't hold us down
We are not to be silenced or oppressed.


Yeah, we here, we back again
We are still standing and continuing to assert ourselves.


Yeah, Lil' Kim and Christina Aguilera
This message is from both Lil' Kim and Christina Aguilera.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Anthem Entertainment, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Christina Aguilera, Matthew Wilder, Scott Specer Storch, Matthew B. Morris, Gregory Prestopino

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@IsabellaLandeback

''If you look back in history

It's a common double standard of society

The guy gets all the glory the more he can score

While the girl can do the same and yet you call her a whore''

That verse tho <3



All comments from YouTube:

@MoroccanQueen364

Dark skin, light skin, latina, white, asian! Big, small, short, tall! This is why i love 90’s and early 2000 artists and videos

@PacificDaneOfficial

You know, all of this was never an issue until a bunch of sjw idiots started crying about it everywhere. Now it's fuckign everywhere, and all on the daily agenda is diversity and fuck all. Diversity is only an issue when you make it an issue, if those idiots had let the world live, you would see there was no issue. As my man Morgan Freeman says: 'Stop talking about it. It won't be an issue if you stop talking about it. It exists because we talk about it.'

@westboy52

Exactly. And it doesn't feel forced. It's natural. As it should be.

@joevans27

@@PacificDaneOfficial well said.. was never issue bck then.. divide & conquer technique in full effect

@rebecca8525

@@PacificDaneOfficial Learn your history. Men have been oppressing women since the dawn of time. It's nothing new.

@NeloBladeOfRanni

@@rebecca8525 facts just look at the story of adam and Lilith

192 More Replies...

@Joseffowler

Swear to god these producers around this time were something different.

@jodycovington

🙌

@aiquesono

the best era

@kiwifan6002

Dre, Storch, The Neptunes carried the rap/pop game

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