Ladylike
Courtney Cole Lyrics
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Not made to talk, we were made to be talked about
Sugar and spice and everything nice, well that's nice
If you sit on the porch with a boy, you best leave on the light (yeah, right!)
I can't always be ladylike
No darlin' debutante or southern belle
Ah-I'm and angel that'll give you hell
Might not be mama's cuppa tea
But you ain't ever met a lady like...
me
Girls are supposed to be saving for their wedding night
But honestly I never really looked that good in white
Putting in make-up and gettin' all made up is fun
But sometimes I wake up and just don't wanna put on none
I can't always be ladylike
No darlin' debutante or southern belle
Ah-I'm and angel that'll give you hell
Might not be mama's cuppa tea
I may not always be ladylike
But you ain't ever met a lady like...
me
Even...
Even the Queen of England
Can't always be ladylike
No darlin' debutante or southern belle
Ah-I'm and angel that'll give you hell
Might not be mama's cuppa tea
I may not always be ladylike
I'm sittin' pretty at a Taco Bell
Nothin' fancy, but it suits me well
That might not be your cuppa tea
I may not always be ladylike
But you ain't ever met a lady like...
me
In Courtney Cole's song "Ladylike," she challenges societal expectations and norms placed on women to conform to certain feminine behaviors and appearance. The first verse establishes the idea that girls are not meant to speak up and express themselves, but rather to be the object of discussions. She then goes on to mention the all-too-familiar concept of being expected to fit into the mold of the perfect girl, characterized by sweetness and purity, and how it can be suffocating. However, she's not willing to sacrifice her authenticity to fit into this box, evidenced by the line "I can't always be ladylike."
The chorus reinforces the idea that she's not interested in conforming to traditional stereotypes of what a lady should be, such as a "debutante" or "Southern belle." She's not saving herself for marriage, not always wearing makeup, and not always adhering to what other people expect of her. In fact, she's quite the opposite - an "angel that'll give you hell." The bridge emphasizes that even the Queen of England wouldn't fit wholeheartedly into the "ladylike" role all the time. The last verse mentions how she's perfectly happy enjoying fast food at Taco Bell, even if it's not what others consider classy.
Overall, "Ladylike" speaks to the pressure women feel to fit into predetermined molds that may not be true to themselves. Courtney Cole's message is empowering, as she encourages women to embrace their individuality and not be constrained by societal expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
Girls are supposed to cross their legs and close their mouths
Women are expected to sit with their legs crossed and not speak out of turn
Not made to talk, we were made to be talked about
Women are not meant to have their own opinions, but instead be the topic of conversation for others
Sugar and spice and everything nice, well that's nice
The common phrase about the desirable traits of women is pleasant, but not always accurate or true
If you sit on the porch with a boy, you best leave on the light (yeah, right!)
The idea that a woman should be virginal until marriage is outdated and unrealistic
I can't always be ladylike
The singer is acknowledging that societal expectations of women are not always possible or valid
No darlin' debutante or southern belle
The singer is not interested in conforming to traditional standards of femininity
Ah-I'm and angel that'll give you hell
Despite not conforming to expectations, the singer has her own strength and power
Might not be mama's cuppa tea
The singer's choices may not meet her mother's expectations
But you ain't ever met a lady like...me
The singer embraces her own uniqueness and individuality
Girls are supposed to be saving for their wedding night
Women are expected to remain abstinent until marriage
But honestly I never really looked that good in white
The idea of a traditional wedding does not appeal to the singer
Putting in make-up and gettin' all made up is fun
The singer enjoys experimenting with cosmetics and dressing up
But sometimes I wake up and just don't wanna put on none
The singer rejects the idea that women must always appear polished and put-together
Even the Queen of England
The expectations placed on women extend even to one of the most powerful and influential women in the world
I'm sittin' pretty at a Taco Bell
The singer embraces her own sense of comfort and enjoyment, even if it is not considered high-class or sophisticated
Nothin' fancy, but it suits me well
The singer is content with simplicity and not interested in adhering to expectations of grandeur
Contributed by Riley A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Rebecca Porter Romanelli
on Fall Like Rain
I love this song... You can really feel the emotion of being the person in the song having everything you thought was good in a relationship be ripped from you. A very beautifully sad song.