By her third album in 1990, Anything Is Possible, Gibson’s chart fortunes were diminishing; only the lead single, the album’s title track, made any headway, peaking at #26. It would be her final U.S. top 40 entry. She shed the wholesome teen image for 1993’s Body, Mind, Soul, and later appeared in a Playboy magazine pictorial. Despite her diminished profile, another seven albums followed between 1995 and 2022. In 2006, she reached # 24 on the U.S. adult contemporary chart with "Say Goodbye,” a duet with Jordan Knight. Gibson has also had starring roles on Broadway and touring musicals, including playing Eponine in Les Misérables and Sandy in Grease, as well as television and independent film work.
When I Say No
Debbie Gibson Lyrics
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Maybe I thought I wanted to be here
Maybe I thought I wanted your lovin' tonight
The music too slow, the lights too low
But something just wasn't right
I started to fear your glowing eyes, your tender touch
Your words they were too much for me
But when I tried to push you away
CHORUS:
When I say no, that's what I mean
Not maybe so or what's in between
If I said yes, that's what it would be
Is that what you heard? No!
So step away from me
VERSE2:
True there are some girls who know what they're doing
People think they get what they deserve
But look who's calling the kettle black
Baby you've got some nerve
I do not know why the reasons lie so unclear
But boy you've got to understand
If any girl rejects you
Don't you doubt it's part of the plan
CHORUS
BRIDGE:
Ego trips won't save you when your woman is deceived
Act upon what matters baby, not how you're perceived
She will love you more and maybe the rest will follow
But not if you push it baby!
The lyrics of Debbie Gibson's song "When I Say No" speak to the issue of consent and the importance of respecting a partner's boundaries. The song appears to be from the perspective of a young woman who finds herself in a situation where she is uncomfortable with a man's advances. She may have been initially interested in him, but something about his behavior or the situation did not feel right to her. She describes feeling "fear" when he touches her, and she tries to push him away when he starts to make advances. However, this man does not seem to understand her rejection - he assumes that she must secretly be interested and continues to press his case.
The chorus of the song makes it clear that the singer wants to set the record straight: "When I say no, that's what I mean / Not maybe so or what's in between." She is frustrated that this man is not listening to her, and wants him to "step away." In the second verse, the singer acknowledges that some women may like casual hook-ups, but she is not one of them. She also calls out the man's hypocrisy, noting that he is calling her out for being "deceived" while ignoring his own behavior. The bridge of the song urges this man to let go of his own ego and focus on building a true connection with his partners, rather than trying to "push it" and force their compliance.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe I thought I wanted to be here
At first, I thought that being here with you was what I wanted
Maybe I thought I wanted your lovin' tonight
Perhaps I thought I wanted affection from you tonight
The music too slow, the lights too low
The setting was off, the ambience wasn't right
But something just wasn't right
Yet, I felt that something was wrong
I started to fear your glowing eyes, your tender touch
Your actions made me feel uneasy, your touch creeped me out
Your words they were too much for me
Your words were too overpowering for me to handle
But when I tried to push you away
When I tried to create a physical distance between us
You said you didn't think I'd want it that way
You assumed that I was still interested in you regardless of my attempts to push you away
When I say no, that's what I mean
The word 'no' clearly means no, there's no room for confusion
Not maybe so or what's in between
It's not a 'maybe' or an ambiguous response, it is a clear 'no'
If I said yes, that's what it would be
If I had consented to your advances, it would have been a clear 'yes'
Is that what you heard? No!
I don't understand why you're not understanding my 'no'
So step away from me
I need you to take a step back and leave me alone
True there are some girls who know what they're doing
There are some women who engage in sexual activity willingly and confidently
People think they get what they deserve
There is a common belief that the consequences of sexual activity are deserved by those who engage in it
But look who's calling the kettle black
You're criticizing these women, but you're not respecting my boundaries either
Baby you've got some nerve
You're audacious for expecting me to engage in sexual activity with you even after I've said 'no'
I do not know why the reasons lie so unclear
I don't understand why you're not respecting my boundaries
But boy you've got to understand
You need to understand that 'no' means 'no'
If any girl rejects you
If any woman says 'no' to you
Don't you doubt it's part of the plan
You shouldn't doubt that her 'no' is part of her boundary and choice
Ego trips won't save you when your woman is deceived
Being arrogant won't protect you if you deceive a woman
Act upon what matters baby, not how you're perceived
Be respectful of boundaries and consent, instead of trying to save face
She will love you more and maybe the rest will follow
If you respect a woman's boundaries, she might feel more positive towards you
But not if you push it baby!
But that won't happen if you force yourself onto her
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind