Don't Put Him Down
Dory Previn Lyrics
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He loves you
But he just can't make it with you
And he just can't tell you it's true
How can he pass the test
When he just can't hardly move himself
Let alone prove himself the best
He wants you
But he just can't get it on as you planned
And i guess a girl just can't understand
How much a guy goes through
All she has to do is let herself
She doesn't have to get herself up
On cue
Like a performing seal
In a zoo
How was last night's
Performance babe?
Was it better than
The night before?
Are the old credentials
Any good any good any good any more
Or is the act beginning to bore you?
He can sing!
He can dance!
He can juggle!
He a regular one-man band
His costume's a little tattered
His label says
Made in japan
But he beats his battered drum
And he rattles his empty can
And he somehow gets
His flag to fly
Looka him
Looka him
He's a man!
Oh babe
Inside him
It's like there's a
Little kid in a jail
Crying denying he's fragile and frail
Hey looka him
He's a male
But it's the wail
Of the weary minstrel
It's the dance
Of the desperate clown
Singing
Don't put
Don't put me down
If i fail
Please babe
Don't put me down
If i fail
In Dory Previn's song "Don't Put Him Down," the lyrics express the struggle that men face to live up to the expectations that women have for them. The song speaks to the idea that men might love and want women, but may not be able to "perform" or "prove" themselves in the way that women want them to. Previn alludes to the fact that men are often judged based on their ability to provide and fulfill societal expectations, and as a result, many men feel trapped and imprisoned. The line "Inside him, it's like there's a little kid in a jail," emphasizes the vulnerability that men often face in trying to live up to societal expectations.
The song goes on to highlight the pressure that men feel to perform, not just for their partners, but for society at large. The lines "...all she has to do is let herself/She doesn't have to get herself up on cue/Like a performing seal in a zoo," speak to the double standards that men face in relationships. Women, according to the song, have the luxury of being able to be themselves, while men must present a façade, putting on a show and performing for their partners.
In short, "Don't Put Him Down" is a song that speaks to the societal pressures that men face in relationships. It highlights the struggle to "perform" and "prove" oneself to a partner and, by extension, to society at large. The lyrics are a powerful reminder that men are just as vulnerable and emotionally complex as women and that we should be mindful of the societal expectations that we place on them.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh babe
Addressing the woman he loves
He loves you
He has strong feelings of love for her
But he just can't make it with you
He is unable to successfully build a meaningful relationship with her
And he just can't tell you it's true
He is unable to confess his true feelings to her
How can he pass the test
How can he meet her specific expectations
When he just can't hardly move himself
When he is struggling to cope with his own internal struggles
Let alone prove himself the best
Let alone achieve the highest level of performance
He wants you
He desires to be with her
But he just can't get it on as you planned
But he is unable to satisfy her needs and wants in a relationship as she desires
And i guess a girl just can't understand
And he assumes that a girl is unable to comprehend the difficulties that a man faces while pursuing a relationship
How much a guy goes through
The struggles that a man faces while pursuing a relationship
All she has to do is let herself
All she has to do is to lower her expectations and allow him to be himself
She doesn't have to get herself up On cue
She doesn't have to behave or perform in a certain way as expected by him
Like a performing seal In a zoo
Like a circus animal with no freedom and liberty to be herself
How was last night's Performance babe?
Asking her opinion about his performance in bed
Was it better than The night before?
Comparing his last night's performance with the previous night
Are the old credentials Any good any good any good any more
Whether his past achievements and performances are still relevant and significant
Or is the act beginning to bore you?
Or whether his performance is not exciting and entertaining her anymore
He can sing! He can dance! He can juggle! He a regular one-man band
He can do many things and appears to be a talented and capable man
His costume's a little tattered His label says Made in japan
He looks a bit worn out and damaged, but still reliable and functional
But he beats his battered drum And he rattles his empty can
But he keeps trying hard and putting in his best despite his limitations
And he somehow gets His flag to fly
And he manages to find some success and recognition for his efforts
Looka him Looka him He's a man!
Look at him and appreciate his manhood, strength and bravery
Inside him It's like there's a Little kid in a jail
He has a childlike innocence and vulnerability inside him that is trapped and restrained
Crying denying he's fragile and frail Hey looka him He's a male
Suppressing or hiding his emotions, weaknesses and insecurities, he appears tough and masculine on the surface
But it's the wail Of the weary minstrel It's the dance Of the desperate clown
But deep down, he is tired, sad and lonely like a traveling singer or performer
Singing Don't put Don't put me down If i fail Please babe Don't put me down If i fail
Asking her not to abandon him or criticize him if he fails to meet her expectations or live up to his own goals and aspirations
Contributed by Arianna V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
small blue caramel
beautiful !