Hard Headed Woman
Elvis Presley and the Jordanaires Lyrics
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A soft hearted man
Been the cause of trouble
Ever since the world began.
Oh yeah, ever since the world began
A hard headed woman been
A thorn in the side of man.
"Listen here to me,
Don't you let me catch you
Messing round that apple tree."
Oh yeah, ever since the world began
A hard headed woman been
A thorn in the side of man.
Now Samson told Delilah
Loud and clear,
"Keep your cotton picking fingers
Out my curly hair."
Oh yeah, ever since the world began
A hard headed woman been
A thorn in the side of man.
I heard about a king
Who was doing swell
Till he started playing
With that evil Jezebel.
Oh yeah, ever since the world began
A hard headed woman been a thorn in the side of man.
I got a woman,
A head like a rock.
If she ever went away
I'd cry around the clock.
Oh yeah, ever since the world began
A hard headed woman been
A thorn in the side of man.
The song "Hard Headed Woman" by Elvis Presley is a playful take on the age-old trope of the stubborn, headstrong woman causing trouble for the soft-hearted man. It opens with the assertion that this dynamic has been causing problems "ever since the world began," and goes on to tell the stories of Adam and Eve, Samson and Delilah, and a king who met his downfall thanks to the influence of a wicked woman.
The lyrics, while tongue-in-cheek, are also somewhat critical of the societal expectations placed on women. The women in the song are all punished for their perceived misdeeds - Eve is expelled from the Garden of Eden, Delilah betrays Samson, and Jezebel leads the king astray. At the same time, however, the men are shown to be easily swayed by these women, highlighting their own weaknesses and suggesting that perhaps the fault lies not with the women themselves, but with the societal structures that limit their power and agency.
Overall, "Hard Headed Woman" is a fun, catchy song that disguises some deeper societal commentary beneath its playful lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Well a hard headed woman,
Throughout history, many women have been uncompromising and stubborn in their ways.
A soft hearted man
Men, on the other hand, have often been more forgiving and understanding.
Been the cause of trouble
This mismatch of traits has led to many conflicts and problems.
Ever since the world began.
This has been true for as long as human history has been recorded.
Now Adam told to Eve,
Even in the creation story, the man had to warn the woman about something.
"Listen here to me,
Adam pleaded with Eve to pay attention to him.
Don't you let me catch you
He warned her not to do something that he felt was unwise.
Messing round that apple tree."
He specifically warned her about eating the forbidden fruit, which led to their expulsion from the Garden of Eden.
Now Samson told Delilah
The story of Samson and Delilah is another example of this dynamic.
Loud and clear,
Samson was forceful in his warning to Delilah.
"Keep your cotton picking fingers
He told her to stay away from his hair, which was the key to his strength.
Out my curly hair."
He was afraid that her manipulation would lead to his downfall.
I heard about a king
This dynamic also played out in the realm of politics.
Who was doing swell
The king was doing well until he made a bad decision.
Till he started playing
He got involved with someone who was not good for him.
With that evil Jezebel.
Jezebel was known for her wicked ways and negative influence on the king.
I got a woman,
The singer is describing his own experience with a hard headed woman.
A head like a rock.
She is stubborn and refuses to change her mind.
If she ever went away
The singer is saying that he depends on her, despite her difficult personality.
I'd cry around the clock.
He would be very upset if she left him.
A hard headed woman been a thorn in the side of man.
Overall, this song is commenting on the long-standing struggles between men and women, and how their differences can cause problems and heartache.
Lyrics © RALEIGH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: CLAUDE DE METRUIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind