You Don't Own Me
Goodness And Mercy Lyrics
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It's not a matter of going to grow
It's not a matter of time or how I feel
I'm throwing off the shadow of a better man now
What you see is what you never had
Get real
Get another
I don't exist when you don't see me
What the eye don't see won't break the heart
You can make believe when we're apart
But when you leave I disappear
When you don't see me...
Oh, it's kind of different when your there
You can lease the peace of mind
You bought a mask, I put it on
You never thought to ask me
If I wear it when you're gone
Get real
Get another
I don't exist when you don't see me
I don't exist when you're not here
What the eye don't see won't break the heart
You can make believe when we're apart
But when you leave I disappear
When you don't see me...
You never learned
You bought me
Everything and less
I turned
You couldn't let me move
I guess, I don't deny, it don't disprove
What you see is what you lost
If I were you I wouldn't try
Get real
Get another
I don't exist when you don't see me
I don't exist when you're not here
What the eye don't see won't break the heart
You can make believe when we're apart
But when you leave I disappear
When you don't see me...
The lyrics to Goodness And Mercy's song "You Don't Own Me" are introspective and reflect on how the singer's sense of self-worth is tied to another person's perception of them. The first verse states that the singer's growth and emotions are independent of the other person's presence or opinions. They are throwing off the shadow of a better man, which could signify a past relationship in which the other person compared the singer to someone else. The chorus emphasizes that the singer does not feel real or existent when the other person is not around. This speaks to the importance the other person holds in the singer's life and the impact their presence has on their sense of self.
The second verse dives deeper into the dynamic of the relationship. The other person has bought the singer's peace of mind by providing material possessions but has neglected to truly know the singer. The other person has also bought a mask for the singer to wear, which could symbolize a persona that is not truly reflective of the singer's personality. The singer questions if they wear the mask when the other person is not around, indicating a disconnect between their true self and the image that the other person has of them. The chorus is repeated, reinforcing the idea that the singer's existence is tied to the other person's presence.
The final verse suggests that the other person has tried to control the singer and has failed to allow them to grow or move forward. The singer implies that the other person has lost them because they bought into an image of who they thought the singer was, rather than taking the time to truly know them. The chorus is repeated twice more, driving home the idea that the singer's worth is tied to the other person's perception of them.
Line by Line Meaning
When you don't see me...
I get the feeling of unworthiness when you're not around.
It's not a matter of going to grow
It's not that I am looking for growth or change.
It's not a matter of time or how I feel
Neither is it a question of time or emotions.
I'm throwing off the shadow of a better man now
I'm trying to get to be the best me, and let go of the image you want me to be.
What you see is what you never had
You're trying to change me into the person you've never had yet.
Get real
Face reality as it is.
Get another
Find someone else like you want me to be.
I don't exist when you don't see me
I feel invisible when you're not here.
I don't exist when you're not here
I don't feel present or valid enough when you're not around.
What the eye don't see won't break the heart
I won't be hurt if you don't see what I'm going through.
You can make believe when we're apart
You can pretend that everything's okay when we're not together.
But when you leave I disappear
I feel like I cease to exist when you're gone.
Oh, it's kind of different when your there
It feels different when you're around.
You can lease the peace of mind
You can have some peace of mind by keeping me under control.
You bought a mask, I put it on
You chose who you wanted me to be, and I tried to comply.
You never thought to ask me
You didn't even consider how I really feel about it.
If I wear it when you're gone
I still put on the mask even when you're away.
You never learned
You never picked up how I was feeling.
You bought me
You thought you owned me.
Everything and less
You tried to make me into everything you want, even when it was impossible.
I turned
I changed in ways you didn't want.
You couldn't let me move
You wouldn't let me be me.
I guess, I don't deny, it don't disprove
I understand that what you want isn't necessarily wrong, but it's not right for me.
What you see is what you lost
You lost what you thought you had when you saw me being myself.
If I were you I wouldn't try
If you were in my shoes, you wouldn't continue trying to control me.
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing
Written by: ANDREAS BRUHN, ANDREW TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind