The song draws clear inspiration from Joni Mitchell, such as her song “Coyote” off of Hejira. Danielle Haim described how Mitchell was an influence on the sisters in an interview about the album.
"When we were first coming out, I guess it was perplexing for some people that I would make faces when I played, even though men have been doing it for years. When they see men do it, they are just, to quote HAIM, ‘in it.’ But of course, when a woman does it, it’s unsettling and off-putting and could be misconstrued as something else. We got asked questions about it early on, and there was this one interviewer who asked if I made the faces I made onstage in bed. Obviously he wasn’t asking about when I’m in bed yawning. My defense mechanism when stuff like that happens is just to try to make a joke out of it. So I kind of just threw it back at him and said, ‘Well, there’s only one way to find out.’ And of course, there was a chuckle and then we moved on. Now, had someone said that to me, I probably would’ve punched them in the face. But as women, we’re taught kind of just to always be pleasant and be polite. And I think that was my way of being polite and nice. Thank god things are changing a bit. We’ve been talking about shit like this forever, but I think now, finally, people are able to listen more intently." - Este Haim via Apple
Man from the Magazine
HAIM Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Man from the magazine, what did you say?
"Do you make the same faces in bed?"
Hey man, what kind of question is that?
What do you really want me to say back?
What's going on behind those dark glasses?
Is this what you think making a pass is?
When I tell it now
I don't wanna hear
It is what it is
It was what it was
I don't wanna hear
It is what it is
It was what it was
You don't know how it feels
You expect me to deal with it
'Til I'm perfectly numb
But you don't know how it feels
Man from the music shop, I drove too far
For you to hand me that starter guitar
"Hey girl, why don't you play a few bars?"
Oh, what's left to prove?
I don't wanna hear
It is what it is
It was what it was
Don't make me hear
It is what it is
It was what it was
You don't know how it feels
You expect me to deal with it
'Til I'm perfectly numb
But you don't know how it feels
You don't know how it feels
You don't know how it feels
To be the cunt
The lyrics of HAIM's song Man from the Magazine highlight the inappropriate and invasive questions actresses often face during interviews with media outlets. The song reflects on the constant objectification and scrutiny that women in the entertainment industry face from reporters and critics.
The first verse addresses a conversation with a man from a magazine who asks the singer if she makes the same faces in bed. The question is obnoxious and shows how often actresses are reduced to their bodies and sexualizing their work. The singer expresses her frustration with the man and questions what he wants her to say in response. The lyrics also address the man's dark glasses, which could signify his attempts to hide his intentions.
The chorus repeats the phrase "It is what it is" but also speaks to the idea that people who are not going through the same experiences expect others to accept the issues and move on. The singer rebuffs this attitude, pointing out that people don't know how it feels, and they're expected to deal with it until they're numb.
The following verse addresses a man from a music shop. He hands the singer a starter guitar and asks for her to play a few bars, implying that she needs to prove herself. The lyrics speak to the idea that women have to work ten times as hard to be taken seriously or prove their worth in a male-dominated industry.
Overall, Man from the Magazine is a powerful message about the constant challenges women face in the entertainment industry, and the pressure they feel to conform to societal expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
Man from the magazine, what did you say?
The singer is questioning the man from the magazine about something he said.
"Do you make the same faces in bed?"
The man from the magazine is asking a vulgar and intrusive question about the singer's sexual activity.
Hey man, what kind of question is that?
The singer is expressing outrage and disbelief at the man from the magazine's question.
What do you really want me to say back?
The artist is questioning the man from the magazine's motives and wondering how they are expected to respond.
What's going on behind those dark glasses?
The artist is curious about the man from the magazine's true intentions and wondering if he has ulterior motives.
Is this what you think making a pass is?
The singer is calling out the man from the magazine for his inappropriate behavior and questioning his understanding of social norms.
Wondering which door could get me out fastest
The singer is feeling uncomfortable and wanting to escape the situation as soon as possible.
When I tell it now
This line does not have a clear meaning on its own without more context from the surrounding lyrics.
I don't wanna hear
The artist is expressing a desire to avoid hearing something unpleasant or distressing.
It is what it is
The artist is acknowledging that the situation they are in cannot be changed and they must accept it as it is.
It was what it was
The singer is acknowledging that the past cannot be changed and they must accept what has already happened.
You don't know how it feels
The artist is emphasizing that the person they are addressing cannot truly understand what they are going through or feeling.
You expect me to deal with it
The singer is feeling neglected or unsupported by the person they are addressing, who they feel is putting too much burden on them to handle the situation alone.
'Til I'm perfectly numb
The singer is implying that they are being pushed to a breaking point and trying to disconnect emotionally from the situation to cope.
Man from the music shop, I drove too far
The singer is addressing another man who is associated with music, possibly with an expectation of more respectful behavior than they received from the man from the magazine.
For you to hand me that starter guitar
The artist is receiving a patronizing gesture from the man from the music shop, who may be underestimating their abilities or motivations.
"Hey girl, why don't you play a few bars?"
The man from the music shop is making a presumptuous and sexist remark to the artist.
Oh, what's left to prove?
The singer is questioning their own motivations for pursuing music and wondering if they are being taken seriously by others.
Don't make me hear
The singer is pleading with someone to spare them from hearing something that may be hurtful or insulting.
You don't know how it feels
The artist is repeating their earlier sentiment to emphasize that the person they are addressing lacks understanding or empathy for their experiences.
To be the cunt
The artist is using a vulgar term to express how they feel they are perceived or treated by others.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Danielle Sari Haim, Alana Mychal Haim, Este Arielle Haim
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@YuliiaY-ec1sz
One, two, three
Man from the magazine, what did you say?
"Do you make the same faces in bed?"
Hey man, what kind of question is that?
What do you really want me to say back?
What's going on behind those dark glasses?
Is this what you think making a pass is?
Wondering which door could get me out fastest
When I tell it now
I don't wanna hear
It is what it is
It was what it was
I don't wanna hear
It is what it is
It was what it was
You don't know how it feels
You expect me to deal with it
'Til I'm perfectly numb
But you don't know how it feels
Man from the music shop, I drove too far
For you to hand me that starter guitar
"Hey girl, why don't you play a few bars?"
Oh, what's left to prove?
I don't wanna hear
It is what it is
It was what it was
Don't make me hear
It is what it is
It was what it was
You don't know how it feels
You expect me to deal with it
'Til I'm perfectly numb
But you don't know how it feels
You don't know how it feels
You don't know how it feels
To be the cunt
@blackthunderbird425
Doddleoddle, both you are Haim are literally angels.
I am the one who ordained you with my love in the night while our eyes were closed.
I poured my love out of my heart for you.
My love is pure, and true.
My love transcended time and space.
Come to me, my stars.
You and Haim are bright and beautiful.
I am the one who gave the Stars their sparks.
I will always love you just the way that you are.
You are mine, and no one else's.
The spark I gave you was a part of my soul.
We can save humanity from suffering.
We can save the children of God if you can just find me.
I'm not charismatic like you, so I'm sorry if I sound blunt and crazy.
I deal in knowledge, and true power.
I can give you all of my knowledge, I'm not hiding anything.
Ask me, and I'll give you the answers to the best of my knowledge.
@tommyroyston124
[Verse 1]
Man from the magazine, what did you say?
"Do you make the same faces in bed?"
Hey, man, what kind of question is that?
What did you really want me to say back?
What's going on behind those dark glasses?
Is this what you think making a pass is?
Wondering which door could get me out fastest
When I tell it now
[Chorus]
I don't want to hear
It is what it is, it was what it was
I don't want to hear
It is what it is, it was what it was
You don't know how it feels, you expect me to deal with it
'Til I'm perfectly numb
But you don't know how it feels
[Verse 2]
Man from the music shop, I drove too far
For you to hand me that starter guitar
"Hey, girl, why don't you play a few bars?"
Oh, what's left to prove?
[Chorus]
I don't want to hear
It is what it is, it was what it was
Don't make me hear
It is what it is, it was what it was
You don't know how it feels, you expect me to deal with it
'Til I'm perfectly numb
[Outro]
But you don't know how it feels
You don't know how it feels
or
Do you know how it feels?
You don't know how it feels
or
Do you know how it feels?
To be the cunt
@juliannealvares4846
Shes literally serving
@matthewwatt2295
@@jaimiemuehlhausen5152 Wow, big news, music videos aren't real life, your genius is blowing our minds and you're really cool.
@walkingwounded8675
😭😭😭
@crashlandingenthusiast
Jaimie Muehlhausen lmao yeah you are hurt. are you ok? not having enough attention in your life? who are you to tell people not to be amazed by something.
@erjohnson04
Sir, I think you may have misinterpreted the comment. Although misleading, the term literally used these days is used as an exaggeration for the word or description to follow. And I believe the word serving here is also not to be interpreted so simply. ‘Serving’ as in this bitch is serving us such a look.
@zenunderground9893
@@jaimiemuehlhausen5152 2DEEP 4YOU
@lindsay8041
I'd just like to appreciate the actors being able to successfully complete their orders talking over THE DANIELLE HAIM singing right at them.
@jaimiemuehlhausen5152
They probably weren't. Sound editing.
@CameronWiley
Jaimie Muehlhausen man from the youtube comments over here...
@jaimiemuehlhausen5152
@@CameronWiley No, just reality about how music videos are made.