"'Those two words came out of a conversation I’d had with my dad. I was on the East Coast, he was West Coast with my family, and I was going through it. He gives great advice, so I’d call him to talk things out. One day we were going back and forth about my situation—like, just when I thought my relationship couldn’t get any more absurd, this guy would take it to the next level—and at one point, my dad just said, ‘This kid’s got to man up.’ Obviously I know the phrase can be thrown around in ways people have different feelings about, but generally, in this song, it just means ‘grow up.’ Hold yourself accountable. Own up to your mistakes. Be an adult. I have to say, I had so much fun making this song, especially when we started experimenting and, like, Auto-Tuning the babies in the background. It’s this fun record that represents that time of a breakup where you’re still a little pissed off but you’re gaining your confidence back and feeling your attitude.'"
– Hailee Steinfeld via Apple Music
Man Up
Hailee Steinfeld Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Little boy, won't you man up?
Man up, man up (yeah)
Little boy, won't you man up? (Okay)
My brother hates you, my mother hates you
My father and sister, too
Wait, I don't even have a sister
Everything is in past tense
'Cause we're definitely more than through
And I'm runnin', runnin', runnin'
Runnin' out of ways to get through to you
I think it's cute that
Look me in the eyes, won't do that (woo)
Six knives in my back
Tell me why you would do that (do that)
Sun goes down, different face
Didn't think I'd learn her name
Gave you every bit of trust
I just can't believe you'd abuse that
Man up, man up (yeah)
Little boy, won't you man up?
Man up, man up (yeah)
Little boy, won't you man up?
All of these tantrums
They won't win me back, love
Just be a man, love
And I don't mean to sign this version
I just mean, be a better person
For once, man up (okay)
If you would've taken accountability
Then you'd still be holdin' my hand
Maybe not as tight, but at least maybe
Maybe you'd have a chance
I don't even wanna keep talking about this
So I'll just stop
Sike, thought I was done but I'm not (done but I'm not)
I think it's cute that
Look me in the eyes, won't do that (do that)
Six knives in my back
Tell me why you would do that
Man up, man up (yeah)
Little boy, won't you man up?
Man up, man up (yeah)
Little boy, won't you man up?
All of these tantrums
They won't win me back, love
Just be a man, love
And I don't mean to sign this version
I just mean, be a better person
For once, man up (okay)
Ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Man up, man up (yeah)
Little boy, won't you man up? (Won't you man up?)
Man up, man up (yeah)
Little boy, won't you man up?
All of these tantrums
They won't win me back, love
Just be a man, love
And I don't mean to sign this version
I just mean, be a better person
For once, man up (okay), yeah
Just be a man, you baby
I'm done (okay)
Hailee Steinfeld's song "Man Up" is all about a relationship that is falling apart because the man involved can't handle the pressure of being a good partner. The chorus of the song is a plea for him to "man up" and take responsibility for his actions. Hailee tells him that all of his tantrums won't win her back, and that he needs to be a better person if he wants to have a chance with her.
Hailee sings about how her family hates the man in question and how he has broken her trust. She says that she's run out of ways to get through to him and that she can't believe he would abuse her trust. In the second verse, Hailee says that if the man had taken accountability, they might still be together. She ends the song by telling him that he needs to be a man and that she's done with their relationship.
Overall, the song is a powerful anthem for anyone who has been in a relationship with someone who refuses to take responsibility for their actions. Hailee's voice is strong and clear, and she delivers the message with passion and conviction.
Line by Line Meaning
Man up, man up (yeah)
Grow up and be a man
Little boy, won't you man up?
You're acting like a little boy, be a mature adult
My brother hates you, my mother hates you
My family doesn't like you
My father and sister, too
Even if I had a sister, she would hate you too
Wait, I don't even have a sister
This is just a hypothetical situation
But if I did, she'd hate you
You're that unlikeable
Everything is in past tense
We're over, I'm not talking about the present
'Cause we're definitely more than through
We're completely and unequivocally over
And I'm runnin', runnin', runnin'
I'm trying to get away from you
Runnin' out of ways to get through to you
I'm out of ideas to make you understand
I think it's cute that
It's absurd that
Look me in the eyes, won't do that (woo)
You can't even look me in the eye
Six knives in my back
You emotionally hurt me six times
Tell me why you would do that (do that)
I'm asking for an explanation
Sun goes down, different face
You move on to other people quickly
Didn't think I'd learn her name
You didn't expect me to find out
Gave you every bit of trust
I trusted you completely
I just can't believe you'd abuse that
You betrayed my trust
All of these tantrums
Your emotional outbursts
They won't win me back, love
Your behavior won't make me come back to you
Just be a man, love
Be mature, act like an adult
And I don't mean to sign this version
I don't mean to put this on record
I just mean, be a better person
Improve yourself
For once, man up (okay)
Act like a grown man just once
If you would've taken accountability
If you had taken responsibility
Then you'd still be holdin' my hand
We'd still be together
Maybe not as tight, but at least maybe
We may have still been together to some extent
Maybe you'd have a chance
Maybe there would have been a chance for us
I don't even wanna keep talking about this
I'm tired of talking about this
So I'll just stop
I'll just be quiet
Sike, thought I was done but I'm not (done but I'm not)
Just kidding, I'm not actually done yet
Just be a man, you baby
Grow up, you crybaby
I'm done (okay)
I'm finished with you
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Hailee Steinfeld, Elizabeth Lowell Bowland, Dernst II Emile
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
abril dominguez
the fact that she wrote 'and I don't mean society's version I just mean be a better person' daaamn we stan a real queen
speaks
Slay queen!
Manoj Kumar.M
Ikr
Dazzling Gene
abril dominguez so goood 😭
Clodie B
Yesss 💯
Voice of Neha
Probably my fav. Line in song
Lucynnda Dreamer
I love how chill and savage this is at the same time. The passive-agressiveness of her tone is perfect!
Clodie B
True ♥️❤️
翡翠。。。♡
Yep
Shadow Ling
Ye