Poverty drove the Dickens to move to the Baltimore, Maryland area when Dickins was nineteen. There she met Mike Seeger, younger brother of Pete Seeger and founding member of the New Lost City Ramblers and became active in the Baltimore-Washington area bluegrass and folk music scene during the 1960s. During this time she also established a collaborative relationship with Mike Seeger's wife, Alice Gerrard, and as "Hazel & Alice" recorded two albums for the Folkways label: "Who's That Knocking (And Other Bluegrass Country Music) (1965)" and "Won't You Come & Sing for Me (1973)". In this regard, Dickens and Gerrard were bluegrass bandleaders at a time when the vast majority of bluegrass bands were led by men.
Dickens appeared in the documentary Harlan County, USA and also contributed four songs to the soundtrack of the same film. She has also appeared in the film Matewan.
Dickins continues to record and perform all of her life. Her voice is among the most powerful and moving of all bluegrass singers, male or female.
Hazel Dickens died April 22, 2011 at the Washington Home hospice in the District. She was 75 and had complications from pneumonia. Bless you old girl.
Don't Put Her Down You Helped Put Her There
Hazel Dickens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's your plaything
You can make her or break her, it's true
You abuse her, accuse her
Turn her round and use her
Then forsake her any time it suits you
There's more to her than powder and paint
And if she acts that way
It's 'cause you've had your day
Don't put her down, you helped put her there
She hangs around
Playing her clown
While her soul is aching inside
She's heartbreak's child
She just lives for your smile
To build her up in a world made by man
There's more to her than powder and paint
Than her peroxided bleached-out hair
And if she acts that way
It's 'cause you've had your day
Don't put her down, you helped put her there
At the house down the way
You sneak and you pay
For her love, her body or her shame
Then you call yourself a man
And say you just don't understand
How a woman could turn out that way
There's more to her than powder and paint
The men she picks up at the bar
And if she acts that way
It's 'cause you've had your day
Don't put her down, you helped put her there
And if she acts that way
It's 'cause you've had your day
Don't put her down, you helped put her there
The lyrics of "Don't Put Her Down You Helped Put Her There" by Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard offer a poignant commentary on the societal treatment of women who are often blamed and shamed for their actions, without any regard for the systemic oppression they may be facing. The lyrics talk about a woman who is used and abused by a man, and despite being aware of her situation, she continues to put up with it because of societal pressures. The song highlights the hypocrisy of the situation, where men exploit women and still judge them for being in the situation they put them in.
The first paragraph talks about how the male character of the song uses and manipulates the woman, treating her like a plaything that he can discard at any moment. The second paragraph describes how the woman is forced to hide her true emotions behind a facade of makeup and fake smiles to please the man. The lyrics further state that the woman is heartbroken and just wants the man's approval, despite the toxic relationship they share. The last verse talks about how this woman is labeled as 'shameful' and 'dirty' by the society, while the man who exploits her is applauded and glorified as a 'real man'.
As a whole, the song is a powerful message for women's rights and gender equality, highlighting the need for society as a whole to change how it treats women.
Line by Line Meaning
You pull the string
You have complete control over her
She's your plaything
She is merely a tool for you to use
You can make her or break her, it's true
Her success or failure lie completely in your hands
You abuse her, accuse her
You mistreat her and blame her for things she did not do
Turn her round and use her
You manipulate her to your liking
Then forsake her any time it suits you
You discard her when she is no longer useful
There's more to her than powder and paint
She is more than just her physical appearance
Than her peroxided bleached-out hair
Her hair color does not define her as a person
And if she acts that way
If she is behaving in a certain manner
It's 'cause you've had your day
It is because you have had your chance to use and abuse her
Don't put her down, you helped put her there
Don't criticize her when you are partly responsible for her situation
She hangs around
She is often in your presence
Playing her clown
She puts on a façade to entertain you
While her soul is aching inside
She is deeply hurt even though she tries to hide it
She's heartbreak's child
She is a victim of heartache and pain
She just lives for your smile
She seeks your validation and approval
To build her up in a world made by man
To succeed in a man's world, she must please men like you
At the house down the way
At the nearby home
You sneak and you pay
You go there secretly and pay for her services
For her love, her body or her shame
You pay to use her physically or emotionally
Then you call yourself a man
You believe this makes you a man
And say you just don't understand
You claim you do not comprehend how women end up like her
How a woman could turn out that way
How a woman could become a victim of circumstance
The men she picks up at the bar
The men who approach her at the bar
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: HAZEL DICKENS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind