Manchild
Jen Chapin Lyrics
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Michael Jordan on the front
He's got knock knees
Bigger than his baby face
You can't tell
This little boy he's not a man
No one
He'll listen to beside his gun
He's got
Red hair that he tries to dye blue
He's got a girlfriend
And what's it mean to you now?
If he hits her once in a while
He ain't got nothing else to do
He's just a manchild
well he's handsome and he's got a nice car
He's straight out smart
And he knows he could go far
But that same knowledge
Is like a dark cloud
He's got too much
He's far too proud
He's just a manchild
I can hear his mama crying
When you gonna go to bed?
You're wrestling every word you ever said
To your baby
But he's not your baby no more
T-shirt
Dred-lock
Freckle
Semi-automatic
School book
Soldier
No job
What's it mean to you?
Too much
Too little
Mama
Trying to raise her baby
Drop-out
Stay in
Stay straight
Bend the rules a little
No need
To ask why
He's just a manchild oh
So strong
So silly
Lots of toys to make him feel big now
Mama
You keep trying
Keep trying like centuries past oh
Keep trying
Keep trying
I know you'll keep on trying
The song "Manchild" by Jen Chapin is about a young man who is trying to find his place in the world. He has a mix of childlike and adult characteristics, hence the term "manchild." He wears a t-shirt with Michael Jordan on the front, showing his love for sports and possibly his desire to emulate a successful athlete. He also has knock knees, which could be seen as a childlike trait, but he tries to cover this by presenting himself as an adult with his attempts to dye his red hair blue. He has a girlfriend, but if he hits her, it shows his immaturity and lack of understanding of how to treat a partner.
The manchild is described as having a nice car and being smart, but his knowledge is also a burden and makes it difficult for him to find his place in the world. He is too proud to accept help and seems to have no real direction in life. His mother is shown as being concerned about him, trying to get him to go to bed and questioning his choices, but he no longer sees himself as a baby and is determined to make his own way in the world.
Overall, the song is a commentary on the difficulty of growing up and finding one's place in the world. The manchild is a mix of childlike and adult traits, which can lead to confusion and uncertainty. The chorus repeats the phrase "He's just a manchild" as a reminder that he is still figuring things out and has a way to go before he can be considered a fully functioning adult.
Line by Line Meaning
He's got a t-shirt
He is wearing a t-shirt
Michael Jordan on the front
Michael Jordan's picture is on his t-shirt
He's got knock knees
His knees bend inwards
Bigger than his baby face
His knees are more prominent than his face
You can't tell
It's not easy to tell
This little boy he's not a man
Despite his physical appearance, he is not yet an adult
No one
There is no person
He'll listen to beside his gun
The only thing he listens to or trusts is his gun
He's got
He possesses
Red hair that he tries to dye blue
He attempted to dye his red hair blue
He's got a girlfriend
He is in a romantic relationship
And what's it mean to you now?
What significance does this relationship have to you?
If he hits her once in a while
If he physically abuses her sometimes
He ain't got nothing else to do
He doesn't have anything else to occupy his time
He's just a manchild
Although physically an adult, he behaves like a child
well he's handsome and he's got a nice car
He's attractive and owns a good car
He's straight out smart
He's intelligent
And he knows he could go far
He believes he can achieve great things in life
But that same knowledge
However, that same intelligence
Is like a dark cloud
It weighs him down or affects him negatively
He's got too much
He has too many things on his mind
He's far too proud
He has excessive pride or ego
I can hear his mama crying
I can hear his mother weeping
When you gonna go to bed?
When are you going to sleep?
You're wrestling every word you ever said
His mother is struggling with her own words and actions regarding her son
To your baby
To her child
But he's not your baby no more
He is not a baby anymore and has grown up
T-shirt
A type of clothing
Dred-lock
A hairstyle that involves matting and knotting hair
Freckle
A small brownish spot on the skin
Semi-automatic
A type of firearm
School book
A book used in school for studying
Soldier
A person who serves in an army
No job
He is unemployed
What's it mean to you?
What significance does this have to you?
Too much
He has too many problems or things to deal with
Too little
He has not enough things or opportunities
Mama
His mother
Trying to raise her baby
Trying to bring up her child
Drop-out
A person who leaves school or college before completing a course
Stay in
Continue being in school or college
Stay straight
Follow a good path without any negative behavior
Bend the rules a little
Break the rules just a little
No need
There is no requirement
To ask why
To question why he behaves in such a manner
He's just a manchild oh
He acts like a child despite being an adult
So strong
He possesses physical strength
So silly
He behaves in foolish or immature ways
Lots of toys to make him feel big now
He has many things that make him feel mature, although he is not
Mama
His mother
You keep trying
You continue to attempt to help your son
Keep trying like centuries past oh
Continue trying to help your child, just like mothers have done for centuries
Keep trying
Continue attempting to support him
I know you'll keep on trying
I'm certain you will continue trying to help him
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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