Woman Is The Nigger Of The World
John and Yoko Lyrics
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Yes she is, think about it
Woman is the nigger of the world
Think about it, do something about it
We make her paint her face and dance
If she won't be slave, we say that she don't love us
If she's real, we say she's trying to be a man
While putting her down we pretend that she is above us
Woman is the nigger of the world, yes she is
If you don't believe me take a look to the one you're with
Woman is the slaves of the slaves
Ah yeah, better scream about it
We make her bear and raise our children
And then we leave her flat for being a fat old mother hen
We tell her home is the only place she would be
Then we complain that she's too unworldly to be our friend
Woman is the nigger of the world, yes she is
If you don't believe me take a look to the one you're with
Woman is the slaves of the slaves
Yeah (think about it)
We insult her everyday on TV
And wonder why she has no guts or confidence
When she's young we kill her will to be free
While telling her not to be so smart we put her down for being so dumb
Woman is the nigger of the world, yes she is
If you don't believe me take a look to the one you're with
Woman is the slaves of the slaves
Yes she is, if you believe me, you better scream about it
We make her paint her face and dance
The song "Woman Is The Nigger Of The World" by John Lennon and Yoko Ono was released in 1972. The lyrics of the song speak about the oppression of women and draw parallels between their treatment and the historical treatment of African Americans in the United States. The title of the song itself is a provocative statement meant to shock the listener and spark conversation about gender inequality.
The first verse highlights the way that women are expected to conform to societal expectations of beauty and subservience. Women are told to wear makeup and dance for men, and if they don't comply, they are accused of not loving their partners. The second verse delves deeper into the ways in which women are oppressed, including being forced to bear and raise children, and being confined to the domestic sphere. The line "Then we complain that she's too unworldly to be our friend" is particularly pointed, highlighting the way that women are belittled for not being interested in traditionally male pursuits.
The chorus of the song repeats the line "Woman is the nigger of the world" several times, making it clear that the parallel between the oppression of women and the historical oppression of African Americans is intentional. The verses continue to call attention to the ways in which women are demeaned and disrespected, including through media and societal expectations of intelligence.
Overall, the lyrics of the song are a powerful call to action, urging listeners to recognize the ways in which women are oppressed and to take action to combat gender inequality.
Line by Line Meaning
We make her paint her face and dance
We force her to conform to society's beauty standards and perform for our pleasure.
If she won't be slave, we say that she don't love us
If she refuses to conform and be subservient to men, we accuse her of not loving us.
If she's real, we say she's trying to be a man
If she displays traits that challenge traditional gender roles, we dismiss her as trying to be a man.
While putting her down we pretend that she is above us
We belittle and degrade her, but try to maintain the illusion that she is superior to us.
We make her bear and raise our children
We expect her to take care of our children and sacrifice her own ambitions for the sake of the family.
And then we leave her flat for being a fat old mother hen
Once she has fulfilled her duties as a mother and aged, we abandon her for being unattractive and no longer useful to us.
Then we complain that she's too unworldly to be our friend
We criticize her for not being able to relate to our interests and hobbies, even though we are the ones who have confined her to the domestic sphere.
We insult her everyday on TV
We subject her to constant criticism and ridicule in the media.
And wonder why she has no guts or confidence
We express confusion and disbelief when women do not have the self-assurance and courage to stand up to societal pressures.
When she's young we kill her will to be free
Starting from a young age, we discourage her from seeking liberty and independence.
While telling her not to be so smart we put her down for being so dumb
We discourage her from pursuing knowledge and intelligence, while simultaneously belittling her for not being knowledgeable or intelligent enough.
Woman is the nigger of the world
Women are treated as the lowest of the low and suffer deep-rooted oppression.
Yes she is, think about it
This is an undeniable fact that deserves reflection and analysis.
Woman is the slaves of the slaves
Women are subjugated not only by men, but also by other marginalized groups.
Ah yeah, better scream about it
This is a call to action for people to speak out against the injustices faced by women.
If you don't believe me take a look to the one you're with
Observe the women in your own life and recognize the ways in which they are oppressed and devalued.
Yeah (think about it)
This is a reminder to consider the message and implications of the lyrics.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: JOHN LENNON, YOKO ONO
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