Stilettos
A country-pop singer and songwriter out of Knoxville, Tennessee, Kelsea Bal… Read Full Bio ↴A country-pop singer and songwriter out of Knoxville, Tennessee, Kelsea Ballerini started writing songs when she was 13 years old, began learning guitar a year later, and moved to Nashville at 15 to pursue her dream of being a professional singer and songwriter. Four years later in 2013, when she was 19, Ballerini signed a publishing deal with Black River Publishing and a recording deal with Black River Entertainment later that same year. A debut single, "Love Me Like You Mean It," appeared from the label in 2014; the single slowly became a big hit, reaching number five on the Billboard country singles charts and number one on its country airplay charts. A digital EP, simply titled Kelsea Ballerini, was released in November 2014, and as word about Ballerini spread, she was named one of 2014's Next Women of Country by CMT and appeared on the Grand Ol' Opry for the first time on February 13, 2015. In May 2015, Black River released Ballerini's first full-length album, The First Time; it debuted at four on Billboard's U.S. country charts and 31 on the Billboard Top 200, eventually going gold. In June 2017, Ballerini released "Legends," the first single from her follow-up LP Unapologetically, which appeared in November.

Stilettos
Kelsea Ballerini Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Go ahead and say what you're gonna say
Give it to me straight, don't sugarcoat it
Go ahead and do what you're gonna do
We're already done, I already know it
So you can take your new blond out to get your drink on
For everyone to see
But you don't get to get to me
I wear my pain like stilettos
As bad as it may hurt, no, you'll never know
I keep walking with my head up, putting on a show
And fronting like nothing is wrong
I talk the talk like I'm a tough girl
'Cause there ain't room for weakness in a rough world
That keeps saying you were never enough, girl,
Yeah, when you get burned, you learn to be strong
I wear my pain like stilettos

I ain't staying down, tonight I'm going out
Yeah, even if I have to fake it
A little black dress to cover my mess
So you won't know my heart is breaking
I pull myself together from the fallout of forever
For everyone to see
Oh, you don't get to get to me

I wear my pain like stilettos
As bad as it may hurt, no, you'll never know
I keep walking with my head up, putting on a show
And fronting like nothing is wrong
I talk the talk like I'm a tough girl
'Cause there ain't room for weakness in a rough world
That keeps saying you were never enough, girl,
Yeah, when you get burned, you learn to be strong
I wear my pain like stilettos

I wear my pain like stilettos
As bad as it may hurt, no, you'll never know
I keep walking with my head up, putting on a show
And fronting like nothing is wrong
I talk the talk like I'm a tough girl
'Cause there ain't room for weakness in a rough world
That keeps saying you were never enough, girl,
Yeah, when you get burned, you learn to be strong




I wear my pain like stilettos, yeah
I wear my pain like stilettos

Overall Meaning

The song “Stilettos” by Kelsea Ballerini talks about a woman’s resilience after a breakup. The lyrics are about a woman who has been hurt by her ex-boyfriend and how she puts on a brave face and keeps walking with her head held up high. The chorus uses metaphors to describe how the woman feels after getting hurt. She compares her pain to stilettos as she wears them like shoes. She talks the talk like a tough girl, as she’s learned to be strong from the hurt she experienced. The song talks about how she’s not going to let her ex-boyfriend get to her and how she’s going to continue to live her life, even if she has to fake it.


The song is relatable to anyone who’s experienced heartbreak or tough times in life. Many people can relate to putting on a brave face even though they’re hurting inside. The lyrics of the song are powerful and emphasize the importance of being strong even in difficult times.


Line by Line Meaning

Go ahead and say what you're gonna say
Encouraging the person to speak their mind.


Give it to me straight, don't sugarcoat it
Asking for honesty, without embellishment or distortion.


Go ahead and do what you're gonna do
Resigned to someone's intentions or actions.


We're already done, I already know it
Acknowledging the end of a relationship.


So you can take your new blond out to get your drink on
Letting go of the person as they pursue other relationships.


For everyone to see
No longer trying to hide or pretend everything is okay.


But you don't get to get to me
Refusing to let the person affect emotions or self-worth.


I wear my pain like stilettos
Using pain as a source of inner strength, like high heels that are uncomfortable but empowering.


As bad as it may hurt, no, you'll never know
Internalizing pain and not showing it externally.


I keep walking with my head up, putting on a show
Maintaining a façade of strength despite inner struggles.


And fronting like nothing is wrong
Pretending everything is fine even when it isn't.


I talk the talk like I'm a tough girl
Acting confident and resilient despite vulnerability.


'Cause there ain't room for weakness in a rough world
Believing that showing vulnerability will result in being taken advantage of or overlooked.


That keeps saying you were never enough, girl
Internalizing criticism and feelings of inadequacy.


Yeah, when you get burned, you learn to be strong
Using past experiences to become stronger and more resilient.


I ain't staying down, tonight I'm going out
Resisting the urge to give up or wallow in sadness.


Yeah, even if I have to fake it
Putting on a brave face even when not feeling it.


A little black dress to cover my mess
Using clothing as a way to mask internal struggles and present a put-together appearance.


So you won't know my heart is breaking
Hiding emotions from others to avoid vulnerability or scrutiny.


I pull myself together from the fallout of forever
Recovering and regaining composure after a significant loss or change.


I wear my pain like stilettos, yeah
Repeating the central metaphor to reinforce the idea of using pain as strength.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Forest Glen Whitehead, Kelsea Ballenini, Kevin Stuart Savigar

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Morgabo

I told this guy that I like him and...He said he liked me! We got together and a few weeks later...He kissed another girl, his friends and the girl laughed He told me

“You thought I liked you?! Your a nerd! It was a dare idiot!!!”

I didn’t cry, I didn’t get mad...I said


“I’m happy your happy”

I was dying inside...



All comments from YouTube:

eosofspades_

My favorite thing about this song is that so little of it relates to relationships and so much is about being strong. This song I can relate to so much, not just with exes, but anyone who hurts me. It's like walls. I keep them up around anyone else, then calm down and let myself cry when I'm alone.

Mish Jackson

Same, but it's funny cuz I also always hope someone will see through my act. No one ever does tho

Hiraeth

I dedicate this song to my life. I act tough and put on an act, but most of the time I just want to cry. Sadness is a weakness, so you can't show it often. I wish I could just break down and cry sometimes instead of keeping it all in.

eosofspades_

Omg, I feel exactly the same. I always feel like I have to keep my walls up around people, when really I need to cry but I don't want to ever because it makes me feel weak, and I want to be strong. ;-;

Kira Chapman

Same after everything that has happened this is me thier are some moments we're litterlty break down and cry but never in front of people

Kaye Caudwell

Sunshine 9232 same girl there is so many problems I have to do the same because I know it will hurt someone who is closest to me

Mariah Lawrence / rose twin girl

Sunshine 9232 same

Lowri Smith

THATS EXACTLY HOW I FEEL!!!!!!!!😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

2 More Replies...

Strawberry Reads

Love this song. Can apply to many things in your life.

Kaye Caudwell

I suffer with problems.This girl and her music has helped me so much and I love her I am using this song for a talent show I am in this girl has my full support keep writing and singing

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