Macy Gray was originally hesitant to record a studio album due to what is, arguably, her most recognizable feature -- her voice. She started her music career as a songwriter. Her first album was actually a mistake; she was at the studio waiting for the person who was supposed to be singing her song, and the producer wanted to hear what one of the songs was supposed to sound like. Once she started singing, the producer liked the rough sound of her voice so much he offered her a record deal.
Walk This Way
Macy Gray Lyrics
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'Till I talked to my daddy he say
He said, you ain't seen noting
'Till you're down on a muffin
Then you're sure to be a-changin' your ways
I met a cheerleader, was a real young bleeder
All the times I can reminisce
Started with a little kiss, like this
See-saw swingin' with the boys in the school
With your feet flyin' up in the air
Singin' hey diddle-diddle with the kitty in the middle
You be swingin' like you just didn't care
So I took a big chance at the high school dance
With a missy who was ready to play
Was it me she was foolin'?
'Cause she knew what she was doin'
Taught me how to walk this way
She told me to
Walk this way, walk this way
Walk this way, walk this way
Walk this way, walk this way
Walk this way, walk this way
Ah, just give me a kiss
Like this
School girl sadie with the classy kinda sassy
Little skirt climbing way up her knees
There was three young ladies in the school gym locker
When I noticed they was lookin' at me
I was a high school loser, never made it with a lady
Till the boys told me something I missed
Then my next door neighbour with a daughter had a favour
Took me just a little kiss, like this
See-saw swingin' with the boys in the school
With your feet flyin' up in the air
Singin' hey diddle-diddle with the kitty in the middle
You be swingin' like you just didn't care
So I took a big chance at the high school dance
With a missy who was ready to play
Was it me she was foolin'?
'Cause she knew what she was doin'
Told me how to walk this way
She told me to
Walk this way, walk this way
Walk this way, walk this way
Walk this way, walk this way
Walk this way, talk this way
Just give me a kiss
Like this
The lyrics of "Walk This Way" are about teenage rebellion and sexual exploration. The singer, a high school student, meets a cheerleader and starts a sexual relationship with her and her cousin. The lyrics also reference the singer's discovery of his sexual prowess, which is thanks in part to his neighbor's daughter. The lyrics are suggestive but not explicit, and the double entendres make the song playful and fun.
The chorus of the song, "Walk this way, talk this way, just give me a kiss," is a call to action. The cheerleader is teaching the singer how to be a man and how to walk and talk like a confident, sexually secure person. The song is a classic rock anthem that celebrates the joys of adolescent sexual exploration.
The song was originally recorded by Aerosmith in 1975 but became a hit when it was covered by rap group Run-DMC in 1986. Macy Gray's version was released in 2002 and was included in the soundtrack of the film "Spider-Man." While Gray's version is much slower and more soulful than the original, it retains the playful spirit of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Backstroke lover always hidin' 'neath the cover
The person is a secret lover who stays hidden, and avoids any attention or contact.
'Till I talked to my daddy he say
The person's dad advised them on important life lessons.
He said, you ain't seen noting
The dad suggested that the person hasn't seen anything yet.
'Till you're down on a muffin
Until the person experiences something unexpected or challenging.
Then you're sure to be a-changin' your ways
If the person experiences a tough time, they are likely to change their perspective or behavior.
I met a cheerleader, was a real young bleeder
The person met a cheerleader who was quite young.
All the times I can reminisce
The person is reflecting on a past event that they remember fondly.
Ah the best thing lovin' with her sister and her cousin
The person remembers a great time they had with their girlfriend and her relatives.
Started with a little kiss, like this
Their relationship began with a small kiss.
See-saw swingin' with the boys in the school
The person hung out with the boys on the seesaws at school.
With your feet flyin' up in the air
They kicked their feet up high while on the seesaw.
Singin' hey diddle-diddle with the kitty in the middle
They sang a song while playing and the 'kitty' was in the center of their attention.
You be swingin' like you just didn't care
They were completely immersed in having fun and didn't care about anything else.
So I took a big chance at the high school dance
The person took a risk by asking someone to dance at a school dance.
With a missy who was ready to play
The girl was eager and willing to have fun.
Was it me she was foolin'?
The person wonders why the girl chose them to dance with.
'Cause she knew what she was doin'
The girl had experience and knew how to dance well.
Taught me how to walk this way
The girl showed the person how to dance in a particular style.
School girl sadie with the classy kinda sassy
The person noticed a school girl with a confident and stylish attitude.
Little skirt climbing way up her knees
The girl was wearing a short skirt that went up to her knees.
There was three young ladies in the school gym locker
The person saw three girls in the locker room of the school gym.
When I noticed they was lookin' at me
The girls were checking out the person.
I was a high school loser, never made it with a lady
The person considers themselves a loser in high school and had no luck with the opposite gender.
Till the boys told me something I missed
The person learned important information about dating from their male friends.
Then my next door neighbour with a daughter had a favour
The person's neighbor with a daughter asked them for a favor.
Took me just a little kiss, like this
The person was kissed by their neighbor's daughter, and it was similar to their previous experiences.
Walk this way, walk this way
The girl showed the person how to walk in a specific manner.
Talk this way, just give me a kiss
The girl wants the person to communicate with her in a specific way and then kiss her.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Joe Perry, Steven Tyler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anonymous
on I Try
Redemption Song - Macy Gray - Lyrics
Old pirates, yes, they rob I
Sold out to the merchant ships
Minutes after they took I
From the bottomless pit
But my hand was made strong
By the hand of the Almighty
We forward in this generation
Triumphantly
Won't you help me sing
These songs of freedom?
It’s all I ever have
Redemption songs
Redemption songs
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery
None but ourselves can free our minds
Have no fear for atomic energy
'Cause none of them can stop the time
How long shall they kill our prophets
While we stand aside and look?
Some say it's just a part of it
We've got to fulfill the book
Won't you help me sing
These songs of freedom?
It’s all I ever have
Redemption songs
Redemption songs
It’s all I ever have
Redemption songs
Redemption songs
It’s all I ever have
Redemption songs