Hot Faced
Margaux Lyrics


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Please and thank you, come right in
Now the king will see you
Let your guard down
Slowly, softly, sweetly, slowly

Hot faced, lamb woman
Too quiet to be noticed
Insane, what they all say
Cry hard, you're not that serious

I wanna see myself malfunctioning
I wanna see myself skip in place
I wanna see myself malfunctioning
I wanna see myself skip in place

Please and thank you, come right in
Now the king will see you
Let your guard down
Slowly, softly, sweetly, slowly

Is it really safe to say
If I calculate and sing it softly now
Why is yelling not okay?
A woman's voice is possibly threatening

I'm always in the way
Can't look me in the face — do I intimidate?
What's your problem with me and feeling tall?
What's your problem with me and feeling tall?
What's your problem with me and feeling

Please and thank you, come right in




Now the king will see you
Let your guard down

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Margaux's "Hot Faced" set the tone for a song about societal expectations and how they create stifling pressures for women. The invitation "Please and thank you, come right in / Now the king will see you" ironically mocks the tradition of women being presented to men in a courtly setting. The next lines "Let your guard down / Slowly, softly, sweetly, slowly" could be interpreted as both a warning to women to be careful about how much of themselves they reveal, and a challenge to the expectation that women should always be demure and submissive.


The chorus "Hot faced, lamb woman / Too quiet to be noticed / Insane, what they all say / Cry hard, you're not that serious" seems to describe a woman who is struggling to be seen and heard in a world that values loudness and aggression. The repeated line "I wanna see myself malfunctioning / I wanna see myself skip in place" could be a desire to break free from the strictures of society and show one's true, uninhibited self.


The second verse continues to explore the pressure on women to conform, particularly in terms of their voices. "Is it really safe to say / If I calculate and sing it softly now / Why is yelling not okay? / A woman's voice is possibly threatening" questions why women are expected to carefully consider and craft their words, while men are often encouraged to speak their minds freely. The lines "I'm always in the way / Can't look me in the face — do I intimidate?" suggest that even when women try to assert themselves, they are met with resistance and pushback.


Overall, "Hot Faced" is a powerful commentary on the expectations placed on women, and the difficulty of finding one's true voice in a society that values conformity and compliance.


Line by Line Meaning

Please and thank you, come right in
An invitation to enter and be welcome.


Now the king will see you
Acknowledging one's arrival and that they will be given attention.


Let your guard down
Relax and be comfortable in their space and presence.


Slowly, softly, sweetly, slowly
Inviting one to relax into their presence quietly and gradually.


Hot faced, lamb woman
A vulnerable person who is easily influenced and flustered.


Too quiet to be noticed
Living in the shadows and not drawing attention to themselves.


Insane, what they all say
Interpreting others' words as crazy and irrational.


Cry hard, you're not that serious
Being seen as weak despite their genuine feelings and emotions.


I wanna see myself malfunctioning
Desiring to break apart and show their inner turmoil.


I wanna see myself skip in place
Yearning for freedom and joy despite their current situation.


Is it really safe to say
Questioning the safety and possibility of full self-expression.


If I calculate and sing it softly now
Carefully choosing one's words and tone to avoid being confrontational.


Why is yelling not okay?
Questioning the social norms that silence women's anger and passion.


A woman's voice is possibly threatening
Pointing out the unfortunate reality of how women's voices are perceived and judged.


I'm always in the way
Feeling like a burden and an obstacle to others.


Can't look me in the face — do I intimidate?
Worrying that others are intimidated by their presence and energy.


What's your problem with me and feeling tall?
Asking why others have an issue with their confidence and sense of pride.


Please and thank you, come right in
Repeating the invitation to relax and be comfortable.


Now the king will see you
Repeating that they will receive attention and acknowledgment.


Let your guard down
Emphasizing the importance of being open and relaxed.




Writer(s): Margaux Bouchegnies

Contributed by Arianna P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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