Pamela Means' many honors include being named Falcon Ridge Folk Festival's #1 "Most Wanted New Artist", and both Wisconsin's "Folk Artist of the Year", and "Female Vocalist of the Year". Pamela has also been a Boston Music Award Nominee ("Outstanding Contemporary Folk Artist").
Currently, Pamela performs over 150 shows a year at clubs, coffeehouses, colleges, and festivals across the country, most notably the Newport Folk Festival, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, South by Southwest Conference, Southern Womyn's Fest, and Michigan Womyn's Festival. Pamela is also a favorite at innumerable regional Gay Pride events, Take Back the Night rallies, and Black History Month celebrations. Pamela has shared the stage with artists including Ani DiFranco, Joan Baez, Neil Young, Shawn Colvin, Richie Havens, Patty Larkin, Melissa Ferrick, Violent Femmes, Pete Seeger, Janis Ian, and Holly Near.
Pamela's 2003 summer tour took her nationwide, promoting her fifth self-released album, Single Bullet Theory (Wirl Records, 2003), in which "...Means fires off what is easily one of the best musical summanations of our current political situation.." (Bay Area Reporter, San Francisco, CA)
Quoting her inspiration, Warrior Poet Audre Lorde, Pamela asks "I am myself- a Black woman warrior poet doing my work- come to ask you, are you doing yours?" With Truth as ammunition, a Pamela Means performance brings the fight for social justice and human dignity to the forefront of a new generation..
Fine
Pamela Means Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can hear you fine
When you take a walk in my world
Be a woman a black girl
Maybe then, maybe then, maybe then
You can have a word to say, to say
My skin is brown without a tan
My will is strong without a man
I don't need your approval to stand up and sing about it
Shakin' it for the swinger
With the swing between his legs
Who's stickin' it to the movie girl
While he's stickin up in your bed
Shakin it for the monster
Who just forgot your name
Shakin' it for the sinner
Who thinks we're all to blame
We're all to blame
So you don't have to touch me when you talk to me
I can hear you fine
Fine
Fine
The lyrics in Pamela Means's song "Fine" tackle themes of self-love, independence, and cultural identity. The song emphasizes the message that individuals can be strong and confident without the approval or validation of others. The opening lines suggest that the singer can hear and understand the words of others without needing close physical contact - perhaps a commentary on the power and importance of listening in communication. The subsequent verses explore the idea of the singer being comfortable in their own skin, without feeling the need to conform to societal norms or cultural stereotypes. The lines "My skin is brown without a tan / My will is strong without a man" express the idea that the singer can be proud of their identity and self-sufficient without relying on others.
As the song continues, the lyrics become more critical of societal constructs around gender and sexuality. The line "Shakin' it for the swinger / With the swing between his legs" alludes to the objectification and exploitation of women in the entertainment industry. The lines "Who's stickin' it to the movie girl / While he's stickin up in your bed" imply that those who engage with such imagery or entertainment are themselves complicit in the objectification of women. As the song continues, the lyrics become more universal, condemning societal behaviors that contribute to sexism, racism, and other forms of oppression. The repeated refrain of "fine" at the end of the song can be interpreted as a triumphant declaration of self-acceptance and self-love in the face of such societal pressure.
Line by Line Meaning
You don't have to touch me when you talk to me
I can hear and understand you perfectly fine without any physical contact.
When you take a walk in my world
If you can empathize with me and put yourself in my shoes, you might understand my experiences better.
Be a woman a black girl
Try to see the world through the lens of a black woman and the struggles that come with it.
Maybe then, maybe then, maybe then
Only by doing this, can you hope to understand my perspective.
You can have a word to say, to say
Only then will your words hold any weight or significance in my eyes.
My skin is brown without a tan
My skin color is a natural part of who I am, not a trend to be emulated or appropriated.
My will is strong without a man
I am self-sufficient and empowered by my own strength, not dependent on the approval or presence of a man.
I've unlearned that conditioning
I've worked to overcome the societal conditioning that tells me to be submissive, inferior, or apologetic for who I am.
I don't need your approval to stand up and sing about it
I am confident and proud of who I am, and won't let anyone tell me otherwise or diminish my worth.
Shakin' it for the swinger
This is a sarcastic twist on traditional objectification of women's bodies as sexual objects for male pleasure.
With the swing between his legs
Men with power are often seen as more valuable and successful just because their physical attributes give them a sense of dominance.
Who's stickin' it to the movie girl
Women in the entertainment industry are often the targets of sexual harassment and assault because of their perceived vulnerability and subordinance.
While he's stickin up in your bed
This line implies that the male figure's presence and influence extends beyond the bedroom and into society, perpetuating gender inequality and sexism.
Shakin it for the monster
This line is a reference to the #MeToo movement, highlighting how many women have been victimized by powerful men who use their influence to get away with sexual misconduct.
Who just forgot your name
This line is a reminder that victims of sexual assault and harassment are often seen as anonymous and unimportant, their stories and experiences easily forgotten.
Shakin' it for the sinner
This line is a critique of the idea that women who are sexually assertive or confident are seen as sinful or immoral, perpetuating harmful stereotypes and double standards.
Who thinks we're all to blame
The sinner referred to here blames society as a whole for the systemic issues that lead to gender-based violence and oppression, rather than individual women.
We're all to blame
This is a call to action for everyone to take responsibility for their role in perpetuating gender inequality and to work towards meaningful change.
So you don't have to touch me when you talk to me
This concluding line reiterates the idea that physical contact is unnecessary for effective communication and mutual understanding.
I can hear you fine
The artist is saying they are capable of comprehending the meaning of the message without unnecessary contact.
Fine
This final word is used to communicate an agreement of satisfaction with the current understanding level being obtained through verbal communication only.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind