Track listing[edit]
"Baby Come Back" – (Eddy Grant) – 2:42
"Who Do You Love?" – (Ellas McDaniel) – 5:07
"I'm Happy Just to Dance with You" – (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 3:55
"The Walk" – (Jimmy McCrackin) – 3:15
"Don't Talk to Him" – (Cliff Richard, Bruce Welch) – 2:55
"Man of Mystery" – (Michael Carr) – 2:06
"Ain't That Just Like a Woman" – (Claude Demetrius, Fleecie Moore) – 3:05
"Little Queenie" – (Chuck Berry) – 4:18
"Good Times" – (Sam Cooke) – 2:40
"Like a Rolling Stone" – (Bob Dylan) – 6:20
"Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)" – (Andrew Bernard, John Fred) – 2:56
"Don't You Just Know It" – (Huey "Piano" Smith) – 4:09
"Yeh, Yeh" – (Jon Hendricks, Rodgers Grant, Pat Patrick) – 2:55
"Agent Double-O Soul" – (Charles Hatcher, Bill Sharpley) – 3:07
"The Letter" – (Wayne Carson Thompson) – 4:02
"Ain't That Loving You Baby" – (Ivory Joe Hunter, Clyde Otis) – 2:35
"American Woman 2007" – (Randy Bachman, Burton Cummings, Jim Kale, Garry Peterson) – 4:43
American Woman
Randy Bachman & Burton Cummings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
American woman, she gonna mess your mind
American woman gonna mess your mind
American woman gonna mess your mind
Say A,
Say M,
Say E,
Say R,
C,
Say A,
N,
American woman gonna mess your mind
American woman gonna mess your mind
American woman gonna mess your mind
American woman, stay away from me
American woman, mama let me be
Don't come hangin' around my door
I don't wanna see your face no more
I got more important things to do
Than spend my time growin' old with you
American woman, listen what I say.
American woman, get away from me
American woman, mama let me be
Don't come knockin' around my door
Don't wanna see your shadow no more
Coloured lights can hypnotize
Sparkle someone else's eyes
Now woman, I said get away
American woman, listen what I say.
American woman, said get away
American woman, listen what I say
Don't come hangin' around my door
Don't wanna see your face no more
I don't need your war machines
I don't need your ghetto scenes
Coloured lights can hypnotize
Sparkle someone else's eyes
Now woman, get away from me
American woman, mama let me be.
Go, gotta get away, gotta get away
Now go go go
Gonna leave you, woman
Gonna leave you, woman
Bye-bye
Bye-bye
Bye-bye
Bye-bye
You're no good for me
I'm no good for you
Gonna look you right in the eye.
Tell you what I'm gonna do
You know I'm gonna leave
You know I'm gonna go
You know I'm gonna leave
You know I'm gonna go, woman
I'm gonna leave, woman
Goodbye, American woman
Goodbye, American chick
Goodbye, American broad
The lyrics to Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings's song 'American Woman' were intended to be a rebuke of the Vietnam War and its impacts. The song begins with the phrase "American woman gonna mess your mind" and repeats it throughout the song. This line has been speculated to be a reference to the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War and the effects the conflict had on the soldiers and the country's psyche. Bachman has gone on record to say that the lyrics are about the United States as a whole and how it had the power to destroy you. The chorus in which Cummings sings "American woman, stay away from me, American woman, mama let me be" is interpreted as a rejection of American imperialism and the war by those who differentiate between the song and its more well-known commercial solo version.
Lyrically, 'American Woman' stands as a feminist anthem that aims to comment on the significance of women in society. The line "I don't need your war machines, I don't need your ghetto scenes” can be interpreted as a reluctance to become involved in the toxic system of patriarchy, a theme that goes beyond the Vietnam War specifically. The end of the song with the lines "You're no good for me, I'm no good for you, Goodbye American Woman, Goodbye American chick, Goodbye American broad" is a rather harsh dismissal of the American woman, perhaps suggesting the culminations of homegrown anti-loud society sentiments of the era.
Line by Line Meaning
American woman gonna mess your mind
The American woman is going to confuse and disturb you mentally.
American woman, stay away from me
I don't want anything to do with you, American woman.
Don't come hangin' around my door
I don't want you coming near my house.
I don't wanna see your face no more
I am tired of looking at you and do not wish to see you again.
I got more important things to do
I have other important things to focus on and cannot waste my time with you.
Than spend my time growing old with you
I would rather do something productive with my time than be with you until we're old and gray.
American woman, get away from me
I want you to stay away from me, American woman.
Don't wanna see your shadow no more
I do not want to be reminded of you or your presence in any way.
Colored lights can hypnotize, sparkle someone else's eyes
I am not interested in the superficial things that might impress others but hold no meaning to me.
I don't need your war machines
I do not need nor respect any of the violent tools of war that you may possess.
I don't need your ghetto scenes
I do not want to involve myself in the negative and dangerous situations that you may be a part of.
Now woman, get away from me
I am asking you to leave me alone, woman.
Go, gotta get away, gotta get away
I need to get away and this is my imperative to do so.
You're no good for me
I have realized that you do not bring any value to my life or well-being.
I'm no good for you
I have come to the realization that I am not a good fit for you or your lifestyle.
Gonna look you right in the eye. Tell you what I'm gonna do
I am going to confront you directly and communicate my intentions clearly.
You know I'm gonna leave, You know I'm gonna go
It should be no surprise to you that I intend to leave and depart from this relationship.
Goodbye, American woman
I am saying one final farewell to you, American woman.
Goodbye, American chick
I am calling you a young female in a derogatory way before leaving.
Goodbye, American broad
I am using another derogatory identifier for you as I say goodbye, American woman.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Burton Cummings, Gary Peterson, Michael Kale, Randy Bachman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mikegendron3723
Whenever life just kicked smack in the nads, I give this a listen! Always, I'm sayin' ALWAYS lifts my spirits back-up! The original was excellent, this version NEXT LEVEL!!!! Thanks Randy and Burton!!
@kimeastwood3948
Wonderful version of "American Woman" Thank-you Burton, and Randy for this. You guys rock!
@marybertani1
He even dances!!!! Love this version.
@marybertani1
This is an amazing version of one of the best songs ever!!!!!!
@AnnHattieAnn
Let's call it one of the sexiest "re-arrangements" of a truly great rock classic!
@ZieFonzie
This is absolute favorite version of 'American Woman'. Since I first heard it on radio I've been searching for it on the internet so I can listen to it on demand instead of just waiting for Q107 to play it :-)
@marcusbmarc
Absolutely the best version
@bugmandu1
Had tickets' twice' to see them during the pandemic. We've seen Burton twice and I've seen BTO twice also.
@robgionet9582
Down and dirty, the way it should be played. Gotta love this version
@johnwest2204
Woooooo! MAN! That Getar is NASTY!!