Just Like You
Rollins Band Lyrics
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I am the product of your restraint
I watched the years pass by me
Never once did I complain
Never once did I say no
Now I watch myself explode
My body is scarred by age
From the wreckage of humiliation
I got my self respect
I pulled myself together
What the hell did you expect
You should see the pain I go through
When I see myself I see you
Everything that you did I do
When I see myself I see you
Rage
I'm just like you
My flesh isn't my flesh
My blood isn't my blood
The lyrics to Rollins Band's song Just Like You depict the internal struggle of someone who has been held back and restrained for most of their life. The use of the phrase "human chokehold" implies that the individual has been kept down by other people, perhaps society as a whole, and has not been allowed to be true to themselves. They have gone along with society's expectations without complaint, but as they have grown older, the weight of their restraints has taken its toll. The singer's body is "scarred by age," which could mean that they are physically worn down from years of stress and repression, but it could also mean that emotionally they are scarred from the years of being held back.
However, the singer has reached a breaking point where they can no longer tolerate the suppression of their true self. They have "exploded," and are now letting loose their "rage." Through this outburst, they have regained their self-respect and pulled themselves together. They are like a "wreckage of humiliation" that has been rebuilt into something stronger and more resilient. The repeated line, "when I see myself I see you," indicates that the singer recognizes what has been done to them and how they have been held back, but it could also mean that they are driven by a desire to break free from those mental and emotional constraints. The singer's final words, "my flesh isn't my flesh, my blood isn't my blood," suggest that they no longer identify with the person they used to be, but they are reborn as someone new: someone who is no longer held back, and who is just like those who held them down.
Line by Line Meaning
I am the man from a human choke hold
I am a person who has been oppressed and restrained by society
I am the product of your restraint
I am a reflection of the limitations and expectations that society has placed upon me
I watched the years pass by me, Never once did I complain
Despite experiencing oppression and restriction, I remained silent and obedient in the face of societal expectations
Never once did I say no, Now I watch myself explode
I suppressed my desires and emotions for so long that they have built up inside me and are now uncontrollable
My body is scarred by age, Now you get to taste my rage
My experiences have left physical and emotional scars that have fueled my anger and desire for revenge
From the wreckage of humiliation, I got my self respect
Despite being humiliated by society, I have found a way to rebuild my self-respect and dignity
I pulled myself together, What the hell did you expect
Despite the odds against me, I have managed to regain control and composure in my life
You should see the pain I go through, When I see myself I see you
When I look at myself, I see the reflection of the societal pressures and limitations that have caused me pain
Everything that you did I do, When I see myself I see you
I have internalized and perpetuated the same oppressive behavior that I have experienced from society
Rage
My anger and frustration are powerful and consuming
I'm just like you
Despite our differences, I am similar to those who have oppressed me in terms of our shared human nature and capacity for cruelty
My flesh isn't my flesh, My blood isn't my blood
My identity and sense of self have been shaped by external forces, rather than my own internal sense of identity
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: IAN CRAFT, JARED GREEN, BEN PLASSE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind