You Don't Own Me
SayGrace Lyrics


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You don't own me

You don't own me

Well, let's go
But I'm Gerald and I can always have just what I want
She's the baddest I would love to flaunt
Take her shopping, you know Yves Saint Laurent
But nope, she ain't with it though
All because she got her own dough
Boss bossed if you don't know
She could never ever be a broke hoe

You don't own me
I'm not just one of your many toys
You don't own me
Don't say I can't go with other boys

Don't tell me what to do
And don't tell me what to say
Please, when I go out with you
Don't put me on display

You don't own me
Don't try to change me in any way
You don't own me
Don't tie me down 'cause I'd never stay

Don't tell me what to do
And don't tell me what to say
Please, when I go out with you
Don't put me on display

Re-really though, honestly
I get bored of basic (no)
She's the baddest, straight up vicious, texting her and asking her
If she's alone and if she'd send some pictures, she said no (what)

Well goddamn, she said come over and see it for yourself
Never asking for your help, independent woman
She ain't for the shelf
Nah, she's the one
Smoke with her until the (ah)

Stayin' up until we see the sun
Baddest ever, I swear she do it better than I've ever seen it done
Never borrow, she ain't ever loan
That's when she told me she ain't
Never ever ever ever gonna be owned

I don't tell you what to say
I don't tell you what to do
So just let me be myself
That's all I ask of you

I'm young and I love to be young
And I'm free and I love to be free
To live my life the way I want
To say and do whatever I please

Hey, hey (you don't own me)
Oh, no (okay)
Oh, no, no (you don't own me)
Oh, no, no, no
Don't, do don't

Hey (you don't own me)
But just know, you never met somebody like me before though
(You don't own me)




Easy
You don't own me

Overall Meaning

SayGrace's song "You Don't Own Me" is a feminist anthem that empowers girls and women to take control of their lives and not be subjected to the whims of a controlling partner. The song starts with a verse by rapper G-Eazy, whose character is trying to impress a woman by flashing his wealth and offering to buy her expensive items, however, the woman denies him, stating that she has her own wealth and doesn't need his money. The chorus features SayGrace, who proclaims that she is not a toy or property to be owned by anyone. She refuses to be controlled and wants the freedom to be herself without anyone trying to change who she is or tell her what to do. She demands respect and autonomy in a relationship, stating that she won't be put on display or tied down.


The song is an updated cover of the 1963 Leslie Gore hit of the same name. The lyrics were written by a team of songwriters, including Dave Bassett, who has worked with Shinedown and Fitz and The Tantrums. The song was produced by Parker Ighile, who has worked with the likes of Ariana Grande and Rihanna. The music video for the song features SayGrace and a group of women taking control and rebelling against outdated gender roles.


Line by Line Meaning

You don't own me
I am my own person and cannot be possessed or controlled by anyone else.


Well, let's go
Let's continue with this conversation/relationship.


But I'm Gerald and I can always have just what I want
I am confident and successful enough to get what I desire.


She's the baddest I would love to flaunt
I am attracted to her and want to show her off to others.


Take her shopping, you know Yves Saint Laurent
I want to buy her expensive things from a popular designer brand to impress her.


But nope, she ain't with it though All because she got her own dough
But she is not interested in my money or my attempts to buy her affection because she is financially independent.


Boss bossed if you don't know She could never ever be a broke hoe
She is a strong and empowered woman who would never degrade herself for money or material possessions.


I'm not just one of your many toys
I refuse to be treated like a disposable object and demand respect as a person.


Don't say I can't go with other boys
I am allowed to make my own choices and decisions regarding relationships and should not be restricted or limited by another person.


Don't tell me what to do And don't tell me what to say
I am capable of making my own decisions and should not be told how to act or speak by someone else.


Please, when I go out with you Don't put me on display
I do not wish to be objectified or shown off as a trophy to others.


Don't try to change me in any way
I want to be accepted and loved for who I am and should not have to change myself to suit someone else's desires or standards.


Don't tie me down 'cause I'd never stay
I value my freedom and independence and would not be satisfied in a controlling or restrictive relationship.


Re-really though, honestly I get bored of basic (no)
In all honesty, I am not interested in ordinary or predictable people/relationships.


She's the baddest, straight up vicious, texting her and asking her If she's alone and if she'd send some pictures, she said no (what)
She is a strong and confident woman who will not be objectified or reduced to a sexual object for someone else's pleasure.


Well goddamn, she said come over and see it for yourself Never asking for your help, independent woman She ain't for the shelf Nah, she's the one
She is a self-sufficient and capable woman who does not need anyone else to validate her worth or help her succeed.


Smoke with her until the (ah) Stayin' up until we see the sun
We enjoy spending time together and enjoy each other's company without needing external validation or stimulation.


Baddest ever, I swear she do it better than I've ever seen it done Never borrow, she ain't ever loan That's when she told me she ain't Never ever ever ever gonna be owned
She is the best person I have ever been with, and her independence and self-sufficiency are some of her best qualities that I admire and respect.


I don't tell you what to say I don't tell you what to do So just let me be myself That's all I ask of you
I treat you with the same respect and autonomy that I demand for myself and expect you to do the same for me.


I'm young and I love to be young And I'm free and I love to be free To live my life the way I want To say and do whatever I please
I am in the prime of my life and enjoy being free to make my own choices and live my life as I see fit without interference from others.


Hey, hey (you don't own me) Oh, no (okay) Oh, no, no (you don't own me) Oh, no, no, no Don't, do don't
I repeat my desire for independence and freedom and reject any attempts to control or restrict me.


But just know, you never met somebody like me before though (You don't own me)
I am a unique and special individual who cannot be compared to anyone else, and my autonomy and independence are integral to my identity and happiness.




Writer(s): John Madara, David White

Contributed by Kayla W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@mgn.fx.xx0

You don't own me
I'm not just one of your many toys
You don't own me
Don't say I can't go with other boys
And don't tell me what to do
Don't tell me what to say
And please, when I go out with you
Don't put me on display 'cause
You don't own me
Don't try to change me in any way
You don't own me
Don't tie me down 'cause I'd never stay
I don't tell you what to say
I don't tell you what to do
So just let me be myself
That's all I ask of you
I'm young and I love to be young
I'm free and I love to be free
To live my life the way I want
To say and do whatever I please
And don't tell me what to do
Oh, don't tell me what to say
And please, when I go out with you
Don't put me on display
I don't tell you what to say
Oh, don't tell you what to do
So just let me be myself
That's all I ask of you
I'm young and I love to be young
I'm free and I love to be free



@karawigley6231

It’s not a sample, Grace literally sings the song word for word. These are the lyrics to You Don’t Owe Me by Lesley Gore:
You don't own me
I'm not just one of your many toys
You don't own me
Don't say I can't go with other boys
And don't tell me what to do
Don't tell me what to say
And please, when I go out with you
Don't put me on display 'cause
You don't own me
Don't try to change me in any way
You don't own me
Don't tie me down 'cause I'd never stay
I don't tell you what to say
I don't tell you what to do
So just let me be myself
That's all I ask of you
I'm young and I love to be young
I'm free and I love to be free
To live my life the way I want
To say and do whatever I please
And don't tell me what to do
Oh, don't tell me what to say
And please, when I go out with you
Don't put me on display
I don't tell you what to say
Oh, don't tell you what to do
So just let me be myself
That's all I ask of you
I'm young and I love to be young
I'm free and I love to be free”
The only thing different about it is G Eazy’s rap added in. Other than that it’s pretty much the same beat & she even sings it the exact same way Lesley did when she recorded it originally. It’s a cover.



@alejandroamayo9035

You don't own me
You don't own me

Woah, let's go
But I'm Gerald and I can always have just what I want
She's that baddest I would love to flaunt
Take her shopping, you know Yves Saint Laurent
But nope, she ain't with it though
All because she got her own dough
Boss bossed if you don't know
She could never ever be a broke ho

You don't own me
I'm not just one of your many toys
You don't own me
Don't say I can't go with other boys

Don't tell me what to do
And don't tell me what to say
Please, when I go out with you
Don't put me on display

You don't own me
Don't try to change me in any way
You don't own me
Don't tie me down cause I'd never stay

Don't tell me what to do
And don't tell me what to say
Please, when I go out with you
Don't put me on display

Really though, honestly
I get bored of basic bitches
She's the baddest, straight up vicious, texting her asking her
If shes alone and if she'd sent some pictures, she said no (what)
Well goddamn, she said come over and see it for yourself
Never asking for your help, independent woman
She ain't for the shelf
No, she's the one
Smoke with her till the weed is gone
Stayin' up until we see the sun
Baddest ever, I swear she do it better than I've ever seen it done
Never borrow, she ain't ever loan
That's when she told me she ain't
Never ever ever ever gonna be owned

I don't tell you what to say
I don't tell you what to do
So just let me be myself
That's all I ask of you
I'm young and I love to be young
I'm free and I love to be free
To live my life the way I want
To say and do whatever I please

You don't own me



All comments from YouTube:

@Proximity

Obsessed with this track.

@HogRider420

Proximity 😀

@nazirulmarodzi5359

+Proximity you should...don't steal my logo

@zadkya

+The Flash agree
love the flash!

@redhotchilifan98

Her voice is so good

@MikeEM1

the original is better.

67 More Replies...

@cicilg

For anyone who doesn't know this is a song from Leslie Gore in 1963. To sing these lyrics in 1963 must have been such a stand against the times. I find it so amazing.

@jammijam_

They did the original justice.

@tsemiu

First heard it in the movie The First Wives Club sung by Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler, and Diane Keaton

@olivia0G

exactly like why is no one giving leslie gore credit??

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