Woman In Chains
Tears for Fears Lyrics


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You better love loving and you better behave
You better love loving and you better behave
Woman in chains
Woman in chains

Calls her man the great white hope
Says she's fine, she'll always cope
Ohh, woman in chains
Woman in chains

Well I feel lying and waiting is a poor man's deal (a poor man's deal)
And I feel hopelessly weighed down by your eyes of steel (your eyes of steel)
Well it's a world gone crazy
Keeps woman in chains

Oh oh oh oh oh
Woman in chains
Woman in chains

Trades her soul as skin and bones
Sells the only thing she owns, oh oh
Woman in chains
Woman in chains

Men of stone
Men of stone
Oh, no no no

Well I feel
Deep in your heart there are wounds time can't heal
And I feel
Somebody somewhere is trying to breathe
Well you know what I mean
It's a world gone crazy
Keeps woman in chains

It's under my skin but out of my hands
I'll tear it apart but I won't understand
I will not accept the greatness of man

It's a world gone crazy
Keeps a woman in chains
Gone crazy, keeps woman in chains

So free her
So free her
So free her
So free her
So free her
So free her
So free her
So free her
So free her
So free her
So free her
So free her
So free her




So free her
So free her

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Tears for Fears’s song Woman In Chains speak to the struggles and constraints that women often face in a world dominated by men. The song talks about a woman who is in chains, trapped in a situation where she has to sell her soul and the only thing she owns just to survive. The verses describe the man in her life as the great white hope, but the woman is left to cope with her troubles while the man remains indifferent to her struggles. The chorus repeats the phrase "woman in chains," emphasizing the idea that women are often relegated to a subservient role in society.


The second verse speaks to the emotional toll that this situation takes on the woman, as she is weighed down by the eyes of steel of the men around her. The lyrics suggest that these men are "men of stone," unchanging and unresponsive to the plight of women. The bridge highlights the idea that these societal constraints are so ingrained that they are "under my skin but out of my hands," a force that the singer finds impossible to fight against.


Overall, the lyrics to Woman In Chains shed light on the ways in which societal norms and expectations limit the power and agency of women, leaving them trapped in harmful situations.


Line by Line Meaning

You better love loving and you better behave
The woman needs her partner to be loving and considerate.


Woman in chains
The woman is oppressed and constrained by society.


Calls her man the great white hope
The woman's partner is seen as a savior and ideal figure.


Says she's fine, she'll always cope
Despite her struggles, the woman reassures others that she can handle it.


Well I feel lying and waiting is a poor man's deal (a poor man's deal)
Being stagnant and passive is not an option for the woman.


And I feel hopelessly weighed down by your eyes of steel (your eyes of steel)
The woman is burdened and oppressed by the judgement and expectations of society.


Well it's a world gone crazy
The society is dysfunctional and oppressive.


Keeps woman in chains
The constraints of society hold women back from achieving their full potential.


Trades her soul as skin and bones
The woman sacrifices her well-being and identity to survive in society.


Sells the only thing she owns, oh oh
The woman is forced to sell herself to make a living.


Men of stone
The society is dominated by emotionless and rigid men.


Well I feel
The woman has a strong emotional reaction to the situation.


Deep in your heart there are wounds time can't heal
The woman's pain and trauma cannot be easily fixed.


Somebody somewhere is trying to breathe
There are people who are fighting against the broken system and trying to make it better.


Well you know what I mean
The situation is clear and understood by all.


It's under my skin but out of my hands
The woman is deeply affected by the issue, but cannot personally fix it.


I'll tear it apart but I won't understand
Even if the woman tries to dismantle the oppressive system, she cannot comprehend why it exists.


I will not accept the greatness of man
The woman refuses to accept the superiority and dominance of men in society.


So free her
The woman needs to be liberated and freed from the oppressive system.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Roland Orzabal

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@katherinehancocks283

@JessieA

"Sells the only thing she owns."

I assume this is referencing her body.

MOST people sell their bodies. My dad was a Millwright. He sold his physical strength and mental abilities that came from his body.

If I became a systems analyst at Microsoft I would be selling my body... particularly the part of my body between my ears.

But there is rightfully a stigma against a woman selling her sexuality outside of a marriage.

But this is an unbelievably AWESOME song. I don't know why it's not still played like 'Just a Girl' by Gwen Stefani.



All comments from YouTube:

@ojatro

The best song of Tears For Fears with the amazing voice of Olata Adams...

@mcflymcp

Agree

@antonboludo8886

@Marcelo Augusto Yes, indeed! :D

@katherinehancocks283

One of my all-time favourite Tears for Fears songs

@JessieArmy

*Oleta

@katherinehancocks283

@JessieA

"Sells the only thing she owns."

I assume this is referencing her body.

MOST people sell their bodies. My dad was a Millwright. He sold his physical strength and mental abilities that came from his body.

If I became a systems analyst at Microsoft I would be selling my body... particularly the part of my body between my ears.

But there is rightfully a stigma against a woman selling her sexuality outside of a marriage.

But this is an unbelievably AWESOME song. I don't know why it's not still played like 'Just a Girl' by Gwen Stefani.

90 More Replies...

@lisaschafer8163

The 80s were a time to put hard topics to music. No snowflakes back then

@shawnkerr5003

I'm 57 and I still can't listen to this song without getting tears in my eyes and choked up. It's the most spiritual and passionate song I've ever heard. It's beautiful, melodic and has so much meaning to me (I got out of a very bad marriage because of this song). I just simply get lost in it... soooooooo good. My top 5 favorite songs of all time. TFF, top 3 fave bands of mine EVER!!! oxoxoxoxox TFF

@timingramsr.8442

You found strength in this song, I love this group. I'm 54.

@greiberrobertodasilva7079

Aasq❤❤

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