There are multiple artists recording as The Chicks:

1. The Chicks is… Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple artists recording as The Chicks:

1. The Chicks is the new name adopted in June 2020 by the band formerly known as Dixie Chicks, a massively succesful American country music group that had crossed to other genres.

2. The Chicks were a New Zealand duo consisting of the sisters Suzanne and Judy Donaldson. They had a steam of pop hits in in their country between 1965 and 1970. Suzanne married Bruce Lynch and records as Suzanne Lynch. They are the parents of Andy Lynch from the New Zealand band Zed.

3. The Chicks were a shortlived pop-punk act in the late 1990s, made up of three teenage Irish girls. They arrived in a blaze of N.M.E. features and an Ash support slot, but disappeared as quickly and enigmatically as they arrived. They left behind two EPs and the bubblegum pop song, Let Me Go.

By Your Side
The Chicks Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

sometimes its hard to be a woman
giving all your love to just one man
you'll have bad times
and he'll have good times
doing things you don't understand
but if you love him
please forgive him
even though hes hard to understand

and if you love him, oh be proud of him
'cause after all hes just a man

stand by your man
give him two arms to cling to
and something warm to come to
when the nights are cold and lonely
stand by your man
and show the world you'll love him
keep giving all the love you can
stand by your man

and if you love him
oh be proud of him
'cause after all hes just a man

stand by your man
give him two arms to cling to
and something warm to come to
when the nights are cold and lonely
stand by your man
and show the world you love him

and keep giving all the love you can
stand by your man

Overall Meaning

In this song, The Chicks (known as the Dixie Chicks at the time) are addressing the struggles that women face in relationships. The lyrics suggest that being a woman in love means giving all your love to just one man, even during the bad times when he may be difficult to understand. The song encourages women to stay committed to their man and forgive him in times of difficulty, ultimately reinforcing gender roles of traditional relationships where a woman stands by her man no matter what.

The phrase "stand by your man" is the central message of the song and is repeated throughout the chorus. The song tells women to be there for their partners, both emotionally and physically, providing them with a warm and loving environment. It also emphasizes the importance of showing the world that you love your man and that you're willing to give everything for that love.

However, the song has been criticized as being sexist and perpetuating harmful gender stereotypes. Many argue that women should not have to forgive their partners for bad behavior and that standing by a man who mistreats them is not admirable. Overall, the song reflects the cultural expectations and gender roles of the time when it was written and released, but it no longer resonates with modern audiences who prioritize equality and respect in relationships.

Line by Line Meaning

sometimes its hard to be a woman
Being a woman can be challenging.

giving all your love to just one man
Putting all your love and effort into a single person can be difficult.

you'll have bad times
There will be tough times in the relationship.

and he'll have good times
There will also be good times for the man in the relationship.

doing things you don't understand
Sometimes, the things your partner does will not make sense to you.

but if you love him
If you truly care about him...

please forgive him
...you should forgive him for his mistakes.

even though hes hard to understand
Even if he is difficult to comprehend.

and if you love him, oh be proud of him
If you truly love him, be proud of who he is.

'cause after all hes just a man
He is only human and will make mistakes.

stand by your man
Support your partner no matter what.