Songwriter Bobby Sandstrom helped them write and record demos. The group eventually signed a music publishing deal with Sony's RCA Record. After several years of work, they finally could make a major release.
In the fall of 1996, Wild Orchid released their self-titled debut album Wild Orchid. The largely self-written album sold nearly a million units worldwide and included the singles "Talk To Me" (which was included in the hit movie Fools Rush In), "At Night I Pray," and "Supernatural." The album received two Billboard Award nominations for "Talk To Me," two Lady Of Soul/Soul Train Award nominations - one for Album of The Year by A Group, Band or Duo and one for Best Music Video for "Talk To Me," and an American Music Award nomination for Favorite R&B/Soul New Artist.
In late 1997, the group toured with 98 Degrees and *NSync, and in the summer of 1998 the trio released their second album, Oxygen which included the single "Be Mine."
Wild Orchid also hosted the ABC Family Channel's Saturday morning show "Great Pretenders," which featured chart hits lip-synched by everyday kids, while competing for prizes. They also went on a 52-city tour with Cher and Cyndi Lauper.
In 2001, the group released "Stuttering (Don't Say)," which reached the Top 40 chart, and had a concert special on Much Music, on July 29, 2001. Stacy parted ways with Renee and Stefanie shortly after in September 2001, leaving Wild Orchid to continue on as a duo. Stacy joined the Hip-Hop group Black Eyed Peas in 2003 under the stage name Fergie. Wild Orchid's third studio album as a trio, Fire, was never released, although a song off the album called "It's All Your Fault" was featured in the 2001 film What Women Want.
In 2004, Wild Orchid, consisting of Renee and Stefanie, released their fourth studio album "Hypnotic". Unfortunately, it failed to make the Billboard charts. Since then, Renee has been doing work as a session singer and Stefanie is now a member of the House/Techno duo, 5th Element.
You Don't Own Me
Wild Orchid Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On a Sunday afternoon
Just holding hands
Lovers making future plans together
We though forever, forever, yeah ¡Â
Now here we are
That hand that used to hold me gently
It holds too tight now
And we just fight now
Where is the love
You don't own me
Can't control me
I'm not gonna change for nobody
You don't own me
You can't chain me down
If I'm the one you love
Then set me free
Set me free
Side by side
We should walk together
See love eye to eye
Remember all the reasons why you love me
Strength within me
Can't tie it down
You're not my mother
Not my father
You're supposed to be my lover
Not my sister
Not my brother
Gotta be more than just another
Another guy forgettin' the combination to my heart
Just another page inside a book without a mark
Love won't be my ball and chain
Driving me insane
Cause you're holding me down
Stop holdin' me down
You don't own me
You can't chain me down
If I'm the one you love
Then set me free
The lyrics to Wild Orchid's song You Don't Own Me talks about a relationship that started as romantic and hopeful but has now turned into a suffocating situation where one party is holding onto the other too tightly. The song tells the story of two people who were once in love and had plans for the future, but things have changed, and the love is fading away. The partner who was once gentle and loving has now become possessive and controlling, and the singer wants to break free from their hold.
The chorus of the song, "You don't own me, can't control me, I'm not gonna change for nobody," shows the singer's desire to be free from the chains of the relationship. She isn't willing to compromise who she is or change for anyone, even the person she loves. The singer is looking for a partner who sees her as an equal, not someone to be controlled or owned.
The line, "Love won't be my ball and chain, driving me insane" shows that the singer sees love as something positive, but not when it becomes too restrictive. She believes that a healthy relationship should allow for growth and the ability to be one's self, not something that holds us back and drives us insane.
Overall, the lyrics to You Don't Own Me is about the importance of having a healthy relationship built on mutual respect, trust, and the freedom to be oneself. It's a warning against allowing love to become a controlling force that holds us back, rather than propelling us forward.
Line by Line Meaning
There we were
We were together at a specific time and place
On a Sunday afternoon
It was a leisurely time to be spent with each other
Just holding hands
We were expressing affection without any other agenda
Lovers making future plans together
We were envisioning a life of togetherness
We thought forever, forever, yeah ¡Â
We believed our love would last forever
Now here we are
We are now in a different space and time
That hand that used to hold me gently
Your once loving touch has now become suffocating
Doesn't know when to let me go
You are not able to give me space anymore
It holds too tight now
Your grip is too strong for me to move freely
And we just fight now
Our relationship has become a battleground
Where is the love
Our love has disappeared
You don't own me
You cannot possess me or control me
Can't control me
You cannot dictate my actions or emotions
I'm not gonna change for nobody
I will not compromise who I am for anyone
You can't chain me down
You cannot keep me restrained or imprisoned
If I'm the one you love
If you truly love me
Then set me free
Then allow me to be independent and make my own choices
Side by side
We should be walking together as equals
We should walk together
We should be moving through life together as a team
See love eye to eye
We should have mutual understanding and respect for each other
Remember all the reasons why you love me
Recall the qualities in me that drew you to me
Strength within me
I have a power within me that cannot be tamed
Can't tie it down
You cannot suppress my inner strength
You're not my mother
You are not my parent, so do not attempt to control me
Not my father
You are not my authority figure, so do not try to exert power over me
You're supposed to be my lover
You are meant to love me and share a connection with me
Not my sister
You are not my sibling, so do not try to act like family
Not my brother
You are not my sibling, so do not try to act like family
Gotta be more than just another
You need to bring more to the relationship than just being one of many
Another guy forgettin' the combination to my heart
You cannot just assume access to my heart without putting in effort and care
Just another page inside a book without a mark
You cannot be just another insignificant footnote in my life
Love won't be my ball and chain
Love cannot be a hindrance or a restriction
Driving me insane
Your behavior is causing me to lose my mind
Cause you're holding me down
Your actions are preventing me from being free
Stop holdin' me down
Stop preventing me from being free
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind