It Takes A Woman
hello dolly! Lyrics
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It takes a woman all powderd and pink
To joysously clean out the drain in the sink
And it takes an angel with long golden lashes
And soft dresden fingers for dumping the ashes
Yes it takes a woman, and dainty woman
A sweetheart, and mistress, a wife
Oh, yes it takes a woman
A fragile woman to bring you the sweet things in life
Vandergelder:
The frail young maiden
Who's costantly there
For washing, and blueing, and shoeing the mare
And it takes a female for setting the table
And weaving the guernsty
And cleaning the stable
All:
Oh yes it takes a woman
A dainty woman, and sweetheart, and mistress, a wife
Oh yes it takes woman
A frigile woman to bring you the sweet things in life
And so she'll work until infinity,
Three cheers for femininity
God bless femininity
Vandergelder:
And in the winter, she'll shovel the ice
And loveingly set out the traps for mice
She's a joy and treasure for practically speaking
To whom can you turn when the plumbing is leaking
Vandergelder, Cornlius, Barnaby:
To that dainty woman, that frigile woman
That sweetheart, that mistress, that wife
To that womanly woman, Oh yes it takes a woman
Vandergelder:
A husky woman
Vandergelder, Cornelius, Barnaby:
To bring you the sweet things in life
All:
Oh yes it takes a woman, a dainty woman
A sweetheart, and mistress, a wife
Oh yes it takes a woman, a frigile woman
To bring you the sweet things in life.
The song "It Takes a Woman" from the musical Hello, Dolly! is a lively and humorous number performed by the character Vandergelder and the ensemble. The lyrics portray Vandergelder's perspective on the qualities and roles that he believes a woman should possess in order to bring joy and sweetness into a man's life. Vandergelder emphasizes the stereotypical image of a woman as fragile, dainty, and feminine, as he describes the tasks and responsibilities that he expects from a woman.
Vandergelder suggests that a woman should be "powdered and pink," symbolizing a delicate and visually pleasing appearance. He mentions tasks like cleaning out the drain, dumping ashes, washing, blueing, shoeing the mare, setting the table, weaving, and cleaning the stable. These tasks are portrayed as the essential contributions a woman makes to the household, highlighting the traditional gender roles of the time.
Despite the song's humorous tone, it reflects the societal expectations placed on women, reducing them to domestic duties and reinforcing the idea that their value lies primarily in serving men. The repetition of the phrase "it takes a woman" emphasizes Vandergelder's belief that women are necessary for providing sweetness and joy in life.
Overall, "It Takes a Woman" is a satirical commentary on the expectations associated with femininity and the traditional gender roles prevalent during the time of the musical.
Line by Line Meaning
It takes a woman all powderd and pink
It takes a woman who embraces her femininity and takes pride in her appearance.
To joysously clean out the drain in the sink
To find joy in performing even the most mundane household tasks.
And it takes an angel with long golden lashes
And it takes a woman with grace and beauty.
And soft dresden fingers for dumping the ashes
And gentle hands capable of performing even the dirtiest chores.
Yes it takes a woman, and dainty woman
Yes, it takes a woman who exudes elegance and delicacy.
A sweetheart, and mistress, a wife
A woman who can fulfill multiple roles with love and devotion.
Oh, yes it takes a woman
Oh, yes, it takes a woman who possesses unique qualities.
A fragile woman to bring you the sweet things in life
A woman who brings happiness and joy into your life.
The frail young maiden
A delicate and youthful woman.
Who's costantly there
Who is always present and reliable.
For washing, and blueing, and shoeing the mare
For performing various tasks like laundry, making clothes vibrant, and caring for animals.
And it takes a female for setting the table
And it takes a woman to prepare a welcoming dining experience.
And weaving the guernsty
And creating beautiful textiles.
And cleaning the stable
And maintaining the cleanliness of the stable.
A dainty woman, and sweetheart, and mistress, a wife
A woman who embodies grace, affection, companionship, and marital commitment.
And in the winter, she'll shovel the ice
And even in challenging circumstances, she will take on physical labor to help out.
And loveingly set out the traps for mice
And perform tasks with care and attention, even when dealing with pests.
She's a joy and treasure for practically speaking
She is a source of happiness and valuable assistance in practical matters.
To whom can you turn when the plumbing is leaking
To whom can you rely on when faced with household problems like a leaking plumbing system.
To that dainty woman, that frigile woman
To that woman who possesses elegance and delicate sensibilities.
That sweetheart, that mistress, that wife
That woman who fulfills roles of affection, companionship, and marital commitment.
To that womanly woman, Oh yes it takes a woman
To that woman who embodies femininity and all its virtues, oh yes, it takes a woman.
A husky woman
A woman who is strong and capable.
To bring you the sweet things in life
To bring you joy and happiness in life.
Oh yes it takes a woman, a dainty woman
Oh yes, it takes a woman who possesses grace and elegance.
A sweetheart, and mistress, a wife
A woman who embodies affection, companionship, and marital commitment.
Oh yes it takes a woman, a frigile woman
Oh yes, it takes a woman who embraces her femininity and delicate sensibilities.
To bring you the sweet things in life
To bring you happiness, joy, and all the pleasant experiences in life.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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