The Man
Taylor Swift
This song highlights the harmful societal stereotypes women navigate. Taylor Swift’s lyrics explain the things she would do if she were a man—like show her anger and discuss her success—and explains how she would be perceived very differently than she is now. In popular music, men often talk about their ex-girlfriends, while Taylor Swift gets hated on and shamed for doing the same thing. When men discuss love or heartbreak, they are seen as brave for expressing their emotions, but Taylor Swift has been called “annoying” and been criticized for talking too much about her ex-boyfriends or old relationships. Swift’s lyrics shine a light on how women are often considered as being weak and relying on a man if they are emotional about a breakup. This is a positive song accompanied by a great music video—featuring Taylor Swift as “The Man”—that shows how women often experience hate and harassment no matter what they do, while men get away with even horrendous behavior.
When Swift sings the chorus, “I’m so sick of running as fast as I can, wonder if I would get there quicker if I was a man,” this powerful line shows the advantages of being a man in the music industry—where half of women report experiencing gender discrimination according to the Musicians’ Union and only 2/10 of the best-selling artists of all time are women.
Lyrics
I would be complex
I would be cool
They'd say I played the field before I found someone to commit to
And that would be ok
For me to do
Every conquest I had made would make me more of a boss to you
I'd be a fearless leader
I'd be an alpha type
When everyone believes ya
What's that like?
I'm so sick of running as fast as I can
Wondering if I'd get there quicker
If I was a man
And I'm so sick of them coming at me again
'Cause if I was a man
Then I'd be the man
I'd be the man
I'd be the man
They'd say I hustled
Put in the work
They wouldn't shake their heads and question how much of this I deserve
What I was wearing
If I was rude
Could all be separated from my good ideas and power moves?
And they would toast to me, oh
Let the players play
I'd be just like Leo
In Saint-Tropez
I'm so sick of running as fast as I can
Wondering if I'd get there quicker
If I was a man
And I'm so sick of them coming at me again
'Cause if I was a man
Then I'd be the man
I'd be the man
I'd be the man
What's it like to brag about
Raking in dollars
And getting bitches and models
And it's all good if you're bad
And it's okay if you're mad
If I was out flashing my dollars
I'd be a bitch, not a baller
They paint me out to be bad
So it's okay that I'm mad
I'm so sick of running as fast as I can
Wondering if I'd get there quicker if I was a man (you know that)
And I'm so sick of them coming at me again (coming at me again)
'Cause if I was a man (if I was a man)
Then I'd be the man (then I'd be the man)
I'm so sick of running as fast as I can (as fast as I can)
Wondering if I'd get there quicker if I was a man (hey)
And I'm so sick of them coming at me again (coming at me again)
'Cause if I was a man (if I was a man), then I'd be the man
I'd be the man
I'd be the man (oh)
I'd be the man (yeah)
I'd be the man (I'd be the man)
If I was a man
Then I'd be the man
Analysis
I would be complex
I would be cool
They'd say I played the field before I found someone to commit to
And that would be ok
For me to do
Every conquest I had made would make me more of a boss to you
I'd be a fearless leader
I'd be an alpha type
When everyone believes ya
What's that like?
(Chorus) I'm so sick of running as fast as I can
Wondering if I'd get there quicker
If I was a man
And I'm so sick of them coming at me again
'Cause if I was a man
Then I'd be the man
I'd be the man
I'd be the man
They'd say I hustled
Put in the work
They wouldn't shake their heads and question how much of this I deserve
What I was wearing
If I was rude
Could all be separated from my good ideas and power moves?
And they would toast to me, oh
Let the players play
I'd be just like Leo
In Saint-Tropez
(Chorus)
What's it like to brag about
Raking in dollars
And getting bitches and models
And it's all good if you're bad
And it's okay if you're mad
If I was out flashing my dollars
I'd be a bitch, not a baller
They paint me out to be bad
So it's okay that I'm mad
(Chorus)
I'd be the man
I'd be the man (oh)
I'd be the man (yeah)
I'd be the man (I'd be the man)
If I was a man
Then I'd be the man
In this song, Swift makes a point of including many double standards women face. Underlined in blue are a few examples of these actions that are unacceptable for women but normalized for men. In pink are examples of the way Swift is treated in Hollywood and throughout her life. This song found on the Lover album is an amazing example of the disadvantages women face while trying to have the same career as men.
Taylor Swift has been hated on for various reasons, most recently for “ruining football” when she goes to support her boyfriend. Below are a few articles that show the hate she has been receiving for little things throughout her career.
https://www.marca.com/en/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/2023/12/26/658b1cb622601d21318b457a.html
https://betches.com/reputation-is-a-year-old-do-we-still-hate-taylor-swift/
https://nypost.com/2022/10/25/i-went-to-high-school-with-taylor-swift-people-hated-her/