Taylor Swift's 'The Man' lyrics drag sexist critics and namecheck Leo DiCaprio

23 August 2019, 12:59

By Nicky Idika

On Taylor Swift's 'The Man' lyrics, the singer powerfully takes on sexist criticism and even namechecks Leo DiCaprio.

Taylor Swift debuted her seventh studio album Lover on Friday 23 August and fans are already parsing through the lyrics from the highly anticipated release. 'Cruel Summer' and 'Lover' are clear fan favourites from the album, but fans are absolutely living for Taylor's brutally honest lyrics on 'The Man'.

READ MORE: Taylor Swift removes "spelling is fun" lyric from 'ME!'

On 'The Man', Taylor sings about some of the many double standards she has faced in her career. She addresses the way her career and personal life are hyper scrutinised in comparison with her male counterparts and even names Leo DiCaprio in the song.

With lyrics like: "They'd say I hustled, put in the work/They wouldn’t shake their heads and question how much of this I deserve," Taylor speaks directly to criticism about her meteoric rise and success over the years.

The song continues: "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."

Taylor draws comparison here to Leo DiCaprio and how his dating history is never used against him in conversations about his career.

She also sings about how her demeanour and style of dress are often entry points her detractors use to scrutinise her even further and deny her the recognition she feels she deserves.

"They'd say I played the field before I found someone to commit to," is also a commentary on some of the conversations about her dating history that have plagued Taylor over the years.

Taylor's chorus on 'The Man' cuts to the heart of her entire message, though: "Cause if I was a man (If I was a man), then I'd be the man," she croons. Here, Taylor means that if she were a man, much of the critique, scrutiny, and negativity surrounding her career would not factor into her reputation and would, perhaps, enhance her public perception.

Taylor Swift - The Man (Official Audio)

Fans are already obsessed with the lyrics from 'The Man'

Read the full lyrics to 'The Man' below

Verse 1
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 okay for me to do
Every conquest I had made would make me more of a boss to you

Pre-Chorus
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

Verse 2
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

Pre-Chorus
And they would toast to me, oh, let the players play
I’d be just like Leo in Saint Tropez

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

Bridge
What's it like to brag about drinking and 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'd paint me out to be bad
So, it's okay that I'm mad

Chorus
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)

Outro
If I was a man, then I'd be the man

What do you guys think of Taylor Swift's 'The Man'?