The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Girls can wear jeans and cut their hair short
Wear shirts and boots 'cause it's okay to be a boy
But for a boy to look like a girl is degrading
'Cause you think that being a girl is degrading
But secretly you'd love to know what it's like wouldn't you?
What it feels like for a girl
Silky smooth lips as sweet as candy
Baby, tight blue jeans
Skin that shows in patches
Strong inside but you don't know it
Good little girls, they never show it
When you open up your mouth to speak could you be a little weak?
Do you know what it feels like for a girl?
Do you know what it feels like in this world for a girl?
Hair that twirls on finger tips so gently
Baby, hands that rest on jutting hips repenting
Hurt that's not supposed to show and tears that fall when no one knows
When you're trying hard to be your best could you be a little less?
Do you know what it feels like for a girl?
Do you know what it feels like in this world for a girl?
Do you know what it feels like for a girl?
Do you know what it feels like in this world
What it feels like for a girl?
Strong inside but you don't know it
Good little girls, they never show it
When you open up your mouth to speak could you be a little weak?
Do you know what it feels like for a girl?
Do you know what it feels like in this world for a girl?
Do you know what it feels like for a girl?
Do you know what it feels like in this world for a girl in this world?
Do you know?
Do you know?
Do you know what it feels like for a girl?
What it feels like in this world
Wear shirts and boots 'cause it's okay to be a boy
But for a boy to look like a girl is degrading
'Cause you think that being a girl is degrading
But secretly you'd love to know what it's like wouldn't you?
What it feels like for a girl
Silky smooth lips as sweet as candy
Baby, tight blue jeans
Skin that shows in patches
Strong inside but you don't know it
Good little girls, they never show it
When you open up your mouth to speak could you be a little weak?
Do you know what it feels like for a girl?
Do you know what it feels like in this world for a girl?
Hair that twirls on finger tips so gently
Baby, hands that rest on jutting hips repenting
Hurt that's not supposed to show and tears that fall when no one knows
When you're trying hard to be your best could you be a little less?
Do you know what it feels like for a girl?
Do you know what it feels like in this world for a girl?
Do you know what it feels like for a girl?
Do you know what it feels like in this world
What it feels like for a girl?
Strong inside but you don't know it
Good little girls, they never show it
When you open up your mouth to speak could you be a little weak?
Do you know what it feels like for a girl?
Do you know what it feels like in this world for a girl?
Do you know what it feels like for a girl?
Do you know what it feels like in this world for a girl in this world?
Do you know?
Do you know?
Do you know what it feels like for a girl?
What it feels like in this world
Lyrics submitted by kevin
What It Feels Like for a Girl Lyrics as written by Guy Sigsworth David Mitchell Torn
Lyrics © WARP MUSIC LIMITED, Universal Music Publishing Group, O/B/O DistroKid, Downtown Music Publishing, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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This song is so moving. All your life you are told to never fully live up to your potential. (Girls, you know what I'm talking about.)
I know.
i know too.
my most favorite Madonna song of all time. but all Madonna songs have powerful messages. this one tops it all. it's hard to be a girl sometimes, and guys take it for granted.
i love the video to this song. so amazing. it really adds a lot to the meaning of the song. the album version is so soft and sweet and "girly". and then the video is so angry and harsh. the opposite. but it just shows how girls feel both ways. they have a range of emotion but the anger and harshness is something that we teach them to ignore. just like we teach boys to ignore the soft sweetness. i love at the end when she steals that red firebird, a symbol of masculinity and everything that men aspire to be, and smashes it. very powerful. this video is filled with powerful imagery, but that was the most poignant. i'm not a girl, but i'm gay. so i can relate somewhat. cus guys see me, and it's like i'm throwing away my birthright to be better than girls or something. i'm not sure what is so threatening about being gay. i don't even like to label myself as gay, but guys are so hot. and society needs to be able to label me so that they know how to treat me. i guess. which reminds me, i also love when she runs down the guys playing hockey, cus there were times in highschool when i would have loved to have done something like that to some of the guys who harassed me. i'd could never, i'm very anti-violence, i can't even kill bugs, but you know. fantasy and all.
@mark902
This song is about girls and what society's misconceptions are on how a girl is to be, act, look, portrayed, etc. Girls are seen as being emotional, sensitive, weak, etc. but really they are strong and can be great but are discouraged to live up to their potential.
What It Feels Like for a Girl is a beautiful Madonna ballad dedicated to her teenage rebel Lola. An affectionate and beautiful concerto Ciccone!
This song rocks, the lyrics are so powerful!
I LOVE THE VIDEO FOR THIS SONG, ITS HER WIERDEST VIDEO IF THAT IS POSSIBLE!
"Strong inside but you don't know it Good little girls they never show it ".... well... don't mess with a lady, guys! You might underestimate them! :D
this song and video are both amazing. the lyrics re straightforward and...this song totally describes how much of a great person madonna is. i love her, she is my idol.
I reckon this song is, aswell as being a straight forward celebration of femininity, about teenage pregnancy, and all the emotions it brings on. I could have got this completely wrong, its just a thought.