I was thinking that I might fly today
Just to disprove all the things that you say
It doesn't take a talent to be mean
You words can crush things that are unseen

So please be careful with me, I'm sensitive
And I'd like to stay that way

You always tell me that it's impossible
To be respected, and be a girl
Why's it gotta be so complicated
Why you gotta tell me if I'm hated

So please be careful with me, I'm sensitive
And I'd like to stay that way

I was thinking, that it might do some good
If we robbed the cynics and took all their food
That way what they believe will have taken place
And we can give it people who have some faith

So please be careful with me, I'm sensitive
And I'd like to stay that way

I have this theory, that if we're told we're bad
Then that's the only idea we'll ever have
But maybe if we are surrounded in beauty
Someday we will become what we see
'Cause anyone can start a conflict
it's harder yet to disregard it
I'd rather see the world from another angle
We are everyday angels
Be careful with me 'cause I'd like to stay that way



Lyrics submitted by Ice

Track duration: 02:57


I'm Sensitive song meanings
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  • 0
    My Opinion:I love this song and feel a personal connection to the whole album because I listened to it all the time during those critical growing-up years in middle and high school.

    Hearing the song today, Jewel sounds so young and innocent, it reminds me of my own adolescence even more.

    The song makes me think of my parents. I remember listening to this in the car once and my dad snickered at the line about robbing the senate and taking all their food, mocking the song, and by extension, me. My taste in music was just one of the many things about me he thought was stupid.

    One time my mom walked in on me listening to the song Pieces of You around the "faggot" part. She wrinkled her nose and told me it was a disgusting song and I shouldn't listen to "this type of music." Maybe she would have felt differently if it had been Lionel Richie. Another time, I was playing Near You Always in the car, and-- it's a long story about exactly why-- but my mom rolled her eyes at a particular line in the song and turned it off.

    Was this unnecessarily mean, or am I just being too "sensitive?"

    "If we're told we're bad, then that's the only idea we'll ever have." They did a lot of damage.

    So yeah, it just makes me think about the insensitvity and cynicism of my parents. "It doesn't take a talent to be mean" really speaks to me. I was very sensitive as a little girl, and my parents weren't careful with me. This song just reminds me how my parents never accepted their little girl and how I don't want to be like my parents. I want to be able to be happy and accept others without starting conflicts and tearing other people down for no reason.

    "I'd rather see the world from another angle."
    Flag SheWriteson April 22, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song reminds me of me. And my father... being one of the biggest cynics going! suppressed me and a lot of my personality as i was growing up for fear of being criticised for being 'too sensitive' which sad though it is is pretty much how it was.

    The lyrics here are how i really feel, i always felt i was the one in the wrong, however, i realise now that its what you see in your life that really makes it, yes lots of terrible, sad and awful things are happening around us,, but all you can do is try and make a small difference, whilst also seeing the beauty in your own life and the world.

    Basically what she's saying its its not intelligent to be negative about everything all the time because you will never be happy in that case.
    Flag azealia123on January 15, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I don't think you have to see this in feminist terms. I think this applies universially to men and women. Men might be physically tough, and we try our darndest to be emotionally tough but that doesn't mean that we too don't have fragile emotions. Women and their words hurt me more than men or any physical pain ever could. So as a guy I see this song applying to me as much as it does women.

    Now the verse:

    "You always tell me that it's impossible
    To be respected, and be a girl
    Why's it gotta be so complicated"
    Why you gotta tell me if I'm hated"

    Is just ONE example of the cruelty and intolarance that we experience in life. There are others.

    I like the lyric:

    "But maybe if we are surrounded in beauty
    Someday we will become what we see
    'Cause anyone can start a conflict
    it's harder yet to disregard it
    I'd rather see the world from another angle"

    Ghandi saw the world from this angle. Look at what he accomplished for India. Look at what the PLO has accomplished for Palestine. The Palestinians are definately not surrounded in beauty.



    Flag troubadour13on August 03, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is about being a fragile sensitive little lady, who will kick the shit out of you if you rub her the wrong way.lol.
    Flag macdadeeon November 08, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is such a cute and innocent song. The singer is clinging desperately to the optimistic outlook and faith in humanity that comes in youth. She doesn't want to be hard, cold, and callous... She wants to retain innocence and sensitivity.

    Reminds me of when I was younger. Now I'm one of the mean, cynical ones she's speaking out against. This song makes me miss the old days, but you wouldn't catch me dead singing it.
    Flag bunny-loon May 18, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:for everyone who is annoyed that she is saying women are more sensitive than men ...you can still be a feminist and be vulnerable sometimes and sensitive. A real lady knows when to be strong & when to show emotion/be "soft". Trying to achieve equality w/ men doesn't mean we need to deny all "feminine" qualities & act like they are embarassing, in fact that is kind of taking a step backwards...let's face it, men & women DO have natural differences & they can be a beautiful thing. Besides I think she is only talking about herself anyways. But even so, this song just reinforces the fact sensitivity is nothing to be ashamed of...

    & the last verse is ridiculously awesome. The conflict part kinda reminds me of politics, or just people's opinions in general. Everyone wants to fight and share their almighty opinion 24/7 like it's the most important thing there is (when a lot of times they don't know the whole story/are misinformed), but it takes a much bigger and at-peace person to just step back and think, or disregard conflict sometimes. She is saying the world is a messed up place, but she doesn't want to allow people showing disrepect or being rude to affect her & her child-like/innocent way of looking at things...we are all angels in our way but we let bad things and even just daily life in general jade us too much.

    Okay, I could write a lot more but I won't. These lyrics are so amazing.
    Flag justlikeheaven05on April 28, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think she doesn't want to be desensitized by the all the everyday negativity in the world (sexism, cynicism), she is just trying to put a spin on negative things ("just to disprove all the things that you say") and look at them optimistically. She does not want to become jaded or callous. If we were all sensitive to our own feelings as well as those of others and the world around us, although its a cliche for me to say this, the world would be a better place. I don't agree with those who see it as a song about girls or being vulnerable compared to men; I think that is completely missing the mark. Like someone said above, she does outline some Utopian values. We all have the ability to become everyday angels by how we think and act.

    I think the final verse is absolutely amazing. The lyrics are pure and simple, and they are some of the best shes ever written.
    Flag wesblueon August 05, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i think she is saying that she really appreciates that she is sensitive because she is a woman and that is how women "were suppose to act" but I dont think she is saying that women are week! I think she is trying to tell you to be stong but stay sensitive. To many people become numb to emotion and that is the price they pay to be strong... she talks alot about helping people.. i think she is saying being sensitive to our emotions is going to get us farther than ignoring them just so we can be strong.. its a more difficult task to be strong and sensitive and I think she is complimenting women on this we can do this!
    Flag busted_rhythmon March 24, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this reminds me of my best friend. She really lives by these lyrics. She is sensitive about things and she says things like that all the time.
    Flag Ritz_freakon October 07, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think you guys who are making this an "all girls are sensitive" thing are off the mark. The second verse, where she says, "you always tell me it's impossible to be respected and be a girl is" is actually the weakest in the song ... if you take all the others together, she's talking about the same kind of idealism Lennon meant in "Imagine". Just like he's not the only dreamer, she's not the only sensitive person, male or female -- this is an anthem saying that being sensitive is a *good* thing. Better be an everyday angel in the world than just one more bitter, mistrustful cynic.
    Flag maxwellsmarton January 28, 2006   Link

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