Are you woman enough to be my man?

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Comments

  • pickupyourwill
    pickupyourwill Posts: 3,135
    ldent42 said:

    i thought it was a spoof on that sheryl crow song where she says "are you man enough to be my man"

    I agree here.

  • shortstack
    shortstack Posts: 2,339
    I always felt she was asking him if he was a feminist.
    did you see me? i saw you.
  • robbie
    robbie Posts: 883
    It is a question both sexes in the relationship are asking each other. The male needing not only for her to be his woman, but also enough like him to be his friend (my man), and the female needing the same thing with the line meaning "are you enough like me to be my friend and my partner (my man)" i think it is also what is meant by the line "If im the only one, could i ever be enough?" it seems like that is what is necessary to be "in love" which is difficult to find and why those who find such a partner are the "lucky ones" that is how i have always inturpreted the line. If you think about a man saying it to a woman AND a woman saying it to a man, it works both ways and even means the same thing. Seems pretty cool to me, but what the fuck do i know???
  • whispering hands
    whispering hands Under your skin Posts: 13,527
    robbie said:

    It is a question both sexes in the relationship are asking each other. The male needing not only for her to be his woman, but also enough like him to be his friend (my man), and the female needing the same thing with the line meaning "are you enough like me to be my friend and my partner (my man)" i think it is also what is meant by the line "If im the only one, could i ever be enough?" it seems like that is what is necessary to be "in love" which is difficult to find and why those who find such a partner are the "lucky ones" that is how i have always inturpreted the line. If you think about a man saying it to a woman AND a woman saying it to a man, it works both ways and even means the same thing. Seems pretty cool to me, but what the fuck do i know???

    This a good interpretation too!
  • Foriginal Sin
    Foriginal Sin Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 1,876
    Well if you are just taking that line out of the context of the whole verse I take it as: I'm a man, I'm not supposed to admit it but sometimes I cry and sometimes I need help/support etc. Are you strong enough to be that anchor, because Women are strong but aren't perceived that way by society (try watching a two year old while your wife's in San Diego for a week, then you'll know what I'm talking about).

    But the whole verse goes:
    I sometimes realize, that I can only be as good as you'll let me
    Are you Woman enough to be my man? Bandaged hand in hand.

    Now seeing it that way I think it means this:
    This guy is in a relationship that is blah. Maybe the girl always puts him down, he doesn't have enough money, no career path, etc. So in his eyes he can only be as successful as she views him. He's asking her if she's strong enough to stand by his side, through anything, for there will be bad times ahead if they're to be successful.
    Remember this is just a lyric/verse in a song all about happiness towards people in love, you can go all the way to the beginning of Hail, Hail and try and figure it out, or just enjoy your own interpretation, which is the best way. (On a side note I've heard EV refer to 'Just Breathe' as a song from a father to a child which made me so happy that my wife and I didn't choose it as our wedding song, and then another night as song from one lover to another (DAMMIT) again, it is all about what your interpretation is).
    Chicago 6/29/98, Alpine Valley(EV) 6/13/99, Alpine Valley 10/08/00, Chicago 10/09/00, Phoenix 10/20/00, Orlando 4/12/03, Tampa 4/13/03, San Diego 6/05/03, Vegas 6/06/03, Phoenix 6/07/03, Chicago 6/18/03, Alpine Valley 6/21/03, Orlando 10/08/04, D.C. 10/11/04, Chicago 5/16/06, Chicago 5/17/06, LA 7/12/08, Chicago 8/23/09, Chicago 8/24/09, LA 10/07/09, San Diego 10/09/09 (Front Row Center, Finally), Phoenix(EV) 11/4/11, Wrigley 7/19/13, Phoenix 11/19/13, Denver 10/22/14, Wrigley 8/20/16, Wrigley 8/22/16
  • Miiike
    Miiike Posts: 436
    edited April 2020
    ""
    Post edited by Miiike on
  • eeriepadave
    eeriepadave West Chester, PA Posts: 43,274
    I took it literally since i'm single
    image
    8/28/98- Camden, NJ
    10/31/09- Philly
    5/21/10- NYC
    9/2/12- Philly, PA
    7/19/13- Wrigley
    10/19/13- Brooklyn, NY
    10/21/13- Philly, PA
    10/22/13- Philly, PA
    10/27/13- Baltimore, MD
    4/28/16- Philly, PA
    4/29/16- Philly, PA
    5/1/16- NYC
    5/2/16- NYC
    9/2/18- Boston, MA
    9/4/18- Boston, MA
    9/14/22- Camden, NJ
    9/7/24- Philly, PA
    9/9/24- Philly, PA
    Tres Mts.- 3/23/11- Philly. PA
    Eddie Vedder- 6/25/11- Philly, PA
    RNDM- 3/9/16- Philly, PA
  • Miiike
    Miiike Posts: 436
    edited April 2020
    I took it literally since i'm single
    image
    ""
    Post edited by Miiike on
  • Ledbetterman10
    Ledbetterman10 Posts: 16,994
    my interpretation has always been that that line is coming from the woman's point of view and she's asking the narrator if he's like sensitive enough
    2000: Camden 1, 2003: Philly, State College, Camden 1, MSG 2, Hershey, 2004: Reading, 2005: Philly, 2006: Camden 1, 2, East Rutherford 1, 2007: Lollapalooza, 2008: Camden 1, Washington D.C., MSG 1, 2, 2009: Philly 1, 2, 3, 4, 2010: Bristol, MSG 2, 2011: PJ20 1, 2, 2012: Made In America, 2013: Brooklyn 2, Philly 2, 2014: Denver, 2015: Global Citizen Festival, 2016: Philly 2, Fenway 1, 2018: Fenway 1, 2, 2021: Sea. Hear. Now. 2022: Camden, 2024: Philly 2, 2025: Pittsburgh 1

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  • october22
    october22 Posts: 2,533
    I've always liked it but never took it as anything deeper than "could you be my girl and my best friend?"
  • KCjam
    KCjam Posts: 144
    Ledbetterman10 said:

    my interpretation has always been that that line is coming from the woman's point of view and she's asking the narrator if he's like sensitive enough

    I was always confused by this lyric when No Code first came out. Now I think it is from a woman to a man and she is asking if he is maybe "sensitive enough" or does he possess enough femininity to balance out his masculine side. To her, he needs this in order to be her man,.
  • eeriepadave
    eeriepadave West Chester, PA Posts: 43,274
    Elmo said:

    eeriepadave said:

    I took it literally since i'm single
    image

    Aww cute pic. I'm sure there is a chickie out there that is more than woman enough to be your man eeriepadave! Someone that likes slim dark-haired fellas. :)
    um thanks. Although your username is a guy's name, hopefully you're a woman . :tongue::wink:
    8/28/98- Camden, NJ
    10/31/09- Philly
    5/21/10- NYC
    9/2/12- Philly, PA
    7/19/13- Wrigley
    10/19/13- Brooklyn, NY
    10/21/13- Philly, PA
    10/22/13- Philly, PA
    10/27/13- Baltimore, MD
    4/28/16- Philly, PA
    4/29/16- Philly, PA
    5/1/16- NYC
    5/2/16- NYC
    9/2/18- Boston, MA
    9/4/18- Boston, MA
    9/14/22- Camden, NJ
    9/7/24- Philly, PA
    9/9/24- Philly, PA
    Tres Mts.- 3/23/11- Philly. PA
    Eddie Vedder- 6/25/11- Philly, PA
    RNDM- 3/9/16- Philly, PA
  • Miiike
    Miiike Posts: 436
    edited April 2020
    I took it literally since i'm single
    image
    Aww cute pic. I'm sure there is a chickie out there that is more than woman enough to be your man eeriepadave! Someone that likes slim dark-haired fellas.
    um thanks. Although your username is a guy's name, hopefully you're a woman . tonguewink
    ""


    Post edited by Miiike on
  • PJfanwillneverleave1
    PJfanwillneverleave1 Posts: 12,885
    I think it means a man asking of a woman to be by his side in terms of conflict.
  • JaneNY
    JaneNY Posts: 4,438
    Bandaged hand in hand makes me think of the old pagan custom in (I believe mainly) the UK of 'handfasting', where 2 people had one of their hands lightly tied together and declared that they were married.

    Ed has always written respectfully of women and from his lyrics is not threatened by a strong woman - asking are you woman enough to be my man, the man is saying that he wants a strong woman there to support him and is respecting her as an equal.
    R.i.p. Rigoberto Alpizar.
    R.i.p. My Dad - May 28, 2007
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  • whispering hands
    whispering hands Under your skin Posts: 13,527
    eeriepadave said:

    I took it literally since i'm single
    image

    Aww you're a little cutie Dave!
  • samjam
    samjam New York Posts: 9,283
    hedonist said:

    I always saw it as this - :yin_yang:

    Not necessarily and actually never 50/50, but balancing each other as needed, filling the voids, putting your footstep or sweat or energy in their place when they aren't able, and them doing that for you.

    Being vulnerable enough to ask for a tether and then accept it, embrace it.

    And give it, too.

    (bandaged hand in hand is - literally I believe - tied to this).

    So well put!!

    This thread comes up every so often, and I always enjoy reading people's interpretations!
    "Sometimes you find yourself having to put all your faith in no faith."
    ~not a dude~
    2010: MSGx2
    2012: Made In America
    2013: Pittsburgh, Brooklynx2, Hartford, Baltimore
    2014: Leeds, Milton Keynes, Detroit
    2015: Global Citizen Festival
    2016: Phillyx2, MSGx2, Fenwayx2
    2018: Barcelona, Wrigleyx2
  • eeriepadave
    eeriepadave West Chester, PA Posts: 43,274
    whispering hands said:

    eeriepadave said:

    I took it literally since i'm single
    image

    Aww you're a little cutie Dave!
    thanks, that's probably one of my better pics. Although I thought you've seen what I looked like when you were on facebook?
    8/28/98- Camden, NJ
    10/31/09- Philly
    5/21/10- NYC
    9/2/12- Philly, PA
    7/19/13- Wrigley
    10/19/13- Brooklyn, NY
    10/21/13- Philly, PA
    10/22/13- Philly, PA
    10/27/13- Baltimore, MD
    4/28/16- Philly, PA
    4/29/16- Philly, PA
    5/1/16- NYC
    5/2/16- NYC
    9/2/18- Boston, MA
    9/4/18- Boston, MA
    9/14/22- Camden, NJ
    9/7/24- Philly, PA
    9/9/24- Philly, PA
    Tres Mts.- 3/23/11- Philly. PA
    Eddie Vedder- 6/25/11- Philly, PA
    RNDM- 3/9/16- Philly, PA
  • dcp3y
    dcp3y Louisville KY Posts: 848
    In reading Marky Ramone's book ("Punk Rock Blitzkrieg - My Life as a Ramone"), I would submit that this lyric is a tip of the hat to the New York punk scene circa mid-to-late 70s - specifically Wayne (Jayne) County and the Backstreet Boys. http://www.jaynecounty.com/
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAJ6dxM0a9I (audio only of the band playing biggest hit song from New York era before Wayne/Jayne split for London)
    The book is an interesting read - Marky paid his dues before his time with the Ramones.

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