Her by Poppy Lyrics Meaning – The Anthem of Reclaimed Identity in a Misogynistic Society
Lyrics
Give her a name
That isn’t hers
Then make her yours
Say she’s adored
Call her a whore
Then pick her up
Throw her on the floor
I’m getting to know her
And all of her anger
You won’t recognize her
If you encountered
I’m getting to know her
And all of her anger
Picked herself up
Put her back together
Give her a taste
Take it away
Under your thumb
Tell her to stay
Don’t say a word
Don’t disobey
When she woke up
She ran away
I’m getting to know her
And all of her anger
You won’t recognize her
If you encountered
I’m getting to know her
And all of her anger
Picked herself up
Put her back together
Run your mouth to keep her scared
You expected her to care
But when her mind made up
You were illfully prepared
Have you observed?
And what have you learned?
The girl that you knew
Will never be yours
I’m getting to know her
And all of her anger
You won’t recognize her
If you encountered
I’m getting to know her
And all of her anger
Picked herself up
Put her back together
In a world rife with labels and expectations, Poppy’s ‘Her’ emerges as a defiant battle cry against the misogynistic impositions society places on female identity. With a haunting melody and sharply-crafted lyrics, the track delves into the turbulent journey of a woman reclaiming her sense of self from the crushing weight of patriarchal norms. It’s a song that doesn’t just resonate; it empowers.
At first listen, ‘Her’ could be mistaken for just another chapter in the narrative of Poppy’s unconventional artistry. But a closer analysis reveals profound layers of emancipation and self-discovery embroidered within. This exploration is not just of a voice finding its full range, but of an individual wrestling back control from the hands that seek to shape and confine her.
Dissection of the Mask: Unveiling Forced Personas
The song opens with a discordant act of creation: a face, a name ‘that isn’t hers’ given to a woman – an implication of an identity forcefully superimposed. It’s a scathing commentary on how society manufactures and assigns roles to women, often reducing them to objects of desire or contempt, which is poignantly captured in Poppy’s lyrical paradox, ‘Say she’s adored / Call her a whore’.
This dichotomy of worship and degradation encapsulates the often polarizing manner in which women’s worth is measured. Poppy’s refrain ‘Give her a face / Give her a name that isn’t hers’ speaks to the erasure of individuality, propelling an introspection on the violation of molding one into what she is not – and the violence that accompanies this imposition.
Rising From the Rubble: A Tale of Feminine Anger
Repeated throughout the song, the mantra ‘I’m getting to know her / And all of her anger’ embodies a transformation. This isn’t simply about knowing someone else; it’s about self-discovery, about a woman connecting with her own suppressed rage. Anger here is not vilified but revered as a sign of awakening. It’s the righteous indignation against years of silent complacency and subjugation.
Poppy’s emphasis on ‘all of her anger’ is a purposeful choice, validating this emotion that society often dismisses as unbecoming of women. It signifies a breaking point and a rebirth – ‘Picked herself up / Put her back together.’ Through these words, the song champions the strength needed to reassemble oneself after being dismantled by societal expectations.
The Sound of Silence-as-Oppression
There is an unsettling quietness depicted in the lyrics ‘Don’t say a word / Don’t disobey,’ showcasing another facet of the systemic silencing of women. The music subsequently crescendos with ‘When she woke up / She ran away,’ illustrating the moment of awakening and escape from the muzzling confines set by patriarchal dictates.
The silence isn’t comforting; rather, it becomes a weapon used against her, a reinforcement of her objectification. Poppy’s artful play on words forces the listener to confront the destructive nature of a hushed existence from which the protagonist must flee.
The Illusion of Ownership Shattered
Throughout the narrative, there’s a presumed sense of ownership over the woman – a misguided belief that she can be controlled, scared, expected to care. Yet, in a twist that personifies empowerment, Poppy flips the script: ‘But when her mind made up / You were illfully prepared.’
The song builds upon the all-too-familiar tale of underestimated strength, culminating in the recognition that the very grasp of control is an illusion. The lyrics serve as a reminder of the resilience and autonomy inherent in the female spirit – a resource that men in their hubris failed to calculate.
A Line That Echoes: Her Unforgettable Declaration
With a simple yet powerful line, ‘The girl that you knew / Will never be yours,’ Poppy compresses the essence of ‘Her’ into a resounding declaration of independence. This is the standout moment of the song, a cresting wave breaking the cyclic pattern of entitlement and possession.
It’s more than just a memorable lyric; it’s the crux of the narrative, the turning point where the past is acknowledged but not allowed to dictate the future. Poppy’s words resonate with stirring clarity, an unshakable testament to the unwavering resolve to redefine oneself outside the narrative of others.
