You Can’t Touch This by MC Hammer Lyrics Meaning – The Untouchable Anthem of the 90s
Lyrics
You can’t touch this
You can’t touch this
You can’t touch this
My, my, my my music hits me so hard
Makes me say, “Oh my Lord”
Thank you for blessin’ me
With a mind to rhyme and two hype feet
It feels good, when you know you’re down
A super dope homeboy from the Oaktown
And I’m known as such
And this is a beat, uh, you can’t touch
I told you homeboy (You can’t touch this)
Yeah, that’s how we livin’ and ya know (You can’t touch this)
Look in my eyes, man (You can’t touch this)
Yo, let me bust the funky lyrics (You can’t touch this)
Fresh new kicks, and pants
You gotta like that, now you know you wanna dance
So move outta yo seat
And get a fly girl and catch this beat
While it’s rollin’, hold on!
Pump a little bit and let ’em know it’s goin’ on
Like that, like that
Cold on a mission, so fall on back
Let ’em know, that you’re too much
And this is a beat, uh, they can’t touch
Yo, I told you (you can’t touch this)
Why you standin’ there, man? (You can’t touch this)
Yo, sound the bell, school’s in, sucka (You can’t touch this)
Give me a song, or rhythm
Makin’ ’em sweat, that’s what I’m givin’ ’em
Now, they know
You talkin’ ’bout the Hammer, you’re talkin’ ’bout a show
That’s hyped, and tight
Singers are sweatin’, so pass them a wipe
Or a tape, to learn
What’s it gonna take in the 90’s to burn
The charts? Legit
Either work hard or you might as well quit
That’s word because you know (You can’t touch this)
(You can’t touch this)
Break it down!
Stop, Hammer time!
Go with the flow, it is said
That if you can’t groove to this then you probably are dead
So wave yo hands in the air
Bust a few moves, run your fingers through your hair
This is it, for a winner
Dance to this and you’re gonna get thinner
Move, slide your rump
Just for a minute let’s all do the bump
(Bump, bump, bump)
Yeah (You can’t touch this)
Look, man (You can’t touch this)
You better get hype, boy, ’cause you know you can’t (You can’t touch this)
Ring the bell, school’s back in
Break it down!
Stop, Hammer time!
You can’t touch this
You can’t touch this
You can’t touch this
Break it down!
Stop, Hammer time!
Every time you see me, the Hammer’s just so hyped
I’m dope on the floor and I’m magic on the mic
Now why would I ever stop doin’ this?
With others makin’ records that just don’t hit
I’ve toured around the world, from London to the Bay
It’s “Hammer, go Hammer, MC Hammer, yo Hammer”
And the rest can go and play
You can’t touch this
You can’t touch this
You can’t touch this
Yeah (You can’t touch this)
I told you (Can’t touch this)
Too hot (Can’t touch this)
Yo, we outta here (Can’t touch this)
When MC Hammer confidently struts into a room with his balloon pants ballooning and declares, ‘You can’t touch this,’ he’s not just filling empty space with confident bravado; he’s dropping a line so culturally and sonically potent that decades later, those four punchy words still ring as a call to dance-floor arms. But what exactly does ‘You Can’t Touch This’ mean? To dissect the depth of this 1990 hip-hop juggernaut is to excavate layers of self-assurance, epochal statements, and the intersection of art and a good time.
Beneath the infectious hook and compulsively danceable beats, MC Hammer fashioned an anthem woven with threads of empowerment, swagger, and a profound embrace of the cultural zeitgeist. It was a musical manifesto for the untouchable spirit, spun with lyrics that reinforced Hammer’s own rise and dominance in the music industry. This article moves beyond the surface to explore the hidden meanings, cultural impact, and linguistic craftsmanship embedded within ‘You Can’t Touch This’.
The Sledgehammer of Self-Confidence
Starting with its resolute title, ‘You Can’t Touch This’ cloaks its listeners in an armor of invincibility. Hammer’s insistence on his untouchability wasn’t just about his physical presence or dance prowess. The phrase ‘You can’t touch this’ became a universal slogan for self-empowerment, resonating with anyone ever beset by doubt or competitors. But in Hammer’s personal story, it reflects the apex of his own success, a rapper rising from Oakland to international stardom.
Throughout the track, Hammer’s assurances to the listener morph from personal pride to a collective call-to-action. He isn’t simply untouchable; he’s inviting everyone to feel that way, to tap into the source of their own confidence and revel in it. This pervasive message of empowerment is perhaps why the song still resonates — it’s the ultimate backing track to any feat of self-affirmation.
A Look That’s Just Too Much
MC Hammer’s aesthetic in ‘You Can’t Touch This’—both lyrically and visually in the iconic music video—embodied the flamboyant and excessive style of the late 80s and early 90s. With his ‘fresh new kicks and pants,’ he broadcasted a lifestyle and fashion sense that was eager to make a statement. Beyond the surface, it hints at the idea that personal style and the way one carries themselves can create an air of untouchability.
His attire, those eye-catching parachute pants, worked as a visual metaphor for the song’s essence. In them, Hammer could move freely, unconfined and expressive — an outer representation of the strategic freedom he celebrates in the chorus. The sartorial choices presented in the lyrics are about personal branding as a road to success; your look is your armor, and with the right armor, ‘you can’t touch this.’
Groove or Die: The Song’s Infectious Rhythm
One can’t discuss ‘You Can’t Touch This’ without bowing to the rhythm that underpins its entire structure. Leaning heavily on the sample from Rick James’ ‘Super Freak,’ the song’s beat is an irresistible force, demanding movement — ‘that if you can’t groove to this then you probably are dead.’ These were not just beats for the body but rhythms for the soul, a universal language that called out to every walk of life, demanding a physical response.
Hammer was acutely aware of the power of music to unite and uplift, and his insistent commands throughout the song play like a maestro’s to his orchestra. Dance becomes a shared experience transcending barriers, and Hammer positions himself as both the conductor and the medium through which this transcendent grooving takes place. His was to be a music without borders, as much a party anthem as it was a testament to the times.
The Hidden Meaning Behind Hammer’s Hype
While many will remember ‘You Can’t Touch This’ for its confident declarations and party-starting beat, the song holds a nuanced layer reflecting on the essence of the early ’90s cultural and social climate. Hammer himself emerges as a figurehead not just for rap or dance, but for a sense of positivity and perseverance that was urgently needed in a society facing economic and social challenges.
This is a beat, he says, that ‘you can’t touch,’ positioning his art as something more than mere entertainment; it’s aspirational, a soundscape of success against the odds. It’s the ‘funky lyrics’ that he ‘bust[s]’ that position him as a linguistic craftsman, whose words are woven to inspire resilience. ‘You talkin’ ’bout the Hammer, you’re talkin’ ’bout a show’ that’s more than lights and lines, it’s about endurance and wit, elements that define the hidden tracks of ‘You Can’t Touch This’.
The Catchphrases That Became Cultural Milestones
Every so often a song burrows into the collective consciousness with phrases that become emblematic of an era. ‘Stop, Hammer time!’ is one such declaration that transcended the music. It became a pop culture catchphrase, the kind that stops you in your tracks and demands attention. Hammer was a master of the memorable line, with his hit not just crafting catchy sequences but creating linguistic landmarks.
This catchphrase’s appropriation into multiple facets of life – from casual conversation to commercials – shows the song’s reach beyond the music charts. These words resonated as a signal to pause, to partake in the phenomenon that was, and still is, Hammer’s creation. As we explore the fabric of ‘You Can’t Touch This,’ these phrases remind us of the song’s lasting legacy, making it clear that while Hammer may have been untouchable, his influence was anything but.
