Here’s a hilarious and poignant song called “I’m Still a Man”. It’s Brad Paisley’s anthem for men today caught in the crossfire of the sensitive male movement vs the traditional meat-eating, hunter-gatherers group. We men continue to try to understand what women want and sometimes we go too far trying to change who we are in order to please them. It might work in the short term but ultimately we all learn that we just can’t go against our national Neanderthal instincts. We can bend but we cannot break when it comes to being a man. That’s the key to success.
Brad does a wonderful job with humor describing the modern man’s struggle to maintain his strength and dignity in an ever changing world. Does he go too far? Sure he does and that’s what makes the song so funny and makes the point ever stronger. While we don’t have to keep dragging our knuckles across the ground and carry clubs, neither do we need to wear makeup, watch dancing with the stars or carry purses. (American Idol is ok in my book).
Note: This reminds me of another great country song that addressed this same subject matter. Michelle Wright’s “Take it like a Man”
Here’s the live version which is great because you get to see the reaction of the crowd.
Here’s the song as recorded
Brad talks about how he came up with the idea for the song
Lyrics
"I’m Still A Guy"
When you see a deer you see Bambi
And I see antlers up on the wall
When you see a lake you think picnic
And I see a large mouth up under that log
You’re probably thinking that you’re going to change me
In some ways well maybe you might
Scrub me down, dress me up but no matter what
I’m still a guy
When you see a priceless French painting
I see a drunk, naked girl
You think that riding a wild bull sounds crazy
And I’d like to give it a whirl
Well love makes a man do some things he ain’t proud of
And in a weak moment I might walk your sissy dog, hold your purse at the mall
But remember, I’m still a guy
I’ll pour out my heart
Hold your hand in the car
Write a love song that makes you cry
Then turn right around knock some jerk to the ground
‘Cause he copped a feel as you walked by
I can hear you now talking to your friends
Saying, "Yeah girls he’s come a long way"
From dragging his knuckles and carrying a club
And building a fire in a cave
But when you say a backrub means only a backrub
Then you swat my hand when I try
Well, what can I say at the end of the day
Honey, I’m still a guy
I’ll pour out my heart
Hold your hand in the car
Write a love song that makes you cry
Then turn right around knock some jerk to the ground
‘Cause he copped a feel as you walked by
These days there’s dudes getting facials
Manicured, waxed and botoxed
With deep spray-on tans and creamy lotiony hands
You can’t grip a tacklebox
With all of these men lining up to get neutered
It’s hip now to be feminized
I don’t highlight my hair
I’ve still got a pair
Yeah honey, I’m still a guy
Oh my eyebrows ain’t plucked
There’s a gun in my truck
Oh thank God, I’m still a guy