Ain't That Just Like a Woman
Femme Fatale Tales: Unraveling the Enigma of Womanhood in Chuck Berry's Classic
Lyrics
There was Adam
Introduction of Adam
Happy as a man could be
Adam's initial happiness
'Til Eve got him messing
Introduction of Eve and trouble with the apple tree
With that old apple tree
Reference to the biblical story of Adam and Eve
Ain't that just like a woman?
Expressing a stereotype about women's behavior
Ain't that just like a woman?
-Ain't that just like a woman?
-They'll do it every time
Reinforcing the idea that women behave in a certain way
Lot took his wife
Introduction of Lot and his wife
Down to the corner for a malted
Taking his wife for a malted drink
She wouldn't mind her business
Lot's wife not minding her business
Boy, did she get salted
Consequences for Lot's wife not minding her business
Ain't that just like a woman?
Reiteration of the stereotype about women's behavior
Ain't that just like a woman?
-Ain't that just like a woman?
-They'll do it every time
Reaffirming the belief that women act in a predictable manner
Samson thought Delilah
Reference to Samson and Delilah
Was on the square
Samson's perception of Delilah
'Til one night
Delilah betraying Samson by cutting his hair
She clipped him all his hair
Consequences of Delilah's actions on Samson
Ain't that just like a woman?
Emphasizing the recurring theme of women's behavior
Ain't that just like a woman?
-Ain't that just like a woman?
-They'll do it every time
Assertion that women consistently act in a certain way
From our history books
Reference to historical events
We all learned
Common knowledge from history books
Nero fiddled
Nero's fiddling during the burning of Rome
While Rome was burned
Highlighting a historical example of questionable priorities
Ain't that just like a woman?
Linking historical events to the perceived behavior of women
Ain't that just like a woman?
-Ain't that just like a woman?
-They'll do it every time
Reinforcement of the idea that women consistently act in a certain manner
Marie Antoinette met
Introduction of Marie Antoinette
Some hungry cats at the gate
Marie Antoinette encountering hungry people
They was crying for bread
The hungry people's plea for bread
She said, "Let them eat cake"
Marie Antoinette's infamous quote, "Let them eat cake"
Ain't that just like a woman?
Connecting Marie Antoinette's actions to the perceived behavior of women
Ain't that just like a woman?
-Ain't that just like a woman?
-They'll do it every time
Reiteration of the belief that women consistently act in a certain way
You can buy a woman clothes
Reference to buying clothes for a woman and providing money
And give her money on the side
Expectations that no matter what is done, a woman remains unsatisfied
No matter what you do
Expressing frustration with the perceived nature of women
She ain't never satisfied
Reinforcement of the belief that women are never satisfied
Ain't that just like a woman?
Final reiteration of the stereotype about women's behavior
Ain't that just like a woman?
-Ain't that just like a woman?
-They'll do it every time
Concluding statement about the consistent behavior of women
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