People have called her lyrics mean, brutal, bitchy, but the thing is they’re just honest and apt commentaries about how fucked up it is to be a girl in this society.

misunderstood and absolutely brillz

In her song 22 she sings about how young girls who comply with society’s standards are just left in the dust, only valued for their youth and beauty and how depressing this is. Such a feminist musing, such a truism — no wonder people scold her for being a downer.

And then there’s The Fear, which describes the pressures of fame on young girls. So completely honest, no glamorization of the ugly world of fame and beauty. 

And people may think that these lyrics are her voice, what she wants and what she believes. As in the Fear, I’ve heard people make comments like, “I can’t believe she just says how much she wants fame and money.” Which may be true, but in a way I feel like it’s Lily’s observations about society taken into the first person – not necessarily her own ideas.

And even if they are, she’s completely unapologetic about admitting how society has made her act. It’s like she’s admitting, “maybe all I was concerned with was being beautiful, rich, famous. But I get it now – I get how society has influenced me.”

And people may not understand it, but she’s fucking empowered. The only thing is I feel like maybe she doesn’t see it. She seems to be just expressing depression over the unfairness of an often sexist society. 

My open note to Lily Allen: Feminism is what comes after that. Feminism is the positive answer to that depression. JOIN USSSSSS LILLLLYYYYYY! 

Watch/Listen/Observe for yourself: 

22

Lyrics:
When she was 22 the future looked bright
But she’s nearly 30 now and she’s out every night
I see that look in her face she’s got that look in her eye
She’s thinking how did I get here and wondering why

It’s sad but it’s true how society says
Her life is already over
There’s nothing to do and there’s nothing to say
Til the man of her dreams comes along picks her up and puts her over his shoulder
It seems so unlikely in this day and age

She’s got an alright job but it’s not a career
Wherever she thinks about it, it brings her to tears
Cause all she wants is a boyfriend
She gets one-night stands
She’s thinking how did I get here
I’m doing all that I can

It’s sad but it’s true how society says
Her life is already over
There’s nothing to do and there’s nothing to say
Til the man of her dreams comes along picks her up and puts her over his shoulder
It seems so unlikely in this day and age

It’s sad but it’s true how society says
Her life is already over
There’s nothing to do and there’s nothing to say
Til the man of her dreams comes along picks her up and puts her over his shoulder
It seems so unlikely in this day and age

The Fear

Lyrics: 

I want to be rich and I want lots of money
I don’t care about clever I don’t care about funny
I want loads of clothes and i want fuckloads of diamonds
I heard people die while they are trying to find them

And i’ll take my clothes off and it will be shameless
Cuz everyone knows that’s how you get famous
I’ll look at the sun and I’ll look in the mirror
I’m on the right track yeah I’m on to a winner

I don’t know what’s right and what’s real anymore
I don’t know how I’m meant to feel anymore
When do you think it will all become clear?
‘Cuz I’m being taken over by The Fear

Life’s about film stars and less about mothers 
It’s all about fast cars concussing each other
But it doesn’t matter cause I’m packing plastic
and that’s what makes my life so fucking fantastic

And I am a weapon of massive consumption
And its not my fault it’s how I’m programmed to function
I’ll look at the sun and I’ll look in the mirror
I’m on the right track yeah we’re on to a winner

I don’t know what’s right and what’s real anymore
I don’t know how I’m meant to feel anymore
When do you think it will all become clear?
‘Cuz I’m being taken over by The Fear

Forget about guns and forget ammunition
Cause I’m killing them all on my own little mission
Now I’m not a saint but I’m not a sinner
Now everything’s cool as long as I’m gettin thinner

I don’t know what’s right and what’s real anymore
I don’t know how I’m meant to feel anymore
When do you think it will all become clear?
‘Cause I’m being taken over by fear