About The Song
After enjoying her first No. 1 hit with “Any Man of Mine,” Twain released the title track from The Woman in Me, which went top fifteen. Radio would eventually warm to her ballads, but for this album’s life cycle, only the uptempo singles performed well. Today’s entry kicks off a string of three consecutive No. 1 hits.
“Any Man of Mine” established Shania’s signature sound, but it was “I’m Outta Here!” which brought her point of view completely into focus.
Comparisons to Madonna came quickly when Twain broke through, and those comparisons were apt, but not for the dismissive and casually misogynist reason given at the time: that Twain was selling sex.
What she was really doing was bypassing male gatekeepers and speaking directly to her audience, which was primarily women, with a message that flew over the heads of her male critics who were better at looking than listening.
“I’m Outta Here!” is a relentless takedown of men who would insult her intelligence and exploit her beauty with cheap lines and empty promises, and she’s talking straight to the girls as she calls bullshit on each and every one of them:
Now every woman sees, with every “pretty please”
That there’s a pair of lying eyes and a set of keys
He says, “Come be a star in the back seat of my car”
But baby slow down, you’re going way too far
Of course the production is flawless – it’s a “Mutt” Lange joint – and Twain’s vocal performance is one of her best, as she pivots from a gravelly low tone that mimics the menacing men on the make in the verses, and pivots to asserting her worth during the chorus.
But the real story here is how “I’m Outta Here!” crystallized a consistent point of view that would be present in all of her work. Two generations earlier, Tammy Wynette had made an entire career out of one clear message to women: keep your man happy or he’ll look for love elsewhere. From 1995 on, Twain’s message to women (and men) was this: Give a woman respect, autonomy, and monogamy to keep her happy, or she’ll look for love elsewhere.
While this single was at No. 1, The Woman in Me officially became the best-selling studio album in history by a female country artist, a record it would hold until it was surpassed by Twain’s next studio album. As noted above, Twain’s next two singles will also go No. 1.
Video
Lyrics
Mind if I sit down?
Can I buy you a round?
Haven’t seen your face before
Are you new in town?
It’s the same old lie
Oh, every time
Are you here alone?
Can I take you home?
Now every woman sees with every “pretty please”
That there’s a pair of lyin’ eyes and a set of keys
He says come be a star in the back seat of my car
Oh, but baby, slow down
You’re goin’ way too fast
Let me make it clear to you my dear
If you’re not in it for love
If you’re not willin’ to give it all you’ve got
If you’re not in it for life
If you’re not in it for love
Let me make it clear to you my dear
If you’re not in it for love, I’m outta here! (Woo!)
“Babe, I can change your world
Make you a cover girl
Yeah, you could be a beauty queen in a magazine”
“Now tell me, what’s your sign?” (Baby boy)
Why always the same old lie?
“I’ll be number 409 if you change your mind”
Let me make it clear to you my dear
If you’re not in it for love
If you’re not willin’ to give it all you got
If you’re not in it for life
If you’re not in it for love
Let me make it clear to you my dear
You’re not in it for love, oh
If you’re not in it for life
If you’re not in it for love
If you’re not in it for life
If you’re not in it for love, ooh
I’m outta here!
Hah