Aloe Blacc, ‘The Man’ – Song Meaning

Who wants to be 'The Man'? Pretty much any dude out there. Aloe Blacc, whose folky, lived-in and soulful voice powers Avicii's ear-bending 'Wake Me Up,' has a second hit on his hands with 'The Man.' On the surface, it's the declarations of a man who strokes his own ego. Unearth a few more layers of meaning and you'll realize it's far deeper than that.

"I believe every lie that I ever told / Paid for every heart that I ever stole / I played my cards and I didn't fold / Well it ain't that hard when you got soul / This is my world / Somewhere I heard that life is a test / I been though the worst but I still give my best / God made my mold different from the rest / Then he broke that mold so I know I'm blessed."

His narrator has been a good man, one who followed God but also one who has some hubris and ego. That's probably why this track has been used in so many spots featuring pro athletes! This speaker is a confident but imperfect man who thinks he is 'The Man.' He does, in the hook, remind you in triplicate to tell everyone that he is 'The Man.' A humble man wouldn't do that -- he is a bit higher on himself than maybe everyone else is.

"Stand up now and face the sun / Won't hide my tail or turn and run / It's time to do what must be done / Be a king when kingdom comes."

Again, his confidence is readily apparent and it's somewhat attractive. He has no fear, which can come from faith (or cockiness). We are seeing a flawed hero, but we are not so sure he sees those same flaws. Still, his extreme belief in himself is appealing in doses.

"I got all the answers to your questions / I'll be the teacher you could be the lesson / I'll be the preacher you be the confession / I'll be the quick relief to all your stressin' / This is my world / It's a thin line between love and hate / Is you really real or is you really fake / I'm a solider standing on my feet / No surrender and I won't retreat."

This is the kind of 'Man' that you want in your corner. He may not always be super likable since he is so full of himself. But when you need someone getting your back in combat or in life, well, he's exactly who you want on your team. That's the give and take when it comes to bold, boastful people.

Aloe Blacc's song is certainly one perfectly designed for men who sport. That's how we hear it at PopCrush. What about you guys? What do you think?

Listen to Aloe Blacc, 'The Man'