The meaning of the lyrics of the song "You're Not a Man" by the artist "Thomston"

The lyrics of Thomston's "You're Not a Man" offer a critique of toxic masculinity and the standards society imposes on men. The recurring phrase "You're not a man till you bleed" is sarcastic, mocking the notion that men must be aggressive, strong, and ready for violence.

The author satirizes the stereotype of the "real man" through images of a clenched fist, cuts, and bruises as "testimonies of war." He shows that boys are taught from childhood to suppress emotions, be tough, and not show weakness ("no one will see you defeated").

Thomston criticizes the society that encourages such a model of behavior ("We dream of a place… Where sweat is currency… And labor justifies itself"). He points out that for centuries ("Dare I say for centuries we've lived in apathy") people have been raising boys by these distorted standards, leading to negative consequences.

At the end of the song, the author talks about his own experience and how he does not measure his masculinity by the number of scars ("I don't measure myself by the amount of open wounds"). He urges listeners to abandon these outdated notions and seek other avenues of self-expression based on cooperation and understanding ("And as long as we don't raise our hands, nobody loses").