Meaning of "You Can Have Him" by Nina Simone

"You Can Have Him" by Nina Simone is a defiant declaration of independence and self-worth. The narrator, tired of societal pressure to fit into traditional gender roles and expectations of being devoted to a man, rejects the idea of a man being the center of her world. She sarcastically lists domestic tasks like mending his clothes and cooking for him, highlighting the burden of fulfilling these stereotypes as a woman. By stating that she never loved him and couldn't make him happy, she refuses to conform to the societal norms of women sacrificing themselves for men's happiness. The ending reflects a sense of liberation as she imagines a life without him, where she can enjoy her own company and freedom. It's a feminist anthem that challenges the idea of a woman's identity being defined by her relationship to a man.