Erykah Badu’s “Bag Lady” — An empowering speech for black women.
In 2000, Neo-Soul’s First Lady, Erykah Badu, released her second album titled “Mama’s Gun”. The first single released from the album was “Bag Lady”. This song topped the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts for seven weeks and earned two nominations at the 43rd Grammy Awards.
The song narrates the story of a woman wanting to start a new relationship, but is struggling to get close to people due to the heavy emotional baggage she carries. The motto is to “pack light” and let go of your past, whilst highlighting the importance of self-love:
“Bag lady… you gon’ hurt your back,
Dragging all them bags like that.
I guess nobody ever told you,
All you must hold onto, is you, is you, is you.”
The first time listening to this song as a pre-teen, not only was I in awe of the musical arrangement, but the words relieved me to the point I felt refreshed and free. Now, as an adult with a range of good and bad experiences, I’ve realised that the song carries a multifaceted signification to black women like myself.
Relationships
“Bag Lady” is direct with its message and addresses the main subject— relationship problems. We come across relationships from young ages and form bonds as a way of communicating and sharing interest and energies. Relationships are a way of trusting people and as a woman going through adulthood, it isn’t long before you realise how important it is to be careful with who you let see your vulnerability. “Bag Lady” teaches us that in order to excel in life, we must be prepared to accept that relationships come and go.
Ms. Badu squashes our habits of dwelling on the past. Through her lyricism, she tells us not to bring our past trust issues, fears, and insecurities into a new relationship. It is important to separate the past from the present. Leave previous problems behind and do not let your past get the better of you.
Whilst that is the main message exemplified throughout the song, what additionally comes to light is the importance of knowing your worth. Alongside telling listeners to leave past relationships behind, the song encourages us to step back for a moment and breathe — embracing freedom and space for new opportunities. With the jazz-like instrumentation and echoes of soft vocals oozing through to listeners, it allows them to take a break from the real world and the stress it may bring. It provides a sweet but blunt reminder to take it easy and put yourself first. Find peace within yourself and focus on the good energy you deserve.
Moving On
When Erykah Badu released this song, she was raising her young son whilst dealing with a marital split with her former partner, Andre Benjamin (a.k.a. Andre 3000). As expressed in her song, Ms. Badu may have been handling a lot of bags at this specific period and “Bag Lady” was the perfect outlet.
“Bag lady… you gon’ miss your bus.
You can’t hurry up,
‘Cause you got too much stuff.”
While getting over the past is a constant message portrayed throughout the song, another aspect is the idea of moving on and proceeding with the future before it is too late. “Bag Lady” is about removing the weight of imposed burdens from your shoulders and focusing on oneself. Ms. Badu also reiterates the idea that if you carry too much baggage and unresolved issues, this will only create additional barriers to happiness and success. Thus, it encourages and empowers us to set realistic expectations of ourselves and others, whilst working towards better opportunities.
It’s about managing your load.
B for Baggage
As a black feminist, I’ve come to acknowledge the importance of intersectionality. “Bag Lady” acknowledges this and the baggage that comes with black womanhood. The song is a reclamation of self-worth and departure from generational trauma. Ms. Badu used this song as a means to talk to herself but was also preaching word to many other black women on an emotional and spiritual level.
Women are tired, and black women specifically are extremely tired. While our arms are sore from gripping our own personal baggage, our brains are drained from the traumas our people have faced and are still facing to this date. What Ms. Badu does with “Bag Lady” is incredible as she recognises the enduring strength of a woman but illustrates the hardships and cultural baggage that are difficult to leave behind.
“Girl I know, sometimes it’s hard”
The song is a way of powering up. The baggage from the past can be so heavy; now, it’s time to move past that and drop the emotional bags that weigh us down. For black women in today’s society, we are pressured to be the “strong black woman” — the same stereotype that dehumanises our pain and places guilt on us for falling short of the expectations placed upon us. In a world where black women are criticised for our image, success, and ambitions, there is a constant fight for equal representation. Our struggles go unnoticed and when barriers are broken on the odd occasion, the reaction from men are colloquial phrases such as “you crowdin’ my space”. “Bag Lady” addresses the challenges black women face on a regular basis. With the collective harmonies of women, echoing “Let it go, let it go”, “Bag Lady” provides a soothing and sympathetic feeling of unity. It informs the listener that they are not alone, and the real strength is in vulnerability. It is a positive reminder that although we carry so much personally and as a collective, we are overcomers. We will not be weighed down.
Self-care
As a known activist herself, Ms. Badu promotes the importance of self-care. Self-care is a key form of activism and for black women, it is immensely powerful. History is repeating itself and while black women are amplifying their voices, protesting, and having difficult conversations about race, they are also faced with their own personal struggles and the pressure to be the backbone of households that are fighting for the preservation of black life. However, with all these efforts, many of us are forgetting to counter the hardships we face and take some time out to take care of ourselves.
“Bet ya love could make it better”
Art is an essential way of channelling self-care activism and Ms. Badu utilises this through her music — particularly in the bridge of “Bag Lady”. By addressing all kinds of women (i.e. the Garbage bag, Gucci bag and Baby bag ladies), Ms. Badu’s uses the line “Bet ya love could make it better” in a call and response format which informs those women listening that love (in whatever form) can heal our trauma and it is imperative to temper our rage and exhaustion. Finding time to nourish and embrace ourselves, whilst showing love to others is important if we are to continue the fight against our traumas and complexities in our community and daily life.
To this day, Erykah Badu provides us with music that empowers women and promotes activism. You can watch the music video for “Bag Lady” below.
