Historian and writer James Truslow Adams coined the phrase “American Dream” in his 1931 book, The Epic of America. He cited it as, “That dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.” Essentially, it represents the belief that anyone who works hard and stays dedicated can achieve a better life in America.
Singer-songwriter KIRBY‘s new single “The Man” probes the American Dream from the perspective of those who work hard but see little reward. The bluesy track’s title is a double entendre — it tells the story of her hardworking father (“The Man”), while also addressing oppressive systems (“The Man”) that hold many people, especially in Black communities, back.
“There ain’t no situation where a man’s occupation should feel like he works for free / But in our generation, rich and famous steal the bottom line,” KIRBY sings.
Speaking on her new song, KIRBY explains, “‘The Man’ is a song dedicated to my father. At 71 years old, I don’t know a more hard working man, but his latter years have taught me that the American Dream is not earned by the hours you put in. And that in today’s time, an old man’s social security can make him feel many things, but rarely financially secure.”
She continues, “We’ve built our country on the backs of people who are overlooked and underpaid. Teachers, custodians, truck drivers, delivery drivers, farmers & sharecroppers, but where is their praise? Where is the anthem for the people who barely get enough sleep to ‘American Dream’ but knowing what is required, get up and get the job done anyway? I hope this song finds its way to their playlist. And though the hook offers no resolve, maybe the raw truth of a sung frustration makes them feel seen.
And like a 15-minute break on a grueling 12 hour shift, lends them a sweet, but brief relief. The rat race is rigged, and on those days when it all gets to be too much, I point the finger at the proverbial Uncle Sam, and mumble under my breath, ‘I can’t stand THE MAN!'”
“The Man” is the first single from KIRBY’s upcoming album, produced by Thomas Brenneck (Charles Bradley, Sharon Jones) and Homer Steinweiss (Amy Winehouse, Lee Fields). According to press materials, “Choosing hymns over hits, stories over samples, and truth over trends, this new project marks the most inspired work of her career, with a mission that is so much bigger than herself.”
KIRBY is no stranger to using her voice to cut through commercially sanitized sounds in favor of raw, human-first stories. The Memphis-born, Mississippi native’s 2022 single “Black Leaves” uncovered the senseless killings of Black men in the South and the families who mourned them. The aching track was also the theme song for ABC’s limited series Women of the Movement, based on the true story of Emmett Till and his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley.
Rapper Offset later sampled “Black Leaves” in his song “On The River” from his 2023 album, Set It Off.
KIRBY’s next album will mark her first full-length project since 2021’s Sis. He Wasn’t the One, the sequel to her 2020 EP, Sis. Since then, KIRBY has collaborated with several artists, including Childish Gambino. In 2023, the pair released their joint EP, SWARM, which included original music inspired by the series of the same name.
Aside from collaborating with artists on record, KIRBY has also written recent songs for Keyshia Cole (“No Love Lost“) and Coco Jones (“By Myself”). Her latest works join her extensive resumé that includes songs like Rihanna, Kanye West and Paul McCartney’s “FourFiveSeconds” and Brandy’s “Beggin & Pleadin,” among others.
Stream KIRBY’s new song “The Man” below.
